Originally from Rockland County, New York, William S. Villafranco now lives and works in Bergen County with his wife, AnnMarie, and their four daughters. He is the founder and CEO of Villafranco Wealth Management, a successful boutique investment firm in Montvale, and is deeply involved in the community. But behind his ever-present smile lies sadness. In 1992, he and his wife experienced the devastating loss of their newborn son. To help console him, a priest gave Bill the poem Footprints in the Sand.
That poem helped the family get through the aftermath of their tragedy, yet Bill was eager to find a way to help people and at the same time memorialize his son. Villafranco spent the next several years contributing to different charities hoping to fill the hole that he was left with, but he never felt it was enough. When a local family experienced their own misfortune, Bill and AnnMarie decided to step in and help them with their finances. As time went on, the Villafranco family realized there were many more families in town that needed help, and the Footprints in the Sand Foundation was born.
Incorporated as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization in 2003, the Footprints in the Sand Foundation was established to provide financial assistance to children and their families in obtaining necessary medical, educational, and therapeutic treatment. To date the Foundation has assisted over 30 families who either live or work in the Northern Bergen - Southern Rockland County area. With no administrative costs, the Footprints in the Sand Foundation, an entirely volunteer based organization, is able to use all funds raised for the direct support of their mission.
A unique aspect of the Footprints in the Sand Foundation is that each adult member of the Board of Directors is accompanied by one of their children. These youth members of the board play an active role in fundraising, identifying needy individuals, and making recommendations for assistance.
The Footprints in the Sand Foundation takes pride in its family oriented activities. Fundraising efforts have included roller skating events as well as family fun days in the park. Grassroots fundraising involving family members of all ages present a unique opportunity for parents to teach their children the importance of giving to others in need and it has become a guiding principle for the Foundation.
For these reasons, the Bergen Community College Foundation is pleased to present the 2006 Medallion Award of Merit for Philanthropy and Volunteerism to the Villafranco Family and the Board of Directors of the Footprints in the Sand Foundation.
