Inclusion En Route
We’re working everyday at Endless Highway to cultivate partnerships, host events, pursue grants, and continuously fundraise to ensure that the goals of local individuals with physical disabilities — and the needs of their families — are matched with equipment, funding, opportunity, and friendship.
Through collaboration, we can do so much. By investing in the interests and inclusive environments of the next generations, they can do so much more. Click through the tabs below to check out the impact we’ve made so far.
On September 12, we celebrate the completion of our inaugural Build to Include project with a free community festival at the all-new, inclusive playground at Basil Marella Park.
What began as a mission with Santii’s Smiles to bring an accessible swing to the area quickly evolved into the Town of Greece committing to the design, development, and maintenance of a brand new playground intentionally designed for inclusion.
Sponsorship of custom equipment is a key priority of the Endless Highway mission. Throughout the year, we have sponsored purchase of 3 custom-fit adaptive bicycles for local youth.
Here, Julia poses on her new bike that she enjoys independently riding around her neighborhood. More photos of youth enjoying their sponsored bikes to come.
Inspired by the inclusive spirit of Santii Patel, of Santii’s Smiles, we collaborated with the Town of Greece for our inaugural Build to Include project. With the community’s support, we raised the funds to purchase and install the first We-Go-Round®, a fully inclusive playground equipment piece, in the Rochester area.
Help us bring adaptive playgrounds to your community. Learn more about this project and Build to Include here.
On May 24, more than 80 golfers and reception guests along with 40 sponsors and in-kind donors helped to advance the mission of inclusion in a show of support that blew us away. The 4th Annual Golf Event raised more than $120,00 for adaptive equipment and inclusive sports, recreation, arts, and playground programming.
In January 2021, we publicly launched Build to Include: An Endless Highway Inclusive Playground Initiative. The initiative is founded on collaboration and crowdfunding. In partnership with town, city, and community leadership, we commit to working together to identify opportunities to build new or remodel outdoor recreation environments with inclusive design at the forefront.
To provide families of youth with disabilities with access to virtual recreation, entertainment, and socialization, we’ve teamed up with The Shore Foundation, an organization that refurbishes used devices and donates them throughout the community.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Key Bank Foundation, Endless Highway will purchase laptops through The Shore, as well as new iPads, to donate to youth with disabilities in need of remote access tools.
Collaborated with the Country Club of Rochester and Composite Technology & Infrastructure (CTI) to plan a modified annual tournament with social distancing, mask requirements, and individualized meals. Despite reducing the size of the event by more than two-thirds, the event raised more than $40,000 for inclusive programs and equipment.
Sponsored the purchase of a stationary roller and two portable rollers, allowing team members of the Rochester Rookies to take their speed, technique, and strength training indoors or on-the-road without having to have miles of track accessible.
Partnered with Tournedos Steakhouse at the Inn on Broadway to provide an outdoor dining and live music experience for community members following COVID protocols. Friends, family, and associates dined to the sounds of Steve Grills and the Roadmasters and helped us raise $18,300 for our mission.
Measured and fit Tyler Ball with a new custom everyday wheelchair to help upgrade his daily life through improved comfort, posture, and navigability.
See Tyler transition to his new chair here.
Ongoing adaptive yoga classes hosted by Michael Amy transitioned to weekly virtual sessions that participants can tune into with as little equipment as a smartphone, tablet, or computer device. Endless Highway continues to cover the registration costs for any adaptive participant in need of financial support.
Welcomed youth from Buffalo, NY to Rochester’s 2019 summer wheelchair basketball program – inspiring the startup of Buffalo’s own team. At the start of 2020, we matched the fundraising efforts of the Buffalo Rims with a donation of 5 sports wheelchairs plus a special pink basketball wheelchair dreamed of by Emily Keicher, a young, energetic athlete.
Watch the team announcement and the unveiling of Emily’s chair here.
Fitted Tyler Ball, a college athlete aspiring to compete at the Paralympics, with a custom racing chair to support his competitive goals. He has successfully competed at both regional and national levels in racing.
Watch the presentation of the racing chair and hear from Tyler’s parents here.
Fitted Sarah Reid, a high school athlete, with a custom racing chair to support her competitive goals, like heading to the 2019 Adaptive Sports Junior Nationals!
Check out Sarah’s first few pushes in her new racing chair as she trains for competition with the Rochester Rookies.
Co-hosted a community-wide, inclusive Yoga for Every Ability fundraiser with Michael Amy, Yoga & Physical Therapy expert. The session welcomed over 70 yoga students of all ages, abilities, and experience levels – including a Yoga as Therapy class from Nazareth College – and featured live music.
Hosted the 2nd Annual Endless Highway Charity Golf Event at the Country Club of Rochester, welcoming 128 golfers to the course and netting more than $45,000 in support for the organization’s work.
Committed another $20,000 of financial support and organizational efforts to the 2019 summer season of the Rochester Rockets youth wheelchair basketball team. Endless Highway purchased 6 youth sports wheelchairs in varying sizes for the team and helped to secure coaches, mentors, volunteers, and a venue.
Partnered with VeRacityVRcade to create and host multiple adaptive virtual reality events for over 50 local youth, adults, and families with physical disabilities to experience the sensations of VR for the first time, facilitate team bonding, and provide fun and competitive entertainment for friends to reconnect through.
Collaborated with the Strong Museum of Play to ensure inclusive family play is widely encouraged and accessible through a fully sponsored admissions package for families with children with physical disabilities.
Rob Tortorella and Shea Kulp take the runway at Center for Youth’s annual fundraiser, Rochester Fashion Week, to raise awareness for inclusive representation and opportunities.
Hosted the second annual signature fall fundraiser — this time following a blues theme. Cruisin’ through the Crossroads featured live music, on-site virtual reality activities, and raised over $40,000 for Endless Highway’s mission.
Partnered with local nonprofit Abilities Movement to purchase Freedom Chairs – allowing families to participate in recreational or competition running together. We also sponsored the purchase of several at-home exercise kits and covered the costs of one-on-one fitness sessions for Abilities Movement clients.
Provided an $1800 grant to the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network’s Exercise for Persons with Disability (ExPD) program to help cover costs of program participation. The program uses FES technology that allows weakened or paralyzed leg muscles to contribute to whole-body exercises for therapy and strength-building.
In partnership with Corrosion Products & Equipment (CPE) and the Country Club of Rochester, hosted the first Endless Highway Charity Golf Event fundraiser, which raised more than $20,000 for adaptive equipment and inclusive experiences.
Sponsored the custom fitting and production of a $3,200 youth racing chair for Shea Kulp, a dedicated young athlete committed to advancing his training and competition through the Rochester Rookies wheelchair and adaptive sports team.
Partnered with Michael Amy Yoga & Physical Therapy to sponsor the creation of an adaptive yoga course offered year-round. The course is led by Michael and several volunteers who help participants of all abilities achieve mental and physical synergy through adaptive movements, poses, and equipment. Endless Highway continues to cover the costs of enrollment for participants seeking financial support.
Committed $5,000 to Rochester Accessible Adventures to start up a youth wheelchair basketball team, the Rochester Rockets, and help re-establish the adult wheelchair basketball team, the Rochester Wheels. Many members from the adult team serve as mentors and coaches of the inclusive youth team, which is co-ed and welcomes players with and without disabilities to learn the game of basketball from a sports chair.
Learn more about the wheelchair basketball programs here.
Hosted the first signature Endless Highway fall fundraiser, Bringin’ Back the ‘80s, which invited community members, friends, and sponsors to enjoy a night of throwback fun to raise money for programs and resources to serve youth and adults with physical disabilities. The event exceeded fundraising and attendance goals!
Provided a $3,000 sponsorship to Paralympic Alpine skier Staci Mannella to help cover costs for her competitive endeavors. She has represented Team USA at two Paralympic Games and is positive that her partial sightedness does not limit her “vision of what [she is] capable of achieving.”
Made a $500 donation to EquiCenter to support the Therapeutic Riding Program, where community members of all abilities can participate in weekly or group-based adaptive horsemanship sessions to experience the joys of equestrian activities.
