irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $7KAdaptive Sports Teams: RAA supports the development and sustainability of Adaptive & Inclusive Sports (Teams) and in 2024 continued our WNY Adaptive & Inclusive Collaborative with Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports to address the lack of access to sports across the WNY region. Our adult Sled Hockey team began its season in the Fall and provided clinics for recruiting new players from the community. We continued youth outreach for a new sled hockey program. Our youth inclusive wheelchair basketball, the Rochester Rockets, met weekly in a community R Center for practices, engaging local youth from that community in pre-practice games. RAA also worked with USTA Eastern to provide wheelchair tennis clinics. We also set things in motion to begin wheelchair lacrosse.
- #2 $14KEducation and Outreach: RAA provides Education & Outreach through our Regional Resource Network to connect people with disabilities, health care professionals who provide services to people with disabilities, and our Community Health Inclusion initiatives. Our work is now distributed to 10,560+ people with disabilities, families and providers in our region. We formalized our #WeWillInclude platform for individuals and groups to access a free online Inclusion Ambassador Training, exceeding our 500 milestone with 576 people who have been given access to the training. RAA partnered with Nazareth University Occupational Therapy Students to complete a pilot research project regarding people living with Parkinson's and their participation in pickleball. (Continued on Schedule O.)RAA participated in 17 outreach and education events in 2024 in order to ensure individuals and family members learn about and are directly connected to resources, programs, and opportunities that provide inclusive and accessible experience.We reached many individuals through events, supported programs, and inclusive sports teams. We were in the news 26 times; held our first-ever Pickle Dink & Lob pickleball event; attended a record number - 17 - community outreach events; facilitated our first whitewater rafting event; and expanded our Inclusion Partner outreach from Buffalo to Schuylerville, NY! We jumped from 20 inclusion partners to 26 in 2024. We reached 10,560 people through 125 events with 304.5 hours of engagement. Our volunteers provided 1053.25 hours of support in 2024!
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Adaptive Sports Teams
Supports development of inclusive sports including sled hockey, wheelchair basketball (Rochester Rockets), wheelchair tennis, and emerging wheelchair lacrosse programs for youth and adults.
DirectConnect
Connects individuals with disabilities to inclusive recreation, sports, and tourism opportunities across Greater Rochester, Finger Lakes, and Western New York regions.
Education and Outreach
Provides inclusion training through the #WeWillInclude platform and Inclusion Ambassador Training; conducts community outreach events and collaborates on research initiatives.
WNY Adaptive & Inclusive Sports Collaborative
Regional partnership with Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports to expand access to adaptive sports across Western New York.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Adaptive Sports Programs 4 activities
- Build capacity in adaptive and inclusive sports through collaboration and trainingParticipates in the Western New York Adaptive & Inclusive Sports Collaborative to support sector-wide growth and offers a free, self-paced online training program with a Certificate of Completion to build knowledge and skills in inclusive recreation.
- Connect individuals to inclusive recreation resources and opportunitiesOperates the DirectConnect program and other outreach initiatives to link individuals with disabilities, families, providers, and community partners to inclusive recreation programs and resources. Engages in public outreach through community events, resource fairs, and monthly programming to expand access across the region.
- Deliver one-on-one and group support during adaptive recreation activitiesOffers personalized support to individuals with disabilities during recreational activities such as cycling, pickleball, and tennis, including assistance with equipment use and access. Support is provided in community settings and includes help transferring to hockey sleds and accessing rinks for adaptive ice hockey.
- Operate inclusive recreation programs for individuals with disabilitiesProvides a range of adaptive recreation programs including sled hockey, wheelchair basketball (Rochester Rockets), wheelchair tennis, pickleball, adaptive cycling, kayaking, fencing, fishing, and whitewater rafting for individuals with disabilities in Greater Rochester, Finger Lakes, and Western New York. Programs include regular practices, clinics, and special events such as the Pickle Dink & Lob tournament and adaptive kayak launch demonstrations.
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Facility Accessibility Improvements 1 activity
- Conduct accessibility and inclusion assessments of recreation facilitiesCollaborates with inclusion specialists to evaluate parks and recreation facilities for physical accessibility and social inclusion, supporting systemic improvements in adaptive recreation infrastructure.
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Adaptive Equipment Provision 1 activity
- Provide access to adaptive recreation equipmentOffers access to adaptive kayak equipment such as outriggers, adjustable seatbacks, and paddle pedestals through the Accessibility Education Program, enabling participation in outdoor recreation.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Support volunteer engagement in inclusive recreationHired a volunteer coordinator in 2021 and received 1,053.25 hours of volunteer support in 2024 to assist with program delivery and outreach.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Advance research on adaptive recreation and health outcomesConducts and collaborates on research projects examining the impact of adaptive recreation on health and wellness, including a pilot study with Nazareth University Occupational Therapy Students on pickleball participation among individuals with Parkinson’s disease and programming that contributes to ongoing research in this area.
- Measure and report program reach and engagementReached 10,560 individuals through 125 events totaling 304.5 hours of engagement in 2024, with a goal to connect with 1,000 individuals monthly through outreach and programming.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$299K
Contributions & grants$129K43%
Program service revenue$168K56%
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$200K
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$113K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$223K
Cash$191K
Investments$0
Liabilities$63K
Net assets$160K
Liquid reserves11.4 mo
3 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +79.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anita O'Brien | Executive Director | 40 | $56K |
board members · 12
- Andrea Long — Director
- Betty Dolce — Director
- Brittany Ferri — Director
- Gwen Van Laeken — Director
- Jill Wiedrick — Director
- Julie Cataldo — Chair
- Kathy Weber — Director
- Michael Seils — Director
- Pamela Kennard — Treasurer
- Season Bonino — Secretary
- Susan Hetherington — Vice Chair
- Susan Shepard — Member at Large
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- Blue Heron Collective Partner — Community partner that participated in welcoming guests at the Churchville Park event.
- CNY Adaptive Sports Partner — Peyton Sefick serves on the board of this Central New York adaptive recreation provider.
- Churchville Riga Chamber of Commerce Partner — Partnered to host a community event introducing the BoardSafe adaptive kayak launch at Churchville Park.
- City of Rochester Partner — Engaged in dialogue with RAA on inclusive play through city operations leadership.
- DEC/APA Accessibility Advisory Committee Government — Anita O’Brien serves on the advisory committee.
- Erie Canal Boat Company Partner — Community partner that participated in welcoming guests at the Churchville Park event.
- Fairport Junction Partner — Collaborates on accessible train viewing opportunities.
- Genesee Valley Parks and Recreation Society Network — Anita O’Brien is a longtime member.
- Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports Partner — Collaborates with RAA on the WNY Adaptive & Inclusive Collaborative to expand access to sports in the Western New York region.
- Inclusive Recreation Resource Center Partner — Co-developed the Inclusion Ambassador Training program.
- Kanics Inclusive Design Services Partner — Collaborated with RAA leadership on a panel discussion about inclusive play.
- Move to Include Partner — Partnered with RAA in advancing conversations around inclusive play.
- Mustard’s Last Stand Partner — Provided food truck services at the Churchville Park event.
- NYPA Partner — Collaborates with RAA on the Accessibility Education Program to expand access to adaptive kayak equipment across New York State.
- NYS Canal Corporation Partner — Collaborates with RAA on the Accessibility Education Program to expand access to adaptive kayak equipment across New York State.
- Nazareth University Partner — Collaborated with RAA Occupational Therapy Students on a pilot research project about pickleball participation among individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
- New York State Recreation & Parks Society Network — Anita O’Brien is a longtime member.
- New York State Therapeutic Recreation Association Network — Anita O’Brien is a longtime member.
- RAA staff Partner — Collaborates with RAA staff to support group recreational activities and inclusive sport teams.
- Riga Recreation Partner — Community partner that participated in welcoming guests at the Churchville Park event.
- Roberts Wesleyan University Partner — ARCH program participated in welcoming guests at the Churchville Park event.
- Stony Point Arts Studio & Gallery Partner — Provided art activities at the Churchville Park event, offering painting opportunities to guests.
- USTA Eastern Partner — Partners with RAA to deliver wheelchair tennis clinics.
- United Adaptive Soccer Association Partner — Peyton Sefick serves as Vice President.
- United States Power Soccer Association Partner — Peyton Sefick serves as Director of Sport.
- University of Rochester’s Center of Excellence for People with Disabilities Partner — Anita O’Brien serves on the Community Advisory Committee.
- WNY Adaptive & Inclusive Sports Collaborative Partner — Collaborates to grow and develop adaptive and inclusive sports in Western New York.
- WXXI Partner — Collaborated on a public conversation about inclusive play through the Connections program.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Based Systems Change via Partnership and Educationmethodology: community-partnershipBy building community partnerships and delivering inclusion education and strategic planning support, the organization transforms recreation providers’ cultures and operations, because systemic change in institutions leads to sustainable, scalable access to inclusive recreation.
- Inclusion Through Universal Design and Intentional Welcomingmethodology: universal_designBy applying universal design principles and intentional welcoming practices from the inception of recreation programs and spaces, the organization creates inherently accessible and socially inclusive experiences, because physical and cultural accessibility together remove barriers to participation for people with disabilities.
- Peer and Specialist-Mediated Connection Modelmethodology: direct_connection_modelBy using inclusion specialists and peer support to assess needs, make matches, and provide one-on-one support, the organization increases engagement in recreation, because trusted personal connections bridge systemic gaps and reduce social anxiety around participation.