STRIDE INC.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
It is difficult for people with disabilities to live an active, healthy lifestyle. Schools, fitness centers and other community organizations struggle to give people with disabilities the same access to exercise and opportunities for socialization as their able-bodied peers. Allowing people with disabilities to remain underserved is an especially bad situation because they are also a heavily disadvantaged population. Nationally, people with disabilities have a median income of $10,000.00 less than the able-bodied population. They suffer double the unemployment rate and higher rates of poverty (20.9%), smoking (24.6%) and obesity (38.9%). In New York State where STRIDE headquarters is located, 44.3% of people with disabilities report having "just fair" or "poor" health, as opposed to just 8.5% of people without disabilities. In the Capital Region area STRIDE serves, four of the eleven counties rank in the lowest tier for health outcomes in the state.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Skiing/Snowboarding
We provide individual skiing and snowboarding lessons for individuals with disabilities
Bowling
We provide bowling lessons to youth with special needs. We also have a team that participates in the Special Olympics
Swimming
We provide learn to swim lessons for youth with special needs. We also have a competitive swim team that participates in the Special Olympics.
Ski Race
A competitive Skiing program that participates in the Special Olympics and other local races
SCORE Camping Programs
Approximately 7 weekends in the summer camping programs are held at our SCORE summer camp in Chatham, NY. These programs bring together our STRIDE wounded warriors and special needs youth.
Sailing
We provide instruction for youth with special needs on keel boats. Instruction includes water safety, general sailing knowledge, and teamwork.
I CAN RIDE Bike Camp
A one-week program designed to teach special needs youth to ride a two wheeled bike.
Golf
A multi-session program to teach special needs youth about the basics of golf and instill a love for the game.
Sled Hockey
A competitive team of sled hockey players. Competing in local tournaments and exhibitions.
Dance
Dance and movement basics for special needs youth.
Shooting
A shooting program with air rifles and target shooting.
Tennis - Stand Up & Wheelchair
A multi week program to teach special needs youth and individuals with wheelchairs tennis. And to prepare a group to compete within the Special Olympics.
Yoga
A program that provides the benefits of yoga and meditation to special needs youth.
Where we work
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of lessons taught
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of youth programs offered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of clients served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
STRIDE seeks to make New York's Capital Region a healthier and more inclusive place to live for its 130,000+ residents with a disability. We aim to bring the many diverse and documented benefits of adaptive sports to people with disabilities so they can exercise, overcome social isolation, build an ongoing support network, increase self-esteem, and replace unhealthy habits and addictions. STRIDE offers 18 different adaptive sports and recreation programs at over 26 regional locations in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. We work with children with disabilities, veterans with disabilities, and adults with disabilities, primarily through individual lifetime sports, but also through the team sport of sled hockey. Our goal is to empower people with disabilities to live an active life, engage with the community, and ultimately give back to people with similar challenges through mentoring, volunteering, and philanthropy.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
STRIDE employs the following strategies:
• CREATE opportunities and provide outlets for individuals with special needs to make friends, increase self-esteem, develop life skills, realize their potential and become productive members of society.
• EDUCATE volunteers, families and communities on the opportunities that exist for individuals with special needs.
• PARTNER with leading professionals, educational institutions, agencies and communities in order to create top-tier recreational programs for individuals with disabilities.
• LEAD in the area of adaptive sports by providing opportunities for STRIDE participation that are safe and fun and help achieve personal goals.
• ENGAGE a committed team of volunteers, parents, family, friends and community members in our services and mission.
• CHALLENGE the status quo by removing boundaries and breaking down barriers of ignorance and attitude that can block the path of independence for individuals who have disabilities.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
STRIDE maintains extensive resources and capabilities that have enabled us to grow from two original programs in 1985 to eighteen successful programs today. We run an unprecedented number of adaptive sports programs with just 4 full-time employees and a Board of Directors consisting of eight community leaders. In-kind support of goods and services accounts for approximately 25% of our budget, and we have over 500 volunteer instructors who collectively donate over 50,000 hours of their services worth over one-million dollars every year. STRIDE also has over 6,000 local recruiting contacts and a network of over 2,000 individuals with disabilities who have and/or are currently participating in our programs. Our funding streams are diverse, ranging from corporate donors and individual donors to fundraising events and grants. Educationally, STRIDE maintains relationships with important associations in the adaptive sports world so our program planners and instructors remain up-to-date with current best practices.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In its most recent fiscal year, STRIDE provided 10,924 adaptive sports and recreation lessons to approximately 2,000 individuals with disabilities. All programs successfully met their recruiting/attendance goals, and the overwhelming majority of the participants' experiences was positive according to surveys. Recent success has created demand for expanded programming, which STRIDE will answer in 2020 by opening the Capital Region's first adaptive sports and fitness center.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
STRIDE INC.
Board of directorsas of 01/18/2024
Ms. Mary Ellen Whitney
STRIDE Adaptive Sports
Term: 1995 -
Tom Gilbert
Catamount Ski Area
Mary Ellen Whitney
STRIDE Adaptive Sports
Diane Albano, Ed.D
LEAD Consulting and Coaching LLC
Robert Braverman, Esq.
Braverman Greenspun
Amy Earning, Esq.
Lavelle & Finn, LLP
Patrick Fitzgerald, III
Girvin & Ferlazzo, P.C.
Dick Miller
Farm Family Insurance
Jamie Masson
Pulmonary/Critical Care Services
Kathy Slater
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
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Sexual orientation
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Disability
No data