Youth Challenge
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Youth Challenge
Youth Challenge offers year-round adapted sports and recreational programming throughout the Greater Cleveland area to children with such disabilities as muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida, or who are blind or deaf. Participants are paired up at each program with a teenage volunteer who is trained to work and play with a child with a disability.
Seasonal programs include basketball, baseball, swimming, skiing, tennis, arts and crafts, music, bowling, nature programs, dancing, and field trips. Activities are tailored to fit the needs of children with physical disabilities.
By taking on the challenge of each program, Youth Challenge participants and volunteers benefit in numerous ways. Participants not only improve their strength and motor skills, but they develop social skills and confidence through peer interaction. Volunteers are able to fulfill community service requirements while gaining leadership skills, patience, and a sense of civic responsibility.
Sports and Recreational Programs for Children with Physical Disabilities
Adapted activities for young people with physical disabilities ages 4-25 are held year-round at schools, recreation centers, parks, and community facilities throughout the Greater Cleveland area. Programs are designed by Youth Challenge staff members and participants are paired one-on-one with teen volunteers who assist with each activity.
Teen Volunteer Trainings
Volunteer trainings are held prior to each of Youth Challenge’s three programming seasons to help teens ages 12-18 learn techniques for assisting their peers with physical disabilities. Hundreds of teens are trained each year. Trainings include exercises to help volunteers better understand the needs of their partners with physical disabilities.
Team Sports
Youth Challenge offers team sports for athletes with physical disabilities who want a more competitive experience and to further develop their sports skills alongside teammates. Youth Challenge teams practice weekly during their designated season and travel as a team to compete each year against other athletes.
Boccia: Precision ball sport, similar to bocce ball, for athletes with cerebral palsy and other disabilities severely affecting motor skills. Designed for all individuals, no matter how limited their functional mobility is.
Goalball: A sport that is played by athletes who are blind or visually impaired where the objective is to throw a ball with bells embedded into the opponent’s goal.
Powerlifting: A sport to test upper body strength where athletes with physical disabilities perform the bench press exercise and compete to lift more weight than their opponents.
7-a-side Soccer: Soccer for ambulatory athletes with cerebral palsy.
Accessible Transportation
Round-trip transportation is provided for participants with physical disabilities, enabling them to participate in programs. 95% of participants receive transportation to and from programs. Youth Challenge maintains a fleet of eight lift-equipped vans to provide this service.
Youth Empowerment and Leadership Program (YELP)
YELP (Youth Empowerment & Leadership Project) keeps growing! The program is open to people with physical disabilities aged 16 – 25. The YELP program gives participants the opportunity to participate in Paralympic sports, field trips and social outings, peer support, and specific education programs on relevant topics. There are 8-10 programs each fall and spring season. There are up to 4 YELP specific programs in the summer and general programs that are open to YELP participants.
Topics discussed during peer support include mental health, independence, and relationships.
Educational/information sessions include money management, travel tips, transportation access (RTA), and advocacy.
Alumni Community Team (ACT!)
ACT! is a newer program to YC focused on using “old school” YC fun to assist people with disabilities in navigating the challenging and sometimes isolated adult world. The group is made up of alumni participants, volunteers, and adult/young professional volunteers. Activities range from social gatherings to educational opportunities to learn and sharpen skills, both in-person and virtually. Not only is ACT! a chance for former YC participants to stay involved with their Youth Challenge friends, but it’s also an opportunity to become an advocate for people with disabilities across Northeast Ohio.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
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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?
Youth Challenge aims to meet the following goals by offering Adapted Sports and Recreational Programs for Children with Physical Disabilities:
Goal 1: Help children with physical disabilities increase their overall health and well-being, build self-confidence, and enjoy life.
Goal 2: Offer meaningful volunteer opportunities to teens that help build leadership skills and teach them to be accepting of people of all abilities.
Goal 3: Provide abundant opportunities for Youth Challenge participants and volunteers
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Youth Challenge is using the following strategies to meet our goals:
To reach goal 1--(Help children with physical disabilities increase their overall health and well-being, build self-confidence, and enjoy life), Youth Challenge looks to help participants develop and improve social skills, learn new physical skills, and increase their willingness to try new things. Over time, participants will gain an enhanced sense of community, become more independent, improve social competency and have an increase sense of self-efficacy.
To reach goal 2--(Offer meaningful volunteer opportunities to teens that help build leadership skills and teach them to be accepting of people of all abilities), Youth Challenge looks to, in the short-term, expose volunteers to individuals with disabilities, try new activities, and learn ways to creatively assist others. In the long-term, volunteers will develop leadership skills, increase their sense of how their actions impact the community, and respect and embrace those with different abilities.
To reach goal 3--(Provide abundant opportunities for Youth Challenge participants and volunteers), Youth Challenge will offer 325+ adapted programs annually and team sports opportunities. YC will offer transportation, allowing them to take part in activities that promote independence and self-sufficiency.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Youth Challenge has a 40 year history of providing adapted sports and recreational programs for children with physical disabilities through the help of teen volunteers. Throughout this period the agency has grown in staff and resources to be able to accommodate the current programming schedule. Key resources include the YC adapted facility in Westlake, fleet of eight lift-equipped vans, seasoned program staff, and good relationships with funders, businesses and community groups.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Youth Challenge is committed to providing opportunities that help young people with physical disabilities access opportunities that help them build physical and social skills, challenge themselves, and be more independent. The organization works with participants ages 2-25, and offers programming for those ages 16-25 that promotes leadership and life-skills. These activities, along with internship opportunities for participants with disabilities from Lorain County, help to contribute to their future self-sufficiency.
Teen volunteers also play an important role at Youth Challenge. Each year nearly 60 teens from Lorain County work one-on-one with those with disabilities in their community. Through these activities, volunteers are encouraged to assist in creatively adapting programming to help meet the needs of their partners. These experiences have an impact on the teens now and give them the knowledge needed to advocate for their peers with disabilities as they move on to higher education and careers. Overtime, the community will be strengthened by the contributions of both the teen volunteers and Youth Challenge participants as they help to build more inclusive environments.
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
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Youth Challenge
Board of directorsas of 09/14/2023
Ms. Greer Gibbons
The Lubrizol Corporation
Term: 2023 - 2024
Krista Allison
Ms. Wheelchair Ohio/Disability Advocate
Aubrey Christ
The Retirement (k)oncierge Group
Judson P. Cummins
Vitamix
Patricia A. DelMonico
TravelCenters of America
E. Dan Douglas
Swagelok
Mark J. Dvoroznak
Retired, The Sherwin-Williams Co.
Laura A. Gold, J.D.
Disability Rights Advocate
Christina K. Hardesty
Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital
Matt A. Jacobs
Eaton Corp.
Andrew Johnson
Oatey Co.
Allen J. Kitchen
The Sherwin-Williams Co.
Charles A. Koch
New Vista Strategic Partners, LLC
Matthew R. Lay
First Federal Lakewood
Dante A. Marinucci
BakerHostetler
Melissa E. Monter
Hyland
Meghdeep Mukherjee
Deloitte
Vincent A. O'Keefe, Ph.D.
Freelance Communications Professional
Jason G. Pence
Charles Schwab
Donna L. Prease
Retired, Disability Rights Advocate
Jennifer L. Scavone
Cleveland Clinic
Katherine M. Serevitch
Owens Corning
Ryan T. Winkler
Tucker Ellis LLP
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
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
Gender identity
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No data
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.