Programs

  • Golden Window Program for SCI Support

    JULY 1, 2023 THE FUND RELAUNCHED THE GOLDEN WINDOW PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WITH SCI USING SUBMITTABLE.COM TO COLLECT AND REVIEW APPLICATIONS. THE GOLDEN WINDOW PROGRAM ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS WITH AN SCI TO APPLY FOR UP TO $15,000 IN DIRECT TO VENDOR SUPPORT FOR VARIOUS ITEMS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HOME MODIFICATIONS, ADAPTIVE VEHICLES, DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, AND ADDITIONAL REHABILITATION SESSIONS. GOLDEN WINDOW APPLICANTS MUST RESIDE IN THE ELIGIBLE SERVICE AREA WHICH INCLUDES MUCH OF WESTERN PA, EASTERN OHIO (INCLUDING COLUMBUS), AND NORTHERN WV. THERE ARE 3 OPEN APPLICATION CYCLES DURING THE YEAR AND THE FUND RECEIVES APPROXIMATELY 20-25 APPLICATIONS PER CYCLE. DURING THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR THE FUND ACCEPTED 30 INDIVIDUALS WITH SCI TO THE GOLDEN WINDOW PROGRAM AND AWARDED APPROXIMATELY $340,000 IN FUNDING. DURING THEIR INTAKE MEETING, PARTICIPANTS DISCUSSED THEIR SERVICE PLAN AND ANY ISSUES OR QUESTIONS WITH THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR. ONCE THE SERVICE PLAN WAS DETERMINED, PARTICIPANTS WERE ASKED TO TAKE A BRIEF SURVEY. WHEN THEY WERE READY PARTICIPANTS COULD SUBMIT INVOICES WITH A COMPLETED W-9 TAX FORM FOR APPROVAL AND PAYMENT. THE GOLDEN WINDOW PROGRAM AWARDED FUNDS FOR 10 HOME MODIFICATIONS, 9 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE PURCHASES AND/OR ADAPTATIONS, 6 PIECES OF IN-HOME EXERCISE EQUIPMENT TO KEEP PEOPLE EXERCISING, 2 STANDING FRAMES TO GET PEOPLE UPRIGHT, 3 PIECES OF MOBILITY EQUIPMENT TO HELP SCI INDIVIDUALS GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO AND GOT 9 PEOPLE MUCH NEEDED ADDITIONAL REHABILITATION SESSIONS.ANOTHER PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SCI IS THE RYAN TIME PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS SIGN UP VIA THE WEBSITE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATION WITH RYAN SHAZIER VIA ZOOM. MR. SHAZIER TYPICALLY DOES RYAN TIME EVERY TUESDAY EVENING FOR AN HOUR ON AVERAGE, WHEN POSSIBLE, WE WILL ALSO ARRANGE FOR IN-PERSON VISITS FROM MR. SHAZIER. DURING THIS TIME PARTICIPANTS HAVE A CANDID CONVERSATION WITH MR. SHAZIER ABOUT THEIR MUTUAL EXPERIENCES DEALING WITH SCI AND THE COMPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES IT PRESENTS. THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 30 RYAN TIME ZOOMS AND VISITS DURING THE YEAR. MANY PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE IN RYAN TIME ARE THEN INTERVIEWED FOR A SHALIEVE STORY, WHERE THE INSPIRATIONAL STORIES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SCI ARE HIGHLIGHTED AND SHARED ON OUR WEBSITE AND VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $459.7K

  • Ryan Shazier Fund Support Programs

    PROGRAMS FOR THE SCI SUPPORT SYSTEM (CAREGIVERS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS):THE RYAN SHAZIER FUND UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT ONLY PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WITH THE SCI BUT ALSO FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM. WE WORK TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE CAREGIVERS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS CAN BUILD THEIR OWN RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS CONNECTED TO SCI. ONE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES THIS IS THE RYAN SHAZIER FUND WOODLAND FAMILY RETREAT WEEKENDS. DURING THE SPRING AND FALL WE CAN ACCOMMODATE 6 INDIVIDUALS WITH SCI AND THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A FREE WEEKEND AWAY AT A COMPLETELY ACCESSIBLE CAMP FACILITY. THE PARTICIPANTS SPEND TIME WITH EACH OTHER FORMING BONDS AND HAVING FUN. WEEKEND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SWIMMING, CRAFTS, ZIPLINE, BONFIRES, AND SPECIAL SESSIONS FOR BOTH CAREGIVERS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH SCI. FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO JOIN OUR WOODLANDS RETREATS WE HOST IN-PERSON EVENTS WHERE FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER AND MEET OTHERS IN THE SCI COMMUNITY. WE HOSTED OUR FIRST SCI FUNFEST WITH OVER 150 PARTICIPANTS. THERE WAS FOOD, GAMES, ACTIVITIES, AND LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND RECONNECT WITH OLD ONES. IN ADDITION TO THE SCI FUNFEST, WE HOSTED AN ADAPTIVE CLIMBING EVENT AND OUTINGS TO THE PIRATES GAME AT PNC PARK AND A TRIP TO PPG ARENA TO WATCH THE HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS. IN PERSON OUTINGS SUPPORT BOTH THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITH SCI AND THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEM. OFTEN THESE PEOPLE ARE PUTTING SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES TOWARDS RECOVERY AND NEW AND UNEXPECTED EXPENSES THAT THEY NEGLECT THEIR OWN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING. THE FUND CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS SHALIEVE STORY PROGRAM TO INCLUDE STORIES FROM CAREGIVERS AS WELL. A CAREGIVER STORY IS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND VIA SOCIAL MEDIA EACH MONTH IN ADDITION TO THE SHALIEVE STORY.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $317.7K