News & Updates

Link:https://www.rochesterfirst.com/generation-roc/generation-roc-5-year-old-with-nonverbal-autism-honored-for-outstanding-progress/ by: Mikhaela Singleton Posted: Apr 15, 2025 / 04:45 PM EDT Updated: Apr 15, 2025 / 09:19 PM EDT GENEVA, N.Y. (WROC) — The power to be understood is a feeling you can’t describe, but five-year-old Carmelo Wilson is finding the words and a voice all his own—thanks to the preschool program at Happiness House. Carmelo has autism and is completely no

Link: https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/local-news/rpd-lends-horses-for-santa-to-visit-children-in-rochester/ by: Damon Fletcher, Sydney Havens Posted: Dec 20, 2024 / 09:42 PM EST Updated: Dec 20, 2024 / 09:42 PM EST ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Santa certainly has his hands full this time of the year, but he took a quick break from supervising all the toy making and checking his list to visit Rochester and meet some lucky kids. The Rochester Police Department wasn’t able to of

Link: https://13wham.com/news/local/santa-makes-surprise-visits-at-local-preschools-cp-rochester-happiness-house-preschool-program-at-golisano-autism-center-christmas-holiday by WHAM Fri, December 20th 2024 at 7:09 PM Updated Fri, December 20th 2024 at 7:15 PM Rochester, N.Y. — Even amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, Santa still found some time to surprise some local preschoolers ahead of the holidays. Jolly Ol' Saint Nick made a guest appearance Friday at CP R

Link: https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/local-news/happiness-house-preschooler-to-help-with-coin-toss-at-hobart-game/ by: Lia Tobin Posted: Oct 26, 2024 / 08:42 AM EDT Updated: Oct 26, 2024 / 09:42 AM EDT ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – A preschooler at Geneva’s Happiness House will be helping with the coin toss to kick off Hobart and William Smith Colleges on Saturday as the Hobart Statesmen take on Union College at at Boswell Field at 1 p.m. The game marks the 14th annual Tackle

Link: https://www.fltimes.com/sports/college-football-hobart-welcomes-in-union-for-annual-tackles-touchdowns-game/article_5b989168-92de-11ef-b036-ab21dde30c2f.html Times Sports Staff Oct 25, 2024 Updated Oct 28, 2024 GENEVA — The first- place Hobart football team will welcome the Union Garnet Chargers to Boswell Field for a Liberty League showdown Saturday. The annual Tackles & Touchdowns for Ability Partners Foundation game is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. The 14th edition

Link: https://www.fltimes.com/briefs/around-the-lakes-rolling-for-a-good-cause-ability-partners-foundation-s-bowling-event-raises/article_d42a6ef4-8671-11ef-9bf9-53f6201e0a8b.html Oct 14, 2024 CANANDAIGUA — Join Ability Partners Foundation as it hosts the 13th annual Bowling to Raise Bucks event on Friday, Nov. 1 at Roseland Bowl. All proceeds will benefit APF in support of the programs and services offered through Ability Partners agencies: CP Rochester, Happiness House, and

Link: https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2024/10/14/bowling-event-supports-programs-for-people-with-disabilities-in-canandaigua/ By: FingerLakes1.com October 14, 2024 11:00 AM Ability Partners Foundation will host its 13th annual Bowling to Raise Bucks event on Friday, Nov. 1, at Roseland Bowl, with proceeds benefiting programs offered by CP Rochester, Happiness House, and Rochester Rehabilitation Center. The event aims to raise funds for individuals with disabilities of all ages a

Link: https://rochesterbeacon.com/2024/09/17/golisano-to-give-360-million-to-upstate-nonprofits/ By JACOB SCHERMERHORN | September 17, 2024 Paychex founder Thomas Golisano has pledged $360 million to 82 nonprofits in the Finger Lakes, Western New York, and Central New York regions. The donations mark his largest philanthropic gesture ever, more than doubling his giving to $775 million. The pledge also follows his June 2024 commitment of $50 million—his largest single gift to

Link: https://golisanofoundation.org/tom-golisano-makes-remarkable-philanthropic-gifts-of-360-million-to-82-non-profits-across-upstate-new-york/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFWj2NleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHTAQ64DfbKohcDofXvDCtNQ3ZKcbvCHT06AzRLp4MKGfwx8_rywkGl9KDw_aem_bPTDBX4ytR9icVS-hZ4JDw By Golisano Foundation September, 17, 2024 ROCHESTER, N.Y., September 17, 2024 — Tom Golisano, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader, today announced an unprecedented and historic series of major awards

Link: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/news/2024/09/17/tom-golisano-to-donate--360-million-to-82-non-profits-in-upstate-new-york BY Brian Campbell and Wendy Wright New York State UPDATED 6:05 PM ET Sep. 17, 2024 PUBLISHED 12:40 PM ET Sep. 17, 2024 Philanthropist Tom Golisano on Tuesday announced plans to donate $360 million to 82 nonprofit organizations in Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse to support health care, education, animal welfare, disability services an

Link: https://kfoxtv.com/news/nation-world/tom-golisano-donating-360-to-nonprofit-organizations-across-upstate-new-york-rochester-buffalo-syracuse by WHAM Tue, September 17th 2024 at 9:03 AM BRIGHTON, N.Y. (WHAM) — Fighting back tears, billionaire Tom Golisano announced Tuesday he plans to donate $360 million to 82 nonprofit organizations across Upstate New York. The 82-year-old Paychex founder then announced the recipients and the amount they would receive. Health American C

Link: https://www.fltimes.com/business/happiness-house-and-the-e-garvas-center-merge/article_dcbaad60-6496-11ef-80e9-ff38ab73f2c6.html Finger Lakes Times Aug 29, 2024 Updated Aug 30, 2024 ROCHESTER – Finger Lakes United Cerebral Palsy, Inc./Happiness House and United Cerebral Palsy Association of Cayuga County New York, Inc./E. John Gavras Center have a new executive management agreement aimed at enhancing the delivery of health and human services to the community. This strat

Link: https://www.fltimes.com/news/mom-pens-book-about-raising-autistic-son/article_9c65bff6-5e3e-11ef-9045-23aa851829d1.html? By Ksenia Lowry-Neufeld Aug 28, 2024 CANANDAIGUA — Being a mother is challenging but rewarding. In Judy Goodman’s case, there were many challenges, but the outcome was well worth it. In 1986, Goodman gave birth to her son, Robert. He was a healthy, happy, normal infant — but then, on his first birthday, everything changed. Robert experienced a tonic-c

Link: https://www.fingerlakesdailynews.com/local/ontario-seneca-wayne/finger-lakes-programs-to-benefit-from-8m-united-way-grants By Lucas Day Aug 19, 2024 United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes is allocating more than $8 million in multi-year program grants and bridge funding support to nonprofits across its six-county service area—the investment will create transformative change in communities in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region. The service area i

Link: https://rbj.net/2024/08/14/al-sigl-unveils-new-liveability-lab-highlighting-its-many-community-projects/ By Rochester Business Journal Aug 16, 2024

Link: https://www.fltimes.com/opinion/guest-appearance-we-must-do-better-for-children-and-adults-with-disabilities/article_1ee169ee-5403-11ef-9dae-3374d69ae139.html By STATE SEN. PAM HELMING Aug 14, 2024 Like so many other businesses, organizations that provide services to people with intellectual and developmental delays or disabilities are having a tough time finding and keeping qualified employees. A serious shortage of direct-support professionals, teachers, and clinician

Link: https://13wham.com/news/local/local-organization-gives-back-during-annual-purpose-day by WHAM Fri, August 2nd 2024 at 5:29 PM Updated Fri, August 2nd 2024 at 6:17 PM Rochester, N.Y. - A local organization is giving back on Friday with its 7th annual "Purpose Day". Hosted by the Bonadio Group, more than 750 employees helped 35 different non-profits and organizations with various tasks such as cleaning, painting, and preparing food. The local organizations where employees

Link: https://www.fltimes.com/briefs/around-the-lakes-three-local-nonprofits-gear-up-for-golf-tourney/article_3a163e52-4ddb-11ef-be2b-b713d419c65b.html By: Mike Cutillo Aug 1, 2024 Updated Aug 5, 2024 SENECA FALLS — The Francis “Ben” Bonafiglia Golf Tournament, chaired this year by Elsa Steo, is set for Aug. 7 at Seneca Falls Country Club. More than $1 million has been raised since the inaugural 1986 event, with all proceeds from the tournament benefiting Ability Partners Fo

Link: https://www.fingerlakes1.com/2024/07/30/garvas-happiness-house-auburn-update/ by Fingerlakes1.com July 30, 2024 5:19 AM Updated: August 2, 2024 12:11 PM The E. John Gavras Center in Auburn and Happiness House have entered an executive management agreement to enhance service delivery, operational efficiency, and outreach efforts. The Auburn Citizen reports that under the agreement, Darrell Whitbeck, President and CEO of Happiness House, will also lead the Gavras Center.

Link: https://www.greaterrochesterchamber.com/2024/07/29/two-non-profit-health-and-human-service-organizations-announce-executive-management-agreement/ by Greater Rochester Chamber July 29, 2024 Member News Strategic Partnership to Enhance Community Services and Operational Efficiency Rochester, NY, 7/29/24 – Finger Lakes United Cerebral Palsy, Inc./Happiness House and United Cerebral Palsy Association of Cayuga County New York, Inc./E. John Gavras Center is pleased to announ