$40,000 for Adaptive Gym (spinal cord injuries)
A big THANK YOU to the Rhode Island Foundation for approving a $40,000 grant request from the Gary Balletto Foundation to build an adaptive gym at the Cranston YMCA. This will be the only gym of its kind dedicated to helping people living with spinal cord injuries and other forms of paralysis. One-hundred percent of funds will be used to purchase equipment which will be accessible to use by any individual who is a Y-member. It has been a great pleasure to get to know and become friends with Gary and thrilling to help him notch another win. There are an estimated 30,000 Rhode Islanders (based on data from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation) living with some form of paralysis and it is very difficult and costly for these folks to exercise and stay active and healthy — something most of us take for granted. Thanks to Gary’s vision there are now greater opportunities for people with physical disabilities to access fitness equipment, and to do so in a great environment where they can workout with their friends and family as well.