Make a difference in the life of a young person with a differing ability by making a donation today!
By making a one-time donation or setting up a recurring donation, you are insuring long-term, renewable sustainability for River's Way and the youth and young adults with differing abilities we serve.
Youth and young adults with differing abilities belong in our community.
River’s Way provides opportunities for young people with differing abilities to grow as individuals and make a positive difference within their community in the Bristol region.
Inclusive engagement of the youth we serve takes place through our programs including those in theater, fitness programs, book clubs, gardening, a café, an internship workforce program, a holiday concert, goal-centered programs, and an extensive community-based walking program. Since the founding of River’s Way in 1993 over 20,000 youth have participated in River’s Way programs. Currently, over 1,400 youth each year are served in these programs which are developed in partnership with over 15 like-minded community organizations.
When people donate to River’s Way, they do so because structured and creative programs are provided that forge connections among people of ALL abilities. We believe in the power of people with differing abilities to make our community a better place, but they can only do so if we hold high expectations for their level of commitment and involvement.
Every program that we run calls for young people with differing abilities to lead the way when it comes to setting an example for others. When it is time to lift weights at the Y, we expect our participants to work hard and achieve goals. When it is time for theater rehearsals, we expect our participants to practice their roles and work on their lines. When it is time to walk, we all set goals for how many laps we intend to walk. Each of our programs requires our participants to aim high and inspire others in the process. We want to show our community that people with differing abilities are able to contribute and lead and that they are people who deserve a chance to make a positive difference.
River’s Way is funded through program fees, corporate and foundation donations, grants and individual donations. We are a very conservative and efficient 501 (c) 3 non-profit with two full time employees and 1-2 part time employees and a budget of $170,000.
We rely on donor support in order to sustain the impact we have on the lives of the youth we serve and the positive difference they make within their community.