SABAH’s Hall of Fame honors the legacy of those exceptional individuals or organizations which have provided unparalleled support and commitment to SABAH. The Hall of Fame was established to annually recognize those who, for at least a decade, have worked tirelessly to promote the values of the organization; have dedicated their time and/or financial resources; and have sought to educate the public regarding the needs of those in our community challenged by disability.
The Children’s Foundation of Erie County has a long history of assisting and supporting the children of our community. Organized as the Buffalo Orphan Asylum in November 1836, the original board of trustees was dedicated to housing and financially supporting children in need in the City of Buffalo. When the orphanage ceased operation and the building was sold in the late 1940’s, the assets of the Asylum were entrusted to the board of trustees to be used to continue their work on behalf of the children of our community. While the name was changed to the Children’s Foundation of Erie County in the early 1960’s, the mission of “protecting, relieving, maintaining, or assisting needy or underprivileged children” remains the same. Today, seven dedicated trustees of the foundation meet annually to review and distribute funding of over $260,000 to agencies serving children throughout Erie County.
In addition to their tremendous contributions to other children’s organizations, the Children’s Foundation of Erie County has been one of SABAH’s most faithful and long standing supporters. For the 25th consecutive year, the Children’s Foundation of Erie County has provided funding for SABAH’s School Day Adaptive Ice Skating (SDAIS) program. Their ongoing and consistent support has enabled SABAH to meet the growth of this vital program for children challenged by disability and economic disability. The School Day Adaptive Ice Skating program now serves more than 420 children at no charge to the school or student.
SABAH’s Executive Director, Sheila O’Brien, states, “The School Day Adaptive Ice Skating program serves hundreds of children from more than 22 schools in the Western New York region. If we had to charge for this vital program, most schools would be forced to withdraw, in spite of remarkable gains. Because of the dedicated and faithful support of the Children’s Foundation of Erie County, SABAH has maintained the capacity to provide the curriculum, facility time, volunteer/instructor support, and adaptive equipment for children with special needs that most schools do not have the resources to offer. It is impossible to adequately express how their support, year after year, allows us to improve outcomes for these children. As a token of our tremendous gratitude for their support of the School Day Adaptive Ice Skating program, we are honored to welcome the Children’s Foundation of Erie County into SABAH’s Hall of Fame.”
