Youth Challenge moves to Shaker Heights

Youth Challenge (YC), a leading provider of adapted sports and recreation in Northeast Ohio, has opened a new location in Shaker Heights in The Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development (formerly Malvern Elementary School).  The nonprofit provides adapted sports and recreational opportunities to children with physical disabilities. Trained teen volunteers are paired one-on-one with participants to play, socialize and have fun. 

The expansion to Shaker Heights reflects YC’s continued commitment to serving more children with physical disabilities throughout the Greater Cleveland community.  Programs take place at Hanna Perkins 4:00—5:30pm on Mondays.  Other upcoming programs include swimming at the Mandel JCC in Beachwood on Fridays and bowling at Wickliffe Lanes on Thursdays.  Teen volunteers (ages 12-18) are needed to help at east side programs. 

“Volunteers must complete a training before they can attend programs.  This fun and informative session prepares volunteers to work with YC participants and help them experience opportunities they may otherwise never have,” says Sarah Perez-Stable, YC Director of Volunteer Services.  “After a volunteer’s been trained, they can sign up to help wherever they’d like.  This flexible commitment gives volunteers the freedom to help when they’re able.”

YC serves more than 160 children and teens with such physical disabilities as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, and sensory impairments, among others.   Participants are paired one-on-one with teen volunteers who assist to customize the activity for each child.  When participants come to a Youth Challenge program, they have an instant friend in their teen volunteer and are able to take part in adapted activities that able-bodied kids often take for granted.

Youth Challenge first began to fulfill its mission to “bring together children with physical disabilities and youth volunteers who enrich each other's lives through one-on-one participation in adapted sports and recreational activities” in 1976.  37 years later, YC has touched the lives of thousands throughout Northeast Ohio.  This year YC is offering more than 300 adapted sports and recreational programs, such as swimming, bowling, basketball, soccer, rock climbing, art, dance, and many more.  Currently, YC offers programming and transportation to children in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake, Summit, Medina, and Geauga counties at no charge to their families.

If you know a teen who would like to volunteer or a child who might benefit from YC’s services, please call 440-892-1001 or visit youthchallengesports.com.