Al Sigl Community

10/14/2026

Our Fall newsletter, arriving in mailboxes now, features the stories of several individuals and families taking part in Al Sigl Member Agency programs. You may remember “Lani’s” story from our 2025 Independence Day campaign.

This summer, our friends at Rochester Hearing & Speech Center (RHSC), watched her walk through the doors at the Golisano Campus at Elmwood for the last time.

When Lani first came to RHSC around the age of two, she shuffled instead of crawling or trying to stand and had limited speech. The strides she made once she began attending RHSC made a significant impact on getting her ready to start preschool this Fall.

To read more stories from the new issue, including campus news and event updates, visit https://www.alsigl.org/about-us/our-stories/

10/09/2026

🏈 Football Friday at Al Sigl! 🍕

Crockpot favorites, delicious desserts, pizza, and plenty of laughs! Our team gathered around the table today to share a meal, learn a little more about each other, and enjoy some time together.

A special shoutout to Robert for his staff-favorite Mexican cheesecake! 🍰🏆

Whether you're a football fan or just here for the food and fun, there's always room at the table!

Here's to a great football season and more moments like these! 💙🏈

10/08/2026

“What drew me to participating in the WalkAbout the first time, and what has brought me back year after year, is seeing the joy that inclusion and accessibility bring. Everyone deserves the opportunity to have fun, to be seen, and to know that they belong and this event does it all!”

Today's quote is from Kelly, shown here on the left volunteering at the Explore Victor Fest last month with Kristin. Some volunteers help with planning and helping to raise awareness leading up to the event, like Kelly and Kristin. Others join us at Eastview to help hand out candy, host activity tables, and share smiles with friends of all ages and abilities. To all the volunteers who give their time and energy each year—thank you! We are so grateful for all that you do! 🙌

We can't believe WalkAbout is just over a week away now! Register today for this FREE, accessible Halloween celebration for all ages. Then join us on Sunday, October 18th inside Eastview Mall for a morning of candy, costumes, and community impact!

🎃 🍬 https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Victor/AlSiglCommunityWalkAbout

10/07/2026

We are thrilled to share that the Theodore and Cashmere Mendick Foundation has been selected to receive the Outstanding Foundation Award at this year’s National Philanthropy Day celebration! 🎉

For nearly four decades, the Foundation has quietly and generously invested in organizations that strengthen the Greater Rochester community — supporting education, health care, human services, music, and opportunities that improve quality of life for so many.

At Al Sigl Community of Agencies, we have been fortunate to experience that generosity firsthand. The Mendick family’s connection to our mission is deeply personal, and their support has extended far beyond philanthropy to include years of volunteer leadership, advocacy, friendship, and a shared commitment to creating a community where people of all abilities can thrive.

We were incredibly proud to nominate the Theodore and Cashmere Mendick Foundation for this recognition and even more delighted to see their extraordinary legacy of giving celebrated by the AFP Genesee Valley Chapter.

Congratulations to the Mendick family on this well-deserved honor! 💚

10/02/2026

🧡✨ Today's story is from Kristin, a volunteer who loves spreading the word about Al Sigl's accessible, indoor Halloween event coming up on Oct. 18th.

While there is no cost to attend the event, individuals and teams can choose to raise funds for one, or all, of Al Sigl's nonprofit Member Agencies. Kristin raises funds for the Upstate NY Chapter of the National MS Society.

“I walk because there are so many people that can't—and as a person living with MS, I know there are days that I can't. Being able to see the smiles and spread joy is worth every second," Kristin says, "Knowing that some of the money raised will help the MS Society means the world to me. The outreach, programs, and fundraising the MS Society does remind us that there is help for us no matter what point we are at in our disease.”

👉Ready to join Kristin and help make a difference in the lives of over 55,000 children and adults served on our campuses each year? Visit the link below to make a donation in support of one Member Agency, or the entire Al Sigl Community.

🎃🍬Ready to join us at Eastview Mall for a morning of accessible, kid-friendly fun? Registration is FREE:

https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Victor/AlSiglCommunityWalkAbout

2026 Al Sigl Community WalkAbout

09/30/2026

🌿✂️ It’s official!

What a beautiful fall day to celebrate the opening of our new Sensory Garden at Al Sigl! We were grateful to gather with friends, volunteers, and community partners to officially cut the ribbon on this special space.

Designed as a place to explore, connect, recharge, and simply enjoy, the garden is a wonderful example of what can grow when our community comes together. 💚

A special thank you to the Greece Rotary Club for their generous support, Van Putte Gardens for helping bring the vision to life, and our incredible Al Sigl Garden Club volunteers who continue to care for and beautify our spaces.

We can’t wait to see this garden enjoyed for years to come! 🌸🌿

09/30/2026

Heartfelt thanks to each of the generous sponsors, amazing tasting partners, guests, auction donors, and many volunteers who made this year’s Fine Tastings for Al Sigl Community such an amazing night. Your support and participation helps people with special needs served by our seven nonprofit Member Agencies achieve their goals and be more fully included in our community.

Thank you to Jolana at The Photography Experience for capturing the energy, and smiles, in the room.

09/29/2026

"We now have the ADA, we have building codes, we have all of that," CDR President Bruce Darling said. "We have all of that because these young people and other young people like them went out and did protest and did the work to actually get the ball rolling to say, 'Hey, we're a part of society. Include us.'"

Sharing a story from our friends at WXXI News and Center for Disability Rights remembering local advocate, Edward Hollembaek, one of the young protestors in 1966 calling for SUNY colleges to be made accessible to allow students who had earned scholarships to be able to attend state college.

In 1966, a group of disabled activists including students and wheelchair athletes picketed outside a Republican convention at the Rochester Community War Memorial, now known as the Blue Cross Arena. They were calling on the state to make SUNY colleges accessible. Link to story in comments. 🔗⬇️

09/25/2026

Three cheers to everyone who helped make last night's Fine Tastings for Al Sigl Community such a success! Heartfelt thanks to each of our generous sponsors, amazing tasting partners, guests, auction donors, and many volunteers!

Thank you for helping people of all abilities become more independent, achieve their goals, and be more fully included in our community.

More photos to come! Thank you to Jolana at The Photography Experience for helping us share some of the night's many smiles.

09/23/2026

✨ Tomorrow's the day! As we get ready for this year's Fine Tastings, we are taking a look back at a few of the packages from past silent auctions.

Each year, this incredible collection is made possible thanks to generous donors who help make it a standout part of the night—and a powerful way to raise support for over 55,000 kids and adults with disabilities in our community.

Check out this year’s auction packages at https://cbo.io/app/public/bidapp/finetastings/auction

Bidding is open now and will close at 8PM tomorrow, September 24th. You do not need to be present to participate in the silent auction.