Youth Challenge

Call Directions Website

Youth Challenge Through adaptive sport, art, & recreation, we unite young people with physical disabilities & teen volunteers in meaningful & fun opportunities.

We are a spark for creating strong communities, promoting life-long growth, & driving advocacy forward. Youth Challenge brings together young people with physical disabilities and teen volunteers who inspire each other through adapted sports, recreation and social growth activities.

The 14th Annual Painter-for-a-Day GIVEAWAY is back! Patton Painting is giving away 7 Painter-For-A-Day gift certificates...
10/13/2026

The 14th Annual Painter-for-a-Day GIVEAWAY is back! Patton Painting is giving away 7 Painter-For-A-Day gift certificates over the next six weeks! Each certificate is good for 8 hours of professional painting services and one FREE gallon of paint! 🎨

Email Patton Painting your to-do list or schedule a consultation through, [email protected], for a chance to win a certificate!

For every to-do list or consultation request they receive now through November 20, Patton Painting will donate $10 to Youth Challenge, up to $5,000!

Check out the link in our bio 😁

10/12/2026

All participants who come to YC are athletes in their own right, but through partnerships with US Paralympics and Move United, we've been able to provide opportunities for skill-building, competition, and teamwork at a much deeper level. Learn more about YC's TEAM SPORTS in this month's Mission Minute, narrated by two of our amazing coaches, Mackenzie Vecchio & Chris Garr.

Happy Monday! We have another VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK to celebrate today! Let's give a big YC Woo to PHOEBE RAYMOND!Phoebe...
10/12/2026

Happy Monday! We have another VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK to celebrate today! Let's give a big YC Woo to PHOEBE RAYMOND!

Phoebe has been volunteering with YC since this past Winter. She connected with YC through our great partnership with Mayfield City Schools. Phoebe started volunteering with YC at Mayfield High School for Extreme Art. Since then, she has come to 50 Acts of Kindness, Museum Explorers, Mini Camp, and some Teen Nights.

This past week, Phoebe attended "Net Sports" at the Bedford Parks and Recreation Department. Phoebe joined us for both weeks of Net Sports. She played sitting volleyball alongside Romaine in week 1, and then teamed up with Brycen for pickleball in week 2!

Throughout both programs, Phoebe adapted each sport to fit her partner’s needs. She was kind and patient, celebrating Romaine’s and Brycen’s successes and encouraging them when things got tricky. Phoebe is a wonderful example of what makes our volunteers so valuable, and we’re grateful to have her on the team!

Congratulations, Phoebe!

[Phoebe and Immy playing a game of catch; Phoebe, Kennedy, and Jenna smiling over Kennedy's life size figure of Art; Phoebe and Immy playing in the ball pit at Mini Camp]

Our Holiday Theatre Troupe (formerly known as Dance & Drama) kicked off this week! In honor of this beloved YC program ...
10/08/2026

Our Holiday Theatre Troupe (formerly known as Dance & Drama) kicked off this week! In honor of this beloved YC program and annual tradition, we’re celebrating TWO former cast members of the Holiday Show: BRIDGET (BARRY) BLOOMFIELD and IAN JANOS!

Bridget, an alumna of Our Lady of Angels and Lutheran West High School, first came to YC in 2007. She was an amazing volunteer who brought so much love and joy to YC at over 550 hours of programs. Today, Bridget works as a nurse at UH in the Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation, an exercise and education program. She takes care of patients after a surgery or setback in their health to help them get stronger and keep doing the things they love! She and her husband also have a photography business!

Ian first joined us in 2010 and gave over 440 hours of service during his time at YC. With a special brand of humor and enthusiasm, Ian made an immeasurable impact on the lives of all his partners. After graduating from Bay High School in 2015, he went off to West Virginia University. He graduated in 2020 and is currently working at the NASA Glenn Research Center as a Wind Tunnel Test Engineer where he tests research models of engines and aircrafts.

Both Bridget and Ian were members of YC’s Volunteer Committee during their time at YC and were bright stars on the YC stage during the annual Holiday Show! They helped make Dance & Drama a great program for all their fellow cast members and helped spread holiday cheer to the YC Family!

This year’s HOLIDAY SHOW is on Saturday, December 5th. We hope past performers like Ian and Bridget will join us…and that YOU will, too! Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more info. In the meantime, give Bridget & Ian a LIKE and thank them for being such WOOO-onderful volunteers and YC STARS!

🎾 Participant of the Week: Richie! 🎾This week, we’re celebrating Richie! Richie always comes to program with a big smile...
10/07/2026

🎾 Participant of the Week: Richie! 🎾

This week, we’re celebrating Richie! Richie always comes to program with a big smile and is never shy about introducing himself, learning someone’s name, or striking up a conversation. He especially loves talking sports with his volunteer partners and getting to know the people around him!

Richie brings 100% effort to everything he does, and we saw that determination shine during Net Sports this week! He jumped right into pickleball and gave it his all on the court. 👏

We love Richie’s enthusiasm, positive attitude, and willingness to give everything a try. We’re so lucky to have him at YC! Keep up the great work, Richie! 💙

[ID: Image 1: {Photo of Richie and his volunteer announcing him as participant of the week!}
Image 2: {Richie playing pickleball at Net Sports this week.}
Image 3: {Richie playing with the group at Summer Program.}
Image 4: {Richie working on an art project with his teen volunteer.}
Image 5: {Richie hanging out in the pool with volunteers at Sports and Swim Program.}
Image 6: {Richie deciding if a joke card is up to his standards (very important).}]

Congrats to Molly for being accepted into the 2026 Doowutchyalike Art Exhibition at Graffiti HeArt this October!This sho...
10/06/2026

Congrats to Molly for being accepted into the 2026 Doowutchyalike Art Exhibition at Graffiti HeArt this October!
This show includes 40+ artists, with each artist showing one original artwork in any style or medium they choose. Molly made her piece, "Crisp Baddie with Alien Hair!" this summer during our Sewing Basics program! Molly was inspired by the work of Bisa Butler- an African American fiber artist known for her vibrant, quilted portraits celebrating Black life. Molly's self-portrait highlights her fun and bubbly personality, creative decision-making, and fearlessness in taking chances.

If you want to support Molly and view the other amazing works in this show, join Graffiti HeArt on Saturday, October 24th at 5pm for their opening reception!

[ID:
1) Molly's quilted piece "Crisp Baddie with Alien Hair" is a self-portrait with lots of bright colors. Her portrait features different colored eyelashes and three mohawk hairstyles!
2) Doowutchyalike Art Exhibition flyer.
3)Molly and volunteer Kelly at Sewing Basics this summer.]

We are back with another VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK to celebrate! Congratulations to ANNA MCGOWAN!Anna attends Magnificat Hig...
10/05/2026

We are back with another VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK to celebrate! Congratulations to ANNA MCGOWAN!

Anna attends Magnificat High School and has been volunteering with Team YC since the Winter of 2023. Since then she has volunteered at many programs including March Madness Basketball, Spring into Service, Golf, Court Sports, Football, Sports & Swim, and the list goes on!

This past week, Anna helped out at TWO programs in one day - Kickball and Mini Hour! Anna has actually been a great help at Kickball at Friends of Impett Park all season! She was paired up with Kate for Kickball and the pair had a great time together with "Kickball Bowling". Anna stayed for "Mini Hour" and had a blast with her partner, Lincoln. Lincoln could not stop smiling as he and Anna explored the playground together.

Anna has been a wonderful volunteer for YC over the years. She is reliable, caring, and has become a great volunteer leader at our programs. We are so grateful for Anna's service to YC! Congratulations again, Anna!

[ID: Anna and Lincoln playing with a "car" on the playground; Anna and Arianna high fiving at the pool; Anna and Kate smiling as she is about to practice her kickball bowling; Anna and Connor throwing the ball together at Kickball; Anna and Lincoln smiling on the playground]

This week our Alumni Spotlight shines bright on two of the four DeSalvo siblings! Jen, Mike, Katharine & David were all...
10/01/2026

This week our Alumni Spotlight shines bright on two of the four DeSalvo siblings! Jen, Mike, Katharine & David were all part of our volunteer team in the mid ‘00s and 2010s. Their VAN-TASTIC family made being a part of YC an important priority. Collectively they served over 600 hours and helped give hundreds of participants some incredible opportunities and lifelong memories.

Katharine, a 2016 graduate of Magnificat High School and 2020 grad of Ohio State University, now lives in Columbus with her husband and their two mini poodles. She works as an Operating Room nurse and loves traveling the world with her family and friends.

David graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 2018 and joined his sister at OSU where he graduated in 2022. He’s now back in Cleveland and is currently a Financial Planning Associate. You can also find him volunteering at the Westlake Porter Public Library in their bookstore.

Katharine, David and their entire family made such an impact on YC and we’re so grateful for the whole DeSalvo clan! Here’s a YC WOOO for all of you!

🍀Participant of the Week: Molly!🍀This week, we are celebrating Molly! We absolutely love seeing Molly at all kinds of ou...
09/30/2026

🍀Participant of the Week: Molly!🍀

This week, we are celebrating Molly! We absolutely love seeing Molly at all kinds of our programs, and she brings so much kindness, enthusiasm, and joy wherever she goes. Molly has been a true leader in our 50 Acts of Kindness, always ready to jump in and brighten someone’s day - from handing a paper flower to a stranger to leaving kind messages on rocks around the park for others to discover. 💐🪨💛

Molly is also a total go-getter! Whether she’s trying wheelchair basketball, sled hockey, or something completely new, she is always ready to give it a try and take on the next adventure. We love Molly’s willingness to spread kindness, try new things, and make every program a little brighter. We’re so lucky to have you, Molly! 🌈✨

[ID: Image 1: {Photo of Molly and her volunteer announcing her as participant of the week!}
Image 2: {Molly handing out flowers as a part of our 50 Acts of Kindness Program.}
Image 3: {Molly playing wheelchair basketball in the YC gym}
Image 4: {Molly and her volunteer under the parachute at outdoor program.}
Image 5: {Molly smiling with her volunteer.}
Image 6: {Molly plays sled hockey.}]

Address

800 Sharon Drive
Westlake, OH
44145

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+14408921001

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Youth Challenge posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category