Special Events

Since its founding in 1979, Sprout has provided a year-round travel program of vacations as well as a year-round program of day and evening cultural, social and art-related activities in New York City for people with developmental disabilities. Since 1995, Sprout has run an annual weekend-long music, film and arts festival for an average of […]

The Buddy Walk® was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness. The Chautauqua Area Buddy Walk takes place on Sunday, October 2 @ Ellery Town Park.  Registration begins at 9:30, with the walk taking place at 11. Lunch follows with DJ and Basket Raffle. Register at www.signupgenius.com/go/chautauquaareabuddys

First Friday is First FriYAY! The first Friday of every month Southern Tier Distillery invites a member from our community to be a guest bartender for charity at The Empty Bottle. This month, for the third year in a row,  Toys for Tots will be behind the bar slinging drinks on Friday, October 7 from […]

Dory Matwijkow’s Step Up for Autism Walk will take place on Saturday, October 8, 11:00 a.m at Beaver Island State Park, Grand Island, NY.  $25 gets you a shirt and snacks.  Basket Raffle, Bake Sale and a Wall of Gift Cards will also take place!  Proceeds benefit The Resource Center and Filling the Gap, Inc. […]

Join us for our third annual free and inclusive Dunkirk Pedal Party, thanks to generous grant from Filling the Gap and partnership with Slow Roll Buffalo.   Our 12-mile roundtrip route starting from The Point will feature some of Dunkirk’s notable landmarks, the majestic Lake Erie and a little history of the area as well as […]

The Laurel Memorial Run/Walk was created by Wayne and Elaine Hotelling of Silver Creek, NY, in honor of their oldest daughter, Laurel, who had Down syndrome. Laurel lived a full life until passing away in 2017 at the age of 54. This year's event takes place on July 15, 2023.  For more information and to […]

Suicide: The Ripple Effect” is a feature length documentary film and MOVEMENT, focusing on the devastating effects of suicide and the tremendous positive ripple effects of advocacy, inspiration and hope that are helping millions heal & stay alive. Seen by over 250,000 people already, across 7 countries, this film is having a global impact. The […]

The Sprout Film Festival’s mission is to inspire audiences, promote inclusion and support transformative filmmaking as an integral part of social change. This unique event, which focuses exclusively on films that celebrate the diverse lives and creativity of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), strives to challenge assumptions and breakdown stereotypes. By introducing powerful, […]

Suicide: The Ripple Effect” is a feature length documentary film and MOVEMENT, focusing on the devastating effects of suicide and the tremendous positive ripple effects of advocacy, inspiration and hope that are helping millions heal & stay alive. Seen by over 250,000 people already, across 7 countries, this film is having a global impact. The […]

Our most flamboyantly fabulous fund-raiser is the annual Lip Sync Battle. Contestants – many wearing glamorous attire – battle it out to see who will be crowned the Lip Sync Champion. Money raised through the Lip Sync Battle benefits the Mark Pacheco WOW (Working on Wonders) Fund, one of The Resource Center funds managed by […]

The 2024 Sassy Baggs Blingo event is ready to roll!  See details on poster below.  Purchase your tickets in the form below the poster! Money raised benefits the Mark Pacheco WOW Fund, one of The Resource Center funds that is managed by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation. This fund supports persons with disabling conditions in […]