Agency Details:

Gliding Stars of Western New York

The Gliding Stars organization provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to increase their personal potential through development of ice skating skills in a regular program of instruction and practice in their own local community, culminating in the demonstration of those skills publicly in an end-of-season on-ice choreographed performance, which itself serves as a source of motivation, teamwork, increased self-esteem and the “magic” that results from transcending one’s barriers in order to accomplish one’s dreams.

Description:
Gliding Stars of WNY teaches people with physical, emotional, mental, or multiple challenges to ice skate. Gliding Stars provides weekly adaptive ice-skating lessons, adaptive skating equipment, volunteer training, intense on-ice volunteer support, and the thrill of performing for the public in an Annual Ice Show. Our Stars learn important skills that help them to improve their balance, coordination, endurance, strength and self-esteem, as well as make friends and develop socially.

History:
Gliding Stars is the leader in adaptive ice-skating. Founder and President Elizabeth O’Donnell began teaching people with challenges to ice-skate in 1976 in Buffalo, New York. Gliding Stars went National in 1994 and has chapters in Findlay,Ohio; Toledo, Ohio; Fremont, Ohio; Rochester, New York; Saratoga Springs, NY; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Orlando Florida.

Contact people:

Julie Ricchiazzi, Operations Manager, (phone), (email) Elizabeth O'Donnell, President, (phone), (email) Gale Sander, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (716) 608-8346

Address:

PO BOX 1862 Amherst, NY 14226

Web Site: http://www.glidingstars.org/wny.html

Last updated on May 27, 2009