All Friends Network Awarded $10,000 Grant from the Golisano Foundation to Expand In-Person Social Events Program
Sarasota, Florida May 6, 2026 – All Friends Network is proud to announce it has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Golisano Foundation to support the expansion of its In-Person Social Events Program. This funding will enhance opportunities for individuals with disabilities to build meaningful friendships, foster social connection, and improve overall quality of life.
The grant will allow All Friends Network to increase the frequency, reach, and accessibility of its in-person programming. These events are designed to create welcoming, inclusive environments where participants can engage in shared experiences, develop lasting relationships, and strengthen their sense of community.
“Social connection is essential to well-being, yet many individuals with disabilities face significant barriers to forming and maintaining friendships,” said Trevor Kelliher, Founder of All Friends Network. “We are deeply grateful to the Golisano Foundation for their continued recognition and the importance of this work and investing in opportunities that promote inclusion, belonging, and meaningful engagement.”
Since its founding, All Friends Network has been committed to addressing the social isolation often experienced by individuals with disabilities, particularly those who have aged out of school-based supports. Through consistent, structured social programming, the organization provides a reliable space for connection and community-building.
“I am pleased to inform you that the Trustees of the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation, at
their quarterly meeting on April 23, 2026, approved a grant of $10,000 to All Friends
Network. The grant is intended to support the expansion of the in-person social events
program, increasing opportunities for individuals with disabilities to build friendships and
improve quality of life.” – Erica Dayton, Golisano Foundation Executive Director
With the initial support awarded to All Friends Network by the Golisano Foundation in 2023, the In-Person Social Events Program has become a cornerstone of our organization’s impact and growth. The Golisano Foundation’s investment has directly contributed to reducing barriers to social participation by ensuring consistent, accessible programming. As a result of the grant funding, All Friends Network directly serves approximately 20 participants each month through structured, in-person social events. Through collaborative partnerships with The Haven, The Loveland Center, and independent disability community outreach advocate, gained during the previous grant period, participants also gain access to three additional social opportunities, extending outreach to approximately 80 members monthly and reinforcing consistent engagement beyond All Friends Network’s monthly social event. With each of these 4 monthly events, the total impact generated is 960 individuals, at a minimum, who gain the opportunity to social opportunities throughout the year, significantly increasing access to inclusive social experiences for individuals with disabilities.
This current grant awarded by the Golisano Foundation represents a meaningful continuation of partnership and momentum. With this support, All Friends Network will further expand it’s impact through the In-Person Social Events Program—offering more opportunities, reaching more individuals, and deepening the quality of connection for our members. The impact is both immediate and lasting: increased access to friendship, stronger community ties, and an enhanced quality of life. Because everyone deserves a friend.
Please contact All Friends Network to join our organization and receive further information on how our programs could be beneficial.
All Friends Network
All Friends Network is an organization created to help individuals with disabilities, with a concentration of young adults with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, and Developmental Disabilities, enhance their quality of life through the joy of friendship, Friendship, Fulfillment, and Fun.
The Golisano Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. dedicated to making the world a better place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Foundation is devoted to opening doors to opportunity, changing negative perceptions and stereotypes, and forging unprecedented partnerships to ensure individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have pathways to personal dignity, independence, and the best possible expression of their abilities and talents throughout their lifetimes. Founded in 1985 by Tom Golisano—entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic leader, and founder of Paychex, Inc. —the Foundation “imagines the possibilities,” advocating for families, fighting for their dignity, and giving people with IDD the opportunity to thrive in their communities. With more than $100 million in gross assets, it awards about $5 million annually to non-profit organizations in Western New York and Southwest Florida.