Rochester Accessible Adventures wins Matchstick Prize

Rochester Accessible Adventures won Causewave Community Partner’s Matchstick Prize, which recognizes one small but mighty nonprofit for its positive impact on the Greater Rochester Area. 

As the winner, the organization received a $5,000 cash prize and a media grant valued at $20,000. 

Rochester Accessible Adventures is focused on the health and wellness of people with disabilities by guiding communities to create a culture of physical accessibility, social inclusion and equitable direct access in recreation, sports and tourism.  

The organization partners with communities in the Greater Rochester, Finger Lakes and Western New York regions to ensure individuals with disabilities can access active and inclusive recreation opportunities with their family and friends.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has illuminated a reality that people with disabilities have been experiencing for decades: isolation and lack of access to recreation are detrimental to physical, social and emotional health,” said Anita O’Brien, RAA’s executive director. “We are determined to continue to change this narrative and are so pleased that this award will enable us to increase our ability to connect people with disabilities to inclusive recreation opportunities and ignite a culture of inclusion throughout communities in the Greater Rochester, Finger Lakes and WNY regions.”

Causewave created the prize to recognize nonprofits with a budget under $1 million who have made an impact in the community.  

Four other finalists— Court Appointed Special Advocates of Rochester / Monroe County, Dress for Success Rochester, The Junior League of Rochester and The Hub585, Inc. —were selected by a panel of judges out of more than 60 nonprofit nominations. The four runners-up will each receive customized capacity building programming facilitated by Causewave.

The Matchstick Prize is sponsored by the Credit Union Collective (Reliant, The Summit and Pittsford Federal Credit Unions), Rochester Area Community Foundation and News 8 WROC TV.

Previous recipients of the Matchstick Prize include Center for Teen Empowerment, C.U.R.E Childhood Cancer Association, R Community Bikes, the National Alliance for Mental Illness and Coffee Connection. 

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