On Veteran’s Day, the grand opening of the STRIDE Health and Recreation Education (SHARE) Center took place at our headquarters in West Sand Lake. For the first time in Capital Region history, the newly renovated SHARE Center debuted our premiere adaptive sports and fitness community center and gym. Many well-respected NYS elected officials along with hundredes of well-wishers joined the CEO of STRIDE, Mary Ellen Whitney, in cutting the ribbon in honor of the official opening, including US Congressman Antonio Delgado, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, Assemblyman John McDonald, Assemblyman Jake Ashby, and several others. The generous support and donations this year from members of the Capital Region played a significant role in the final stages of completion, and without such backing the SHARE Center would not have been possible! The center was nearly 75% built by volunteers!
 
Major SHARE Center donors included: American National Insurance , Architectural Glass & Meta l, STRIDE Board of Directors, Bonded Cement, Alexander Butcherblock , Crawford Door & Window Sales, Hynes Family Foundation, Keller Williams Realty, Kurt Butenhoff Family Foundation, Frank Wicks, GE Veteran’s Network, GE Healthcare , Homiack Brothers Plumbing, Farm Family Insurance, Frank Wicks, Paul O’Leary Family, Phillips Hardware , RA Hunsdorfer Foundation,  Regeneron , Studio Seven Architects, Team Rubicon, Troy Sand and Gravel, UPS Foundation, and Wilson Brothers Heating & Cooling. Thank you to the many volunteers and companies that kindly volunteered their time and resources!
 
The SHARE Center now offers an extension of our current program amenities, designed with an elevator and two ADA-compliant bathrooms. The multi-program space and adaptive fitness gym will provide athletes with an innovative exercise space and allows STRIDE to offer other wellness programs. Additionally, the wounded warrior/family lounge, training and conference spaces plan to host organizations that provide services for like-minded topics and organizations, and fitness and nutrition education. “After years of research and dedication to perfecting this project, it finally came to fruition” said Mary Ellen Whitney, the Founder and CEO of STRIDE. “The exponential growth for adaptive sports and equality carried us to the next level of being able to serve our constituents with life changing experiences; and STRIDE as an organization is now sustainable for generations to come.” The SHARE Center will help to make the Capital Region a more inclusive and accessible community for under served individuals.