In 1985, Regina Snowden founded Partners for Youth with Disabilities in order to address the need for youth programs to better serve and accommodate individuals with disabilities. By matching eight youth with adult mentors who had similar disabilities, PYD and the Mentor Match program began.
The awards and accomplishments that PYD has received in the last five years are listed on our Recognition page, but below you’ll find the PYD Timeline of Recognition, with other awards and accomplishments dating back further into PYD’s past.
2009
- In partnership with the Connecticut Department of Rehabilitative Services, PYD kicks off a series of mentoring inclusion trainings. Over 67 people from 44 organizations throughout Connecticut are trained.
2008
- PYD mentee Javier Serrano and PYD mentor Oz Mondejar are selected by the Massachusetts Mentoring Partnership to throw the first pitch at the June 4th Red Sox game as part of Mentoring Night at Fenway Park. Match Serrano and Mondejar are also featured in the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy newsletter: “Workers with Disabilities: Talent for a Winning Team” (January 2008 edition).
- PYD helps create a new film titled “We Are Able: Perspectives of Transitioning Young Adults with Disabilities.” The film was created by the Massachusetts Young Adult Advisory Council (YAAC), a joint project of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and PYD.
- PYD is commissioned by Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation to create the “Portraits of Youth Project” which presents stories of youth with disabilities from around the country. Told in their own words, these portraits showcased young people’s lives, dreams, and abilities.
- PYD Executive Director Regina Snowden is recognized by the Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers for excellence in nonprofit administration.
2007
- PYD Executive Director Regina Snowden recognized by the Massachusetts Council of Human Service Providers, Inc. for excellence in nonprofit administration.
- Boston Globe features PYD programming on front page of the Boston Globe on November 26, 2007 in article titled, Strengthening their bonds: Online communication enhances relationships for those with disabilities.
- PYD Executive Director Regina Snowden receives the Local Hero Award from Bank of America, Neighborhood Excellence Initiative.
2006
- First National Conference on Mentoring For Youth with Disabilities hosted by PYD in September 2006, with over 300 attendees
- Submitted a White Paper to the U.S. Department of Labor entitled, “Steps to the Inclusion of Youth with Disabilities in America’s Mentoring Programs” commissioned by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office on Disability Employment Policy
- Provided training and technical assistance to over 10 organizations nationally to assist them in implementing mentoring programming including youth with disabilities through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office on Disability Employment Policy
- Created, facilitated and grew the National Disability Mentoring Council, comprised of 40 members across the nation to promote mentoring programs for youth with disabilities. Members represent program providers, funders, business leaders, and government representatives.
- Published The Best Practices Guide for Mentoring Youth with Disabilities
- Successfully completed a needs assessment as well as development and field testing of online evaluation forms commissioned by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office on Disability on the I Can Do It, You Can Do It! program in which children and youth with disabilities are matched with physically active mentors
- PYD’ completed a two-year project funded to implement the Inclusion Mentoring Project in collaboration with Mass Mentoring Partnership. The goal of the project is to enhance resources for mentoring programs in Massachusetts to help them better understand and met the needs of all youth served, including youth with disabilities.
2005
- PYD recognized by the Boston Foundation and the Boston After-School for All Partnership with the Best Practices Award in Teen Programming.
2004
- PYD’s Access to Theatre program was selected to receive the 2004 Coming Up Taller Award by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. This distinction as one of the top arts and humanities based programs in the country serving youth was made possible through the Massachusetts Cultural Council that nominated Access to Theatre for this award.
- PYD Peer Leader and Mentor, Sarah MacIssac, was selected to receive the Five Promises Scholarship from America’s Promise—The Alliance for Youth along with six other young leaders from throughout the country in recognition of her leadership in PYD and as a mentor as well as for her work advocating for access in her community. America’s Promise, whose founding chairman was General Colin Powell, was founded by all of the living presidents at the Summit for America’s Future in Philadelphia in 1997.
2003
- Article written by PYD Executive Director, Regina Snowden, published in American Rehabilitation, 3, 46-41.
- PYD mentor Leonardine Pacombe receives the “Thousand Points of Light Award” from Governor Mitt Romney at the State House on October 28, 2003 for her exemplary service mentoring youth with disabilities.
2002
- Noah Parsons, Peer Leader and Making Healthy Connections Springfield participant, awarded National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurial Spirit award for “Noah’s Fresh Produce” business upon recommendation of Young Entrepreneurs Project.
2001
- PYD Mentor Match Program awarded Grand Prize by the National Organization on Disability (NOD) for the NOD/UPS Community Service Awards
- Executive Director Regina Snowden selected for the “Clara Barton Award” from the American Red Cross for her longstanding commitment to the community in the spirit of Clara Barton, Founder of the American Red Cross
- Brad Parmenter honored with Speakers Bureau Pillar of Support award from the United Way for presenting to agencies about contributing to the United Way
- Young Entrepreneurs Project alumnus, MaryAnn Gallagher, selected for National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurial Spirit award for her business, “MaryAnn’s Beauty Supplies”
- Young Entrepreneurs Project teacher, Ramona Foster, named a “Teacher of the Year” by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship.
2000
- PYD mentee, Milagro Rivera, received Entrepreneurial Spirit award from the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship for her business, “Milagro’s Variety Store”
- Oswald Mondejar, Young Entrepreneurs Project teacher and PYD mentor, selected as a “Teacher of the Year” by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship and featured on a Channel 5 News A+ segment for extraordinary educators
1999
- Young Entrepreneurs Project teacher, Leonardine Pacombe, becomes second YEP staff member to receive a “Teacher of the Year” prize from the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship
- “Best of Child and Youth Care” awarded to Assistant Director Maureen Gallagher from the New England Network for Child, Youth and Family Services
- Executive Director Regina Snowden honored for her contributions to the Boston Public Schools’ School-to-Career Program – Project Strive
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health Award given to Making Healthy Connections
- Peer Leadership Program awarded United Way Group Gold Champion of Change prize
1998
- Young Entrepreneurs Project Director, Shirley Dopson, received the first of PYD’s Teacher of the Year awards from the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship
- PYD selected as a runner up for the Award for Excellence in Children’s Health given by the Harvard School of Public Health, Children’s Hospital and the City of Boston
1997
- PYD mentee and Young Entrepreneurs Project alumnus, Chris Dunne, honored with Entrepreneurial Spirit award from the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship for his business design, “The Soda and Snack Stop”