As the year comes to a close, we continue to celebrate new milestones. This fall, we were proud to be ranked in three areas by U.S. News & World Report: Neonatology, Nephrology, and Pediatric and Adolescent Behavioral Health. While U.S. News rankings are not the sole measure of excellence and can vary year to year, we celebrate the Neonatology and Nephrology divisions for their second consecutive honors. Additionally, we are thrilled that the collaborative efforts of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine, and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry earned recognition in the inaugural ranking for Pediatric and Adolescent Behavioral Health.
This issue highlights the Division of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) and its long legacy of advocating for and delivering the highest standards of care to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Today, they are engaged in several innovative projects, including expanding care models for children with sensory challenges; partnering with the Onondaga Nation to enhance DBP infrastructure; and engaging in large-scale training programs to produce the next generation of caregivers. Tom Golisano’s transformative $50 million gift to create the Golisano IDD Institute, which was announced earlier this year, will provide additional opportunity for the DPB team to expand their trailblazing work and deliver innovative services that improve the lives of children with IDD.
Finally, I want to extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported our annual Gala, which raised $2.5 million to fund a mobile health clinic that will help bridge gaps in healthcare by bringing that care directly to children in the community. We look forward to sharing updates on the clinic’s development and the impact it will have in future issues. Every time we raise the bar, our community rises to meet it! Thank you so much for an extraordinary year, and here’s to an even greater 2025.
Golisano Children’s Hospital Board of Directors
Kim McCluski, Board Chair*
Daan Braveman
Mike Buckley, Esq.
Steve Carl
Jeffery Davis
Lauren Dixon
Roger Friedlander
Jay Gelb
Mike Goonan*
Deborah Haen
John Halleran
James Hammer
Howard Jacobson
Todd Levine
Scott Marshall*
Gary Mauro*
Kathy Parrinello, R.N., Ph.D.
Brian Pasley
Ann Pettinella
Jenni Ralph*
Molly Branch Shill
Mark Siewert*
Mike Smith*
Steven Terrigino
Truman Tolefree
Donald Tomeny
James Vazzana
Alan Wood
Kathy York
Bruce B. Zicari II
Faculty
Jeffrey Andolina, M.D., M.S.
Marjorie Arca, M.D.
Jill Cholette, M.D.
Anjana Kundu , MD, ABHIM, FAAP
Michael Scharf, M.D.
Laurie Steiner, M.D.
Honorary Members
Michael Amalfi
Bradford C. Berk, M.D., Ph.D.
Al Chesonis
Judy Columbus
John L. DiMarco II
Wanda Edgcomb
Harvey Erdle
Nick Juskiw
Richard Kreipe, M.D.
Elizabeth R. McAnarney, M.D.*
Dante Pennacchia
Gail Riggs, Ph.D.
Mark B. Taubman, M.D.
Ex-Officio
Mike Fahy – (Interim)*
Steve Goldstein
Claire Haen
Jill Halterman, M.D., M.P.H*
Jennifer Johnson
David C. Linehan, M.D.
Douglas Phillips
R. Scott Rasmussen*
JoAnne Ryan, R.N., MHA
*Executive Committee
29TH ANNUAL STROLL FOR STRONG KiDS AND 5K
Gather your friends, family and colleagues and get moving for a great cause.
The Stroll is a family-friendly event featuring entertainment for the kids and lunch following the stroll. Join us on Saturday, May 31 in Genesee Valley Park. Additional information on theme, coming soon!
When: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Where: Genesee Valley Park
Register: online at givetokids.urmc.edu/stroll (Registration will open February 1)
Questions: Contact gchevents@ur.rochester.edu
Breaking Barriers
Through clinical innovation, education, and community advocacy, URMC’s Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics division empowers children with disabilities and their families.
The division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) in the Department of Pediatrics at Golisano Children’s Hospital houses the largest program in Upstate New York that offers comprehensive care to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), serving nearly 10,000 patients each year from across New York and Pennsylvania.
DBP cares for children with developmental or behavioral conditions including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, cerebral palsy and genetic disorders. And clinical diagnosis and management is just one aspect of its services. From providing guidance to families on caregiver strategies and coordinating with schools for needed learning accommodations, to facilitating transitions from school-based services to adult care systems, GCH DBP professionals can improve a child’s quality of life while supporting families in the face of complex challenges. The division’s multidisciplinary
clinical care teams—which include fellowship-prepared pediatricians, nurse practitioners, psychologists, dieticians, and others—collaborate extensively with embedded family navigators, specialists who are focused on addressing barriers to care and connecting families with resources for additional support.
A family navigator is “a dream come true,” says Sarah Milko, mother of a child with autism and CEO of AutismUp, a community service organization. “It’s extraordinary here in Rochester,” she says. “We have smart and compassionate medical services along with Tom Golisano’s commitment to disabilities. A group from Switzerland recently visited the clinic here in Rochester, and their minds were blown.”
“A child with complex issues requires a comprehensive treatment plan that includes family support,” says Lynn Cole, DNP, RP, PPCNP-BC, Director of Clinical Services and
Associate Division Chief. “If you go to other medical specialties for care, they likely won’t ask about friends and social interactions. But the social piece is critical to the overall wellness of a child with developmental disabilities. We recognize that treatment doesn’t end with a medication prescription—you have to also address ongoing functioning and well-being.”
“We view our work in the context of social justice; we are affirming the lives of disabled persons,” says GCH DBP Division Chief Dennis Z. Kuo, MD, MHS. “Individuals with disabilities have a right to live in their communities and receive the same services that are available to everyone.”
In addition to providing clinical services, the division also trains a cadre of interdisciplinary professionals who work with the disability community. And its researchers are at the forefront of advancing knowledge to better understand and improve care for individuals
Jill Halterman, chair of the Department of Pediatrics, with DBP leaders Laura Silverman, PhD, Dennis Kuo, MD, Abigail Kroening, MD, Lynn Cole, DNP, and Suzannah Iadarola, PhD
with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
URMC is one of only eight institutions nationwide earning all three federal designations related to IDD care: University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disorders (LEND), which both operate under the Division of DBP, and the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC) in the Department of Neuroscience.
The division has one overarching message to parents and children: You are not alone; we are here to help.
“Families across the region trust our DBP team not only because of the exceptional clinical care that has transformed outcomes for children,” said Jill Halterman, MD, MPH, Golisano Children’s Hospital’s Physician-inChief, “but also for the team’s long-standing history of partnership with the community to ensure families have access to the critical resources and support they need to care for a child with complex needs.”
THE ROCHESTER EFFECT
For more than 75 years, URMC has been advancing the knowledge and treatment of IDD. It was here in 1977 that psychiatrist George L. Engel developed the biopsychosocial model, an approach to medicine based on the assumption that health and illness are consequences of the interplay of biological, psychological and social factors.
The division has embraced the biopsychosocial model by training more than 3,000 professionals in various disciplines to provide comprehensive care and services for patients with IDD and by offering a wide range of family services. In addition, the division garners more than $4 million yearly in research funding to foster continued growth of the field.
Both URMC and GCH IDD care received a boost in June when philanthropist Tom Golisano committed $50 million to build the Golisano Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Institute. These additional funds will help accelerate services for the IDD population, estimated at 19,000 locally and 120,000 throughout the region.
“Having resources for individuals with IDD in one place will massively improve care delivery,” says John Foxe, PhD, director of the new Institute. “The Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics division is pivotal to the IDD community. I am excited to have their talent and expertise working alongside our other providers and researchers in this new institute. What happens here will inform medical advances and impact lives across the globe.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in thirtysix children have autism, while one in six children have an intellectual or developmental disability. Susan L. Hyman, MD, who served as DBP division director from 2008 to 2022, notes in her book chronicling URMC’S history of IDD services (A History of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Rochester: 1947–2019, co-authored with Philip W. Davidson, PhD, DBP’s inaugural division director) that much progress has already been made for this population. She remembers when people with disabilities were “marginalized, criminalized, and abused.”
The Jencik family. Brittany and Berry Jencik have 21 children; four of their seven biological children are on the autism spectrum and all 14 of their adopted children have special needs.
Nevertheless, challenges for the IDD population remain. It is expensive to fund clinical services for the increasing numbers of children with IDD, and healthcare staffing shortages are expected to worsen in the coming decades. Community and government resources can often be difficult to access, so more advocacy is needed to overcome communication, physical, educational, and social barriers. Fortunately, the Monroe County region has a strong network of support, according to Kuo.
“It’s phenomenal here in Rochester,” says Kuo. “In fact, families move to Rochester from different states because they recognize that care is more integrated here, and there is support from schools and recreational programs. I’ve seen children blossom after moving to Rochester, and some have even been able to discontinue medications they no longer need. There is still a lot of work to do, but it’s amazing to see these successes.”
Brittany and Barry Jencik of Penfield attest to the value of GCH DBP. They have 21 children; four of their seven biological children are on the autism spectrum, and all 14 of their adopted children have special needs.
“I could not do what I do without the support of the clinic. It builds a safety net, and we need that,” says Brittany. “DBP does a great job of tailoring treatment to my children’s individual needs.”
Receiving a diagnosis of autism is a lifechanging experience for parents, and Brittany recalls that the DBP clinic’s Nurse Practitioner, Lorna Patanella, “did not give up on my son and kept trying different solutions,” Brittany says. “He’s in a great place now and is a senior at RIT.”
AN EARLY LEADER
In the late 1940s, URMC emerged as a pioneer in the shift away from hospital care for children with IDD. Autism was not well understood at the time and treatments were limited. Under the leadership of Robert J. Haggerty, chair of the Department of Pediatrics from 1964 to 1975, communitybased care became a major focus. This work was expanded by later DBP division chiefs Davidson and Hyman.
National milestones aided the movement: In 1963 President Kennedy signed the first major legislation addressing the needs of the disability community, followed in 1990 by the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, making it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities in employment, access to medical care, and everyday activities.
When Stephen Sulkes, MD arrived at URMC in 1984 he was the only physician in the clinic. Sulkes and Hyman, both of whom will retire this year, were instrumental in building the program. Also instrumental were the late researchers Tristram Smith, PhD, “a quiet genius who was a major force behind behavioral intervention,” and Patricia Rodier, PhD, whose research proving genetic and environmental links to autism early in pregnancy “put Rochester on the map,” Hyman says.
By 2006, the division had grown from a small program within pediatrics to an internationally renowned division—with 98 faculty and staff offering an array of services and garnering millions in donations to fund research, fellowships, and professorships. And in 2017 it opened the William and Mildred Levine Autism Clinic, dedicated to providing integrated autism-related services.
“I’m proud of what we have accomplished,” says Hyman. “Rochester is right there at the cusp of the next step.”
THE CLINIC
The waiting room at the Levine Autism Clinic is not the typical sterile clinical space. Rather, it looks more like a children’s room at a library, specifically designed to promote a visually and aurally soothing environment for kids with sensory sensitivities.
Decals of green leaves dot the floor. Huge windows fill the room with daylight. There are no brightly colored posters of polka dots, which are typical staples of pediatric waiting rooms. Instead, the pale yellow walls are bare, and the only sound is occasional laughter or quiet conversations. Cartoonishly shaped chairs in green and blue smooth vinyl are arranged caterpillar-like throughout the room.
During a recent visit, a girl dressed as a fairy for Halloween flitted about the room. Other patients played with the large sensory board attached to one wall. A separate sensory room with shifting colors on a tall tube of bubbly water is available for patients who need a quiet space. A library staffed by a family navigator assists parents with community resources. A teen room and a “club” room offer private spaces.
Exam rooms are equally serene. Murals of floating hot air balloons occasionally appear on the mostly bare walls. Knobs and light switches are hidden inside cabinets, away from curious patients. Separate rooms offer privacy for meetings and training sessions, including a feeding room where children who have very selective preferences learn to tolerate the colors and textures of a variety of nutritious foods. Even the clinic’s location in a stand-alone building on East River Road is a feature beneficial to patients, as a visit to a clinic located in a busy hospital setting can present unique challenges to children with sensory sensitivities.
Many of the clinic’s employees have a child with disabilities, so they have a unique understanding of what patients and families are experiencing.
Ester, a patient with Down Syndrome treated in the DBP clinic.
Lisa Latten, clinic administrator and parent advocate, has a son who was diagnosed with autism 15 years ago. She remembers being exhausted by the time they checked in for a doctor’s appointment at the hospital. And then they had to wait in a loud, bright, and sterile waiting room.
“It felt like torture,” she recalls. “He was crying, and I was crying.”
So, when Latten fields calls from parents, she truly understands their concerns.
“When you hear the word autism, you recognize that society isn’t set up for individuals with disabilities,” she says. “It’s about your child, so your emotions run high. I truly have compassion because I can see myself in the parents.”
EDUCATION
Children with IDD interact with numerous professionals, including nurses, teachers, and
dentists, so DBP’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disorders (LEND) program focuses on training both healthcare and other professionals on how to best serve this population.
“Aside from training as many people as possible, we want to affect curriculum more broadly,” says Laura B. Silverman, PhD, program director of LEND and director of the Behavioral Interventions for Families Clinic.
“It is critical for all professionals who interact with children to have an understanding of disabilities.”
The LEND program trains several hundred fellows annually from many disciplines, including educators, nurses, dentists, doctors, social workers, and community advocates. Through these trainings, professionals in each discipline learn how to better serve individuals with developmental disabilities. Dentists, for example, learn to adapt examination rooms using strategies
such as dimming the lights to better accommodate children with sensory sensitivities.
Through this program, healthcare providers also learn that flexibility is key, because getting to an appointment, particularly via public transportation, can be especially complicated, with some families traveling four hours or more.
“We serve people with developmental disabilities best when we remember to meet them where they are, without preconceived notions. We should do the same for every person we meet,” said Abigail Kroening, MD, associate professor, director of DBP medical education, and program director of the ACGME DBP fellowship.
LEND training also includes sessions on policy and legislative advocacy—because systems change is crucial, says Silverman. To better understand the lived experience of those with
Trevor Bansbach, a patient with Cerebral Palsy who is treated by Lorna Patanella, NP, at the DBP clinic. Trevor is a hockey fan who participates in an accessible sled hockey team
disabilities and more effectively advocate for positive change, fellows are connected with a family to learn firsthand what living with a disability in Rochester entails.
LEND is one program that is slated to get additional support through the Golisano Institute and will continue to make a major impact toward training a robust future generation of caregivers for children with IDD.
For Silverman, the greatest benefit of working with disabled children is the opportunity to celebrate who they are. “I appreciate the individual,” she says. “I meet kids with disabilities who have amazing abilities. I work with them to capitalize on those abilities and ensure they have a productive and happy life that is meaningful to them.”
RESEARCH
Suzannah Iadarola, PhD, had planned, as an undergraduate student, to be a ”traditional” clinical researcher. Then an experience working with community partnerships shifted her focus. “I fell in love with the community model,” she says. “It derailed in the best of ways my plans for research.”
Iadarola is the director of Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, which is part of the UCEDD national network advancing policies and practices to improve the health, education, social, and economic well-being of people with developmental and other disabilities. She conducts communitypartnered research related to developing, disseminating, and evaluating community interventions to support those with IDD and their families.
“A future that values disabled lives will only be realized to the extent that people in leadership roles share their power with people with disabilities,” she says. “The more that we can stay true to that model, and the more that it’s an expectation and not just a cherry on top will elevate the broad mission.”
Iadarola says she feels especially lucky to have worked with the internationally renowned Smith, who demonstrated that behavior-based interventions help children with autism catch up to their peers in school.
“Tris was more than a professional mentor. Anyone who knew him knows that his lasting effect was his humility and his presence,” she says.
Iadarola is lead investigator on Mind the Gap, an intervention program conducted in collaboration with national partners to improve outcomes for families of autistic children from low-income households. Navigating the system of services can be daunting; this can delay early intervention strategies and negatively impact a child’s long-term outcomes. Parents of children newly diagnosed are paired with experienced parents, and efforts are made to match ethnic and race backgrounds.
“This is a relief to lots of families,” Iadarola says. “You don’t have to explain what it feels like because you are talking to someone who naturally gets it.”
A hospital-based research project with Iadarola and Amanda Laprime, PhD as co-investigators seeks to close a training gap for nurses who have had little or no experience with people with disabilities (covered on page 14).
“Nurses have so much knowledge and skill, but there may be gaps due to a lack of time and resources,” says Iadarola. “It’s about teaching skills and also creating a shared understanding about what the experience is like for people with disabilities when they come to the hospital.”
THE FUTURE
The aphorism “the measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable citizens” is an apt summary of the mission of DBP: Offer comprehensive services to patients with IDD and reorient society to fully embrace the right of individuals with IDD to thrive and enjoy all aspects of life.
While challenges remain, DBP—through clinical care, education, research, and critical community partnerships—is leading the way to a better future for all children with IDD. “If any community can transform into the ideal place where individuals with IDD can thrive, Rochester can,” says Kroening.
“ We serve people with developmental disabilities best when we remember to meet them where they are, without preconceived notions. We should do the same for every person we meet.”
DBP Patient Story: Karanbir Singh
Most people don’t have fond memories of doctors’ visits, but Karanbir Singh does. Now 21, he no longer goes to the Levine Autism Clinic. This makes him sad. He’s also sure it makes the staff sad.
“It’s really hard to say goodbye,” he says. “I will definitely be missed.”
What was so impactful?
“Miss Lynn always shows me toys, and she tests my heartbeat—it’s perfect,” he adds. He misses not only Lynn Cole, pediatric nurse practitioner and DBP’s director of clinical services, but physician Susan Hyman, psychologist Brenna Cavanaugh, and parent advocate Lisa Latten.
The clinic opened in 2017 as part of the expansion of the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) division, which offers comprehensive care to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
“The doctors at DBP were a lifesaver for the first few years,” says Nita, Karanbir’s mother. “The autism diagnosis is scary, but the mental and emotional support from them relieves a lot of stress.”
Nita says her concern about Karanbir began when teachers at his preschool noticed that he didn’t want to interact with other kids. As he began missing speech milestones, she told doctors she was worried. The response was: “He’s listening and he’ll catch up. You are a chatty family, so he probably can’t get a word in edgewise.”
A parent suggested Nita get a second evaluation, and Karanbir qualified for speech therapy. The therapist noted that he didn’t want to touch Play-Doh or anything sticky, so that led to occupational therapy and a special-education preschool.
“I thought we could engage him in these services and that’s what would help him,” Nita says.
When Karanbir was three, he was diagnosed with what is now called Autism Spectrum Disorder.
“The whole world turned upside down,” Nita says. “The vision of what you thought your life would be is suddenly changed. It’s like the rug was pulled out.”
Nita set aside her plans to return to work as a dentist.
“People are afraid of labels like autism, but in education there is security in getting a label so that you can get services,” she says.
The neighborhood school, Mendon Center Elementary in Pittsford, put Karanbir in special-education kindergarten in the morning and a regular class in the afternoon. At first Nita was told he didn’t need an aide, but she advocated for one because Karanbir would open and close a door for an hour or flush toilets repeatedly to watch the water swirl.
She discovered that understanding the system is critical. When he was eight years old, the state said that Karanbir no longer qualified for services. Nita appealed the decision, and this time a school psychologist explained that questions such as whether Karanbir could independently shower needed to be answered differently. He could shower if she pestered him, but would he take a shower without prompting? The answer this time was no, and he again qualified for services.
When puberty hit, and Karanbir’s behavior became difficult, “The people at the clinic were the only ones I could call,” Nita says. “They got us through.”
Karanbir pipes up to say that he was “using foul language and angry at mom and at school” and needed help controlling his behavior.
“My brain was getting sick, but Miss Lynn helped me make good choices,” he says. “She helped me to become a better person. Now I’ve matured.”
The clinic found a creative and effective solution, Nita says. For each problem, Karanbir and his doctors listed three potential reactions and the pros and cons of each. Then when he became frustrated at school, his teachers directed his attention to the form so he could choose the best reaction.
In his transition program at BOCES, Karanbir at times became upset, so doctors at DBP stepped in to help. Stephen Sulkes, one of the division physicians, visited the classroom to observe him. Nita couldn’t believe it when she read his report.
“Dr. Sulkes did such an amazing analysis of Karanbir in an hour that it blew me away, and it’s not easy to blow me away,”
Nita says. “He saw Karanbir. Not everybody is that perceptive.”
As a board member of AutismUp, Nita passes along her knowledge to parents just beginning the journey and is grateful for the assistance she received from DBP.
“You need someone to hold your hand, and the clinic was holding my hand right from the first day,” Nita says. “Then they find other people to hold your hand when you’re not in the building. Even when you don’t know where you’re going, they know.”
Building the Future of Giving: Golisano’s Associate Board Steps Up
The Golisano Children’s Hospital Board of Directors plays a critical role in raising support and funds for the GCH mission. This support, however, must be cultivated and maintained across generations to ensure the long-term sustainability of the institution.
This is where the new GCH Associate Board comes into focus. Started in 2023 with an initial group of 12 people who were identified by the main board, the associate board is a cross-section of younger participants—typically men and women in their 30s and 40s with young children, but also a few members in their late 20s—who are connecting with their peers to raise awareness and support.
“Social media plays a huge factor in how we engage, as well as our work networks,” said Claire Haen, associate board chair. “We utilize all of the social platforms to get the word out.”
Claire’s journey to the associate board comes through a family connection: Her grandfather-in-law is board member Roger Friedlander, and her mother-in-law, Deborah Haen, also serves on the board. Through these familial relationships, Claire attended several events and auctions over the years and developed both a knowledge of how GCH fundraising works and an appreciation of the cause.
“When the opportunity presented itself to chair the associate board, I jumped on it,” she said.
Many of the initial associate board members joined through these types of connections with the main board, and these members, in turn, have recruited more through their personal and professional networks. “Many of our members have young children that had experienced a hospital stay, from small NICU issues at birth to childhood cancer,” said Claire. “It’s really powerful to have people like that on the team.”
The associate board now has 18 members and has started to make their mark with several events. Their first event was a food-truck rodeo held in 2023, but the board achieved its breakthrough with a Pickleball tournament held at Dinkers in East Rochester.
“Pickleball is such a growing sport, especially among the age demographic of our board, and racquetball tournaments are common fundraisers, so we thought it was a natural fit.”
Despite being put together in a short time, the initial tournament was a success. With half the board participating and the other half managing the event—which was bolstered by 13 corporate sponsorships—38 teams and 76 players entered the tournament, and the board raised more than $14,000.
“The turnout was incredible, and we’re planning to make it an annual event going forward now,” said Claire.
In addition to the pickleball tournament, the associate board aims to have at least one other major event per year as well several smaller get-togethers, including a meat raffle in the near future and a few guest bartending nights in establishments around Rochester. With its footing now firmly established, Claire is optimistic that the board can expand its fundraising goals.
“We have way more understanding of how things work now, and we are excited to see how much more we can raise. We are aiming for $50,000 in the next year.”
The associate board’s first Pickleball tournament raised more than $14,000.
Personal Connection Anchors New Project with Onondaga Nation
Community partnerships are a common approach in the medical field, particularly in developmental and behavioral pediatrics (DBP), where strong relationships among clinicians, families, and advocates are essential. For the Onondaga Nation, however, “partnership” carries deeper meaning than a mere strategy or buzzword.
The Onondaga are one of the five original nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy that have populated Upstate New York since before the colonization of the Americas. Like most Indigenous peoples, their history with Western society, and, by extension, its institutions, has largely been one of exploitation. As a result, building a relationship with the Onondaga Nation requires a long-term effort that goes beyond meetings and contracts.
“Collaborating with us means understanding that we’re a sovereign nation with distinct protocols and procedures,” said Simone Gonyea, a member of the Onondaga Snipe clan and senior health project coordinator in the Department of Pediatrics’ Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Rochester. “To work with us, you need to actively engage with all facets of the community.”
Gonyea helps coordinate a project between Golisano Children’s Hospital (GCH) and the Onondaga Nation aimed at increasing access to DBP care for Indigenous children and families. The project, which started in 2023, is led by Christina Mulé, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. The goal is to create a system of lowbarrier care, improving the accessibility of DBP services for Indigenous children and their families.
Data from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs demonstrates that Indigenous children have the highest prevalence of special health care needs, at 16.6 percent, compared to 14.2 percent among non-Hispanic white children.
Gonyea, a former principal of the Onondaga Nation School with 22 years of experience working in the classroom, has seen this data reflected in the growing concern among the community. “This project is an opportunity to take a closer look at things that teachers and families were observing in their students,” she said.
“A number of children in the community have suspected developmental challenges, but due to stigma and difficulty accessing care, these children haven’t been identified and often do not receive the intervention services we would recommend they have,” echoed Mulé.
In the DBP field, resources are often stretched, even in affluent areas. The Onondaga Nation, like other Indigenous communities, faces inequitable access to care due to factors such as underfunding from Indian Health Services, lack of transportation in rural areas, and cultural differences that complicate bridging the divides between health systems and Indigenous populations.
Mulé became aware of these issues after reaching out to an Onondaga community member upon her return to Rochester, NY, from Boston, MA, where she spent the larger part of her early career at Tufts University School of Medicine. Thanks to seed money due to DBP’s University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disorders (UCEDD) designation, she was able to partner with the Onondaga Nation School, beginning school-based supports. Mulé’s pilot work eventually resulted in a $1M grant from New York State’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, which will support her work for five years and help her to extend DBP services across the medical and school sectors.
“I’m very interested in addressing health disparities and service inequities within developmental pediatrics,” said Mulé. “There’s a national shortage of specialists in our field, and waitlists are long even for families who know how to navigate the system. But what about the families who don’t know how to?”
Establishing Connection
Mulé’s personal background uniquely positions her to build the necessary trust within the Onondaga community. As a mixedrace, second-generation Korean American who grew up in
Mulé, Gonyea, and Cook (traditional medicine practitioner) at the creation story mural in Rochester, NY
LaFayette, NY, near the Onondaga border, she formed friendships with the Indigenous community early on, finding kinship in a predominantly white environment.
“I spent a lot of time on the ‘rez’ as a youth playing softball and cheering on the boys at lacrosse games,” said Mulé. “Those friendships were meaningful and helped me feel secure in my own racial identity.”
According to Gonyea, Mulé’s personal experiences have been key in establishing the foundation for the project. “She understands the community, having been connected as a youth. She supports us, inquires naturally, and knows when to pause—because she respects the culture,” Gonyea explained.
The scope of the project includes promoting developmental health, increasing developmental screenings, and improving access to developmental evaluation and intervention. This involves building capacity at the Onondaga Nation School and within the broader community. Patience is essential, however; while urgency often dominates the DBP world, the Onondaga Nation has experienced a long history of marginalization, from broken treaties to land appropriation and racial discrimination.
“A lot of this work is about developing allyships and friendships to break through the historical mistrust of Western institutions,” said Mulé. “You have to make a personal connection—and understand that reciprocity is fundamental to working successfully with Indigenous people.”
Mulé has made a genuine effort to establish these connections and has been humble enough to admit when there have been cultural missteps along the way. To help guide the work and build a partnership that is respectful of the Nation’s sovereignty, she and Gonyea have made concerted steps to connect with Nation leadership—the Longhouse, comprising nine clans each led by a Clan Mother who selects the Hoyanes (chiefs; the Onondaga have 14), including the Hoyane who represents the Nation in council—to gain approval for the project. Equally important, Mulé has immersed herself in the community, joining social activities on the Nation, including participating in a women’s book club, learning cultural practices such as making corn soup, and regularly eating at the Firekeepers Diner, a social hub of the community.
“Some of those social connections lead into doing the work, but mostly it’s about people getting to know me, which eventually fosters trust. It’s not just about sharing what I do professionally, but sharing about who I am as a person,” said Mulé.
“We’ve had previous projects with the University of Rochester Medical Center, but they were more academic in nature,” said Gonyea, “This is a much deeper effort that Christina is engaging in.”
As Gonyea and Mulé enter year two of the five-year grant, they are fully engaged in all aspects of the grant objectives, which include (1) engagement in bidirectional knowledge-sharing
that improves partnership between GCH and the Onondaga Nation; (2) workforce training and technical assistance to educators serving Indigenous children with developmental disabilities—enhancing the ability for children to remain in their community school, which is rich in culture and language; (3) developmental promotion through community education initiatives; and (4) access to timely developmental and behavioral pediatrics screening, evaluation, and intervention.
“We’re currently building a support network and raising awareness,” said Gonyea. “We want to reach a point where a family member or teacher with questions knows exactly where to go for help.”
As the project continues to progress, Mulé hopes this connection can help sustain the project beyond the initial fiveyear run, leading to long-term infrastructure that will enable the next generation of Onondaga children to thrive.
“The goal is to serve as allies and advocates for the community and bring needed developmental services to the Nation that are respectful of their cultural heritage and sovereignty.”
Mule also hopes that Golisano Institute funding allocated to UCEDD will also help support unique projects like this in the future.
“The seed funding from UCEDD really helped the project take off,” she said, “There’s opportunity to reach even more communities that we haven’t before, and we’re hopeful that the Golisano Institute can help facilitate that approach.”
Christina Mulé making traditional corn soup. Since the beginning of the project, Mulé has embedded herself within the Onondaga community
Intensive Behavior Team Sets Foundation for Proactive Treatment
For families with neurodivergent children, clinical care is rarely straightforward. Tasks such as blood draws, giving medication, and managing post-surgery recovery can present significant challenges for both the care team and the patient’s family.
“Everything—from noise, type of space, number of people, and lack of structure and routine—can be very stressful and anxietyinducing for neurodivergent children,” said Amanda Laprime, PhD, associate professor of Pediatrics and Medicine in the divisions of Transitional Care Medicine and Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
Laprime directs the Intensive Behavior Team, a UR Medicinewide behavioral consultation service for patients with neurodevelopmental disorders across medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry. Her research and clinical focus centers on treating severe behavior, promoting health equity in medical settings, and implementing system-wide approaches to serve patients with complex needs.
“The goal of the Intensive Behavior Team is to proactively understand families’ needs, reassure them that they’re not alone, minimize trauma and restraints, and ensure that someone on the care team truly understands disabilities and positive behavior supports,” said Laprime.
The team was developed in response to the challenges children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face in clinical environments. While developmental and behavioral pediatrics (DBP) clinics are often optimized for children with IDD, many non-DBP outpatient and inpatient settings present sensory overload risks.
“Our providers in both DBP and complex care, who see patients with complex IDD, recognized that while we had a robust outpatient service, inpatient access was challenging. The environment itself was difficult for families and patients, and many struggled just to be there, impacting their ability to receive care,” Laprime explained.
Established in 2020, the Intensive Behavior Team has grown significantly. In 2021, the team introduced Sensory Carts for patients with IDD at GCH, stocked with items like weighted blankets, handheld puzzles, magnetic tiles, and beanbag chairs. The carts quickly became popular among parents and children with sensory needs.
Since then, the team has expanded to include five licensed behavior analysts and two registered behavior techs, enhancing its ability to consult with families before both inpatient and outpatient visits to create care plans that prioritize comfort and minimize disruption.
Families now benefit from the Intensive Behavior Team’s support in various scenarios, from its assistance with post-surgery recovery to managing inpatient EEGs. Although coordinating with families in advance is standard, the team is also called in to help when issues arise during treatment.
Parent Venisha Bennings benefited from the Intensive Behavior Team’s support firsthand. When her daughter Aubrianna— who is diagnosed with autism—struggled to recover from a tonsillectomy in August, Laprime intervened to guide her recovery.
“We followed all the post-surgery instructions, but she resisted taking and holding down her medicine, was in severe pain, had lost six pounds, and wasn’t sleeping,” Venisha shared. “She was eventually readmitted, but the overall situation wasn’t improving, and she had to be restrained for IV fluids and other treatments.”
Laprime and her team provided crucial support, offering guidance for Aubrianna and specific instructions to the care team–including nurses, doctors, and support staff—on how to reintroduce food and drinks, understand Aubrianna’s medical trauma, and ensure a therapeutic environment that would help her progress medically.
“Amanda listened and became an instant friend to my child,” said Venisha. “She and her team worked to redirect Aubrianna, helping her take her medicine, and trained the care team with detailed written instructions.” Aubrianna has now fully recovered from the tonsillectomy and is doing well at home.
The Intensive Behavior Team’s work is also augmented by a new, large-scale teaching initiative for caregivers of neurodiverse patients: A five-year, $1.5 million grant from the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) is funding training for acute-care nurses in the Division of Transitional Care Medicine, in collaboration with the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). This training equips nurses to understand the healthcare needs of children with IDD, navigate communication barriers, and better support patients with dual diagnoses across the lifespan.
Launched at URMC in spring 2023, the nurse trainings—led by Laprime and Dr. Suzannah Iadarola—are set to expand to a minimum of 10 additional hospitals over the next five years. Developed collaboratively with nurses, educators, families, and self-advocates, the training includes classroom sessions, simulations, and in-person pairings with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
In its initial years, the program aims to incorporate feedback from caregivers and the community to continuously improve. Additional support from the Golisano Institute could further extend the program’s impact.
“We look forward to a future where nursing staff are wellequipped to communicate with children with IDD; are creating safe, effective treatment plans in collaboration with the Intensive Behavior Team; and are making meaningful, sustained progress with the Golisano Institute’s potential support,” Laprime said.
Venisha Bennings and her daughter Aubrianna benefited from the Intensive Behavior Team’s personalized approach
The intensive behavior team: Anais Rosin, Elizabeth Ohle, Amanda Laprime, Stephanie Castiglione-Ton, Natalie Shull, and Julianna Clum
GCH Ranked in Three Specialties by U.S. News & World Report
of New York State, with a catchment area of 1.2 million, and the NICU admits 1,200 newborns each year.
Pediatric and Adolescent Behavioral Health
UR Medicine’s Golisano Children’s Hospital has been recognized as one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals in three specialty areas in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospital rankings.
The 2024–2025 rankings, released online Tuesday, October 8, placed the children’s hospital’s Neonatology Program at number 41 nationally, the Nephrology Program at number 44, and Pediatric and Adolescent Behavioral Health in the top 50.
This is the second year in a row that the Nephrology and Neonatology divisions have been ranked and the first year that U.S. News & World Report has published rankings in the area of pediatric and adolescent behavioral health.
“We are honored that the Nephrology and Neonatology divisions have been recognized again for their excellent work, and that the divisions of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, and Adolescent Medicine have all received credit in the inaugural U.S. News ranking of pediatric and adolescent behavioral health for their proactive efforts to address pediatric behavioral health.” said Jill Halterman, physician-in-chief of Golisano Children’s Hospital. “I am proud of the efforts of all our divisions to help every child reach their full potential and serve families throughout our region and beyond.”
Neonatology
The Division of Neonatology provides care at the University of Rochester’s Golisano Children’s Hospital’s 68-bed Level IV NICU and at Rochester General Hospital’s 14bed Level II SCN. The university is the perinatal center for the Finger Lakes Region
The division consists of 26 neonatologists, several pediatricians and 5 tenure-track PhD laboratory investigators. Faculty hold a variety of federally funded grants and contracts, including several multicenter grants. The division has been recognized as among the nation’s best by U.S. News and World Report for five of the last seven years.
“This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to deliver safe, high-quality care to every baby and family,” said Carl D’Angio, MD, chief of the Division of Neonatology. “Much of the credit goes to the hardworking nurses, faculty, and staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help.”
Pediatric Nephrology
The Division of Pediatric Nephrology provides care for children and adolescents with kidney-associated problems, including chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, and hypertension. The division also provides state-of-the-art comprehensive care including dialysis and kidney transplantation management and is staffed by seven physicians, a nurse practitioner, two nurses, a social worker, a registered dietitian, a child psychologist, two health-project coordinators, and administrative staff. The division also has an active research program that is focused on hypertension and on chronic kidney disease as well as a robust fellowship training program.
“We are very pleased to receive this national recognition again,” said Marc Lande, MD, chief of the Division of Pediatric Nephrology. “Our team works tirelessly to provide the best care for children with kidney disease, to conduct innovative research, and to train the next generation of pediatric nephrologists.”
The Pediatric and Adolescent Behavioral Health category recognizes the achievements of several divisions at GCH, including the divisions of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, and Adolescent Medicine.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UR Medicine is the largest provider of ambulatory children’s mental health services, the region’s only child and adolescent psychiatry inpatient unit, and the only adolescent partial hospital program in Western New York. The division’s ambulatory services include two large clinic sites and satellites in pediatric primary care and pediatric specialty offices, as well as in public schools throughout the region. The division recently launched the Brighter Days Pediatric Mental Health Urgent Care Center, the only service of this type in Upstate New York.
The Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) cares for children and adolescents who have a wide range of developmental and behavioral disorders as well as for their families. The DBP team is the largest in Upstate New York offering comprehensive care to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, intellectual disability, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and cerebral palsy. The multidisciplinary team includes developmental-behavioral pediatricians, registered dietitians, pediatric nurse practitioners, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, pediatric social workers, psychologists, and others. The DPB division will expand further in the next few years thanks to a $50 million grant from Tom Golisano to fund several programs.
The Division of Adolescent Medicine provides specialty inpatient and outpatient medical services for 12 to 25 year-olds. The
Adolescent Medicine interprofessional team is the largest in Upstate New York, designing and implementing innovative clinical programs for teens and young adults in the areas of eating disorders, gender health, reproductive healthcare, and transitioning medical care to adult providers.
The U.S. News & World Report rankings feature the 50 best children’s hospitals in 11 pediatric specialties. During the past 12 years, Golisano Children’s Hospital has appeared in the top 50 in 8 of the 11 categories.
Annual Golf Tournament Braves the Weather and Hits Fundraising Goal
The 28th Annual Golisano Children’s Hospital Golf Tournament was held on Monday, September 9 at Oak Hill and Monroe Golf Clubs. The event was sold out on all three courses, and although the weather didn’t completely cooperate, everyone had a great time. We raised more than $555,000 (gross revenue), and are extremely grateful to the many sponsors who helped make this year’s event a tremendous success. A special thanks goes to Accurate Acoustic for serving as presenting sponsor again this year! Save the date for the 2025 tournament: Monday, September 8.
The Golisano Children’s Hospital Gala was held on Saturday, October 19, at Pinnacle Athletic and Events Center in Victor. The guests were welcomed to the Land of Oz, complete with a living wine wall, flying monkeys, wickedly fun witches, Ozian entertainment, and so much more. More than 600 guests enjoyed spectacular entertainment, delicious food, and a wonderful band to round out the evening. This year’s fundraising focused on the creation of a new Mobile Medical Clinic that will allow us to bring care directly to where children live, learn, and play and will improve
access to healthcare for children who experience barriers to receiving care in traditional settings. We thank the numerous sponsors, donors, and attendees who helped raise almost $2.5 million! We extend our gratitude to our honorary chairs, Bill and Rhonda Goodrich, and event chairs, Lauren Dixon and Mike Schwabl. We would especially like to thank our amazing friends at LeChase for their $1 million gift, along with the Sands Family Foundation’s $250,000 challenge, which truly helped elevate the evening’s fundraising.
Special Thanks to our Gala Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Diamond Sponsors
Mark and Maureen Davitt
Dixon Schwabl + Co.
Elmer W. Davis, Inc.
Art and Judy Finocchario
Garber Rochester
LeChase Construction
James and Joyce Magee
Paychex, Inc.
Robert and Deirdre Relph
Don and Leslie Tomeny
Tops Friendly Market
William and Mildred Levine Foundation
Platinum Sponsors
Cooper/Haims an ESL Company
Dwyer Architectural, LLC
JT Mauro Co, a Crosby-Brownlie Co.
Joe Lancia, DO, and Alan Bertch
JP Morgan Chase
M/E Engineering
Tom and Georgia Macauley
Royal Oak Realty Trust
Molly and Ed Shill Cares Foundation
Doug and MaryEllen Weins
Wisteria Flowers & Gifts
Gold Sponsors
AJAY Glass Co.
Billitier Electric
Canandaigua National Bank
McCarthy Table & Tents
Panther Graphics
Silver Sponsors
B&L Wholesale Supply
Alan Cohen and Nancy Bloom
Dept. of Imaging Sciences
Dept. of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation
DGA Builders
High Probability Advisors
Holdsworth Klimowski Construction
Kim and Steve McCluski
Michael Leone and Gillian Hargrave
Rochester Davis Fetch Corp.
Rochester Management
Patron Sponsors
AAC Contracting
Advantage Federal Credit Union
Dr. Marjorie Arca- Dept. of Surgery
The Bonadio Group
Bond, Schoenek and King Attorneys
Alexander and Scott Cannan
Community Bank
Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Fairport Music Festival
Friedlander Family Foundation
Frontier Communications
Hodgson Russ, LLP
Medicus Healthcare
MVP Healthcare
Pediatric Eating Disorder Coalition of Upstate NY
Ronald McDonald House Charities
SCC Soft Computers
The Schoff Group/UBS Financial Services
Strong Memorial Directors’ Office
Dr. Dawn Sweeney, Peds Anesthesiology
West Herr Automotive Group
Friend Sponsors
Accountable Health Partners
Daan and Lorraine Braveman
Passero Associates
Power Management Co., LLC
UR Medicine Thompson Health
Frank and Kathy York
Elmwood Dental Group
Daystar
Drs. Jan and John Schriefer
SUMMER EVENT RECAPS
Fairport Music Festival
The 20th anniversary of the Fairport Music Festival did not disappoint: More than $300,000 was raised for GCH through the 2024 festival, and $3 million total has been raised during the past two decades. Fairport Music Festival’s support has greatly assisted GCH toward achieving its goal of helping all children reach their full potential, and we look forward to many more decades of collaboration!
B&L Wholesale Supply
This year was the 30th Anniversary of the B&L Golf Tournament. The event raised a record $357,855, and to date it has raised more than $3.5 million dollars! During the past 30 years, funds from the B&L tournament have supported everything from past funds-in-need such as the IR Suite and Brighter Days Urgent Care, to PICU beds and MRI suites and more! Thank you to B&L for its long-time dedication to GCH.
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK PARTNERS FOR THEIR ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS AND SUPPORT!
A SPECIAL
Kiwanis
One Square Mile of Hope held their fundraising 10-year anniversary event on September 14th in an attempt to break their Guinness world record for the largest canoe and kayak raft. They unfortunately did not break their world record, but had more than 1,853 boats in attendance for their raft up. The event brought more than $110,000 to various charities with $33,000 coming to Golisano Children’s Hospital!
Tops
Our local Tops Markets continue to provide critical funding and in-kind donations throughout the year. In 2024, their record-breaking golf tournament raised more than $86,000 thanks to the incredible commitment of some of the Tops management – Dan VanAuker, Eric Czekanski, and Patty Ryan. During the ten-year span of the tournament, close to $500,000 has been raised to support the children in our region! In addition to the golf tournament, Tops holds many in-store fundraising events and generously sponsors several of our events, including the annual Stroll for Strong Kids and Gala. They are also quick to help our need for in-kind donations for many of our fundraising initiatives, including our annual Prom. This year’s fundraising efforts brought in an amazing $167,734. Thank you Tops management and associates for your incredible support.
Thank you!
We are extremely grateful to our community fundraisers.
18th Annual Daniels Race
24th Annual WNY Golf Tournament
30th Annual B&L Golf Tournament
3rd Annual #OurNash Golf Tournament
4th Annual American Rock Salt Golf Tournament
6th Annual Matthews Auto Walkathon
7th Annual Music for Mom Fundraiser
8th Annual Fourth of July Lemonade Stand on Lomond Shores
Abbey Friend and TJ Vienna—1st Annual Strong like Quinn Cornhole Tournament
Andy McDermott, Rob Burch, Darryl Walczak and friends from the Fairport Music Festival
Battle of Route 36 Football Game Fundraiser— Dansville-Wayland-Cohocton and Hornell Schools
Bob Segave and Roberts Wesleyan University
Born Brave 5k Fundraiser in honor of Nina Schifferle
Budda Foundation
College Town Flea Market Fundraiser
Craig Demmin—3v3 Soccer Tournament
Dan Barrow and friends for the 9/9/9 Challenge Fundraiser
Delta Sonic July Round up Campaign
Fairport Fall Crawl Fundraiser—Thanks to Northside, Dudley, Brooks Hill and Jefferson Avenue Elementary Schools
Gavyn Rossi and Family
Heather Amici Vanderbrook—2nd Annual 18 Holes for Julia Golf Tournament
Hector Vargas and Family—5th Annual Joshua Honebrink Wiffleball Tournament
Joseph Lunch & Premier Community Relations
Inc- Celebrity Softball Game Fundraiser
Joshua Fox—Putting for the PICU Golf Tournament
Jr. Amerks—Hockey Fights Cancer Night Fundraiser
Kyle O’Donnell and Family
Martial Arts America—Brighton Location
Maureen Piles
Moe’s Southwest Grill—College Town Location
Our friends from Expressive Beginnings
Our friends from Family First Credit Union
The Alpha Clionian Sorority (of SUNY Geneseo)
Theo, Eli and Bea Osborne
Music for Mom Fundraiser
#OurNash Golf Tournament
Born Brave 5k Fundraiser
Family First Credit Union
Gavyn Rossi and Family
American Rock Salt
Upcoming Community Events
Annual Ugly Disco Event
April 26
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Come out and dance at the 19th annual Ugly Disco uglydisco.com
Stroll for Strong Kids
Saturday, May 31
Genesee Valley Park
Gather your friends, family and colleagues and join us for this family-fun event. givetokids.urmc.edu/stroll
GCH Golf Tournament
Monday, September 8
Oak Hill East and West and Monroe Golf Club
Contact Betsy Findlay (bfindlay@admin.rochester.edu) for sponsorship information.
GCH Gala
Saturday, October 18
Pinnacle Athletic and Event Center, Victor, NY
Join us for a fabulous evening of good food, entertainment and the opportunity to bid on amazing live and silent auction items. Givetokids.urmc.edu/gala
Help give back just by using your debit card! Each year, Advantage will donate a portion of their profits to Golisano Children’s Hospital when you use the GCH debit card. Advantage has donated over $32,000 to Golisano Children’s Hospital since 2013!
Scott Rasmussen Sr. Assistant Vice President for Advancement
Betsy Findlay Sr. Director of Advancement, Special Events and Children’s Miracle Network
Dave Brown Associate Director of Advancement
Sarah Craig Associate Director, Community Affairs
Jennifer Paolucci Assistant Director, Special Events and Children’s Miracle Network
Katie Keating Development Program Associate
John Belt Advancement Assistant
Public Relations and Communications
585.273.2840
Scott Hesel Communications Manager
Karen Ver Steeg Art Direction & Design
Find us on social media:
facebook.com/GolisanoChildrensHospital
instagram.com/urmed_gch
University of Rochester Office of Advancement and Community Affairs
300 East River Road PO Box 278996
Rochester, NY 14627-8996
The Season of Giving
Gifts of all sizes, from thousands of people throughout our community and beyond, have helped support Golisano Children’s Hospital. From the launch of the Brighter Days Mental Health Urgent Care to the opening of the Interventional Radiology Suite, your support is helping GCH grow into a nationally recognized hospital. So in the season of giving, we ask that you consider a gift to Golisano Children’s Hospital. You will be investing in a brighter future for thousands of children and families.
300 East River Road, PO Box 278996
Rochester, NY 14627
Golisano Children’s Hospital Office of Advancement
Your gift to Golisano Children’s Hospital is tax deductible; make your gift by Dec. 31 in order to claim on your 2024 taxes. If you’re a donor or potential donor and would like to speak with us directly, please feel free to call (585) 273-5948.
