Milestone Memories

Roger Brandt has been an Al Sigl volunteer for 35 years. His first impression of Al Sigl’s Golisano Campus at Elmwood was how the physical spaces fostered a sense of community, of shared purpose.

“Walking the halls, you passed from one agency to the next, seeing the gym, the classrooms. I remember thinking how Al Sigl’s model of collaboration made so much sense,” Roger recalls. “I had never seen a gathering of so many people with so many different needs in one space, in one tremendous building.”

When he was young, Roger talked with his son, Ryan, about why he became involved. As Ryan got older, he decided to volunteer as well. “I hadn’t really thought about all of the different supports that the agencies need to be able to focus on serving the individuals who rely on their programs,” Ryan says. “The agencies not only need space, they need a partner that is going to be responsive to their needs. And for Al Sigl to provide that, and provide funding as well, that is incredible.”

Sarah Greive, who works with Roger and Ryan at Rochester’s Cornerstone Group, is also a volunteer. Sarah’s sister, Summer Thornton, who passed away at the age of 25, received services from Al Sigl Member Agencies from a young age. “Having a sister born in the 1970s with multiple physical disabilities, I saw how hard my mother worked to care for Summer before she found Al Sigl,” Sarah says.

“They say it takes a village to raise a healthy child. It takes even more to raise a child with special needs. That’s one of the main reasons I became involved, because I want families to realize they are not alone.”

A Growing Need
Over the years, our collaborative has grown from “one tremendous building” on Elmwood Avenue to encompass nearly two dozen buildings on six campuses. It has grown from serving 3,000 to serving over 55,000, with more and more individuals and families turning to Al Sigl Member Agencies for help and support each year.

You Can Help
Your gift today will help thousands of children and adults with special needs served by Al Sigl’s seven Member Agencies become more independent, achieve their goals, and be more fully included in community life.