RISSA

09/12/2025

Here's to the amazing, hard-working, entrepreneurial, spectacularly generous, and also famous (um ... you may have seen him on the Times Square Jumbotron last weekend?!?) SETH DAME!!! 🤩

Did we mention that Seth is also a RISSA member? Not to brag
(oh, who are we kidding? we're gonna go ahead and brag a little) ... we really have the coolest friends 😎

That's Seth in the center, holding a check, surrounded by other very cool RISSA members. This is the moment when he took a few minutes away from his job at the Newport County YMCA to present an incredibly generous donation to RISSA. 😍Seth hosts a very successful Pop-up breakfast event every summer - donating the proceeds to charity - and this year RISSA was a lucky and extremely grateful recipient of his philanthropy!!! 🥰

RISSA runs on our community's generosity, and Seth's charitable donation will make a huge impact on our ability to sustain and grow our experiential learning community for young people with special needs. We're working hard to build capacity to meet rising demand for our dynamic, innovative programs, and philanthropic support has never been more vital. From investing in our teaching teams, to expanding our space, to meeting our members' transportation needs - including acquisition of a wheelchair-accessible van - generous friends like Seth make it all happen! 🤗

If you'd like to join Seth in supporting RISSA, please consider participating in our first-ever Golf Tournament on October 27! If you're a golfer - or you'd like to align your business or organization with RISSA's life-changing mission as a sponsor - please visit www.rissagolf.org for all the details! (Donations to our silent auction are also very gratefully accepted!) ⛳️

If golf isn't your jam - but you'd still like to be like Seth and support RISSA 😊please visit www.rissanewport.org to make an online gift.

Seriously ... is this fabulous or what? We're still floating on air. Thanks, Seth!!! (And thanks to everyone who supported his Pop-up!!!) We love you!!!❤️❤️❤️

09/07/2025

When your friend is on the Times Square Jumbotron ... 😍 We always knew you were a superstar, Seth, but ... come on!!! 🤩 CONGRATULATIONS ⭐️ Among your many other enterprises and achievements, thank you for bringing your special mojo to our RISSA learning community 😎 Over the moon and so proud of you!!! 🥰

🌟 Big News! 🌟

We are incredibly proud to share that our very own Welcome Center employee — and dear friend — Seth has received national recognition at the National Down Syndrome Society’s Annual Presentation in Times Square, NYC! 🗽🎉
Seth’s smile, heart, and dedication brighten our center each day he is there, and now the whole country gets to see what we’ve always known — he’s a true star! ⭐

Join us in congratulating Seth on this well-deserved honor. We’re so lucky to have him on our team! 💙

09/07/2025

What's better than a gorgeous October day on one of America's most beautiful golf courses? 🌞 All that plus a a great cause! 😍Please join us for the Rhode Island Social Skills Academy's very first ever golf tournament ... and help amazing young people with special needs develop and practice the life skills, social skills, creative self-expression abilities, civic involvement values, and health and fitness habits that add up to full, happy, successful lives 🥰We've got games, prizes, silent auction, great company, and of course great golf! ⛳️All we need is you! 😎 Register - and browse our wide range of sponsorship opportunities - at www.rissagolf.org. Hope to see you there! 🤩 Please like and share❤️

08/25/2025

Calling all RISSA friends and fans!!! 😍 Super-exciting news!!! 🤩The very-first-ever RISSA Golf Tournament is happening at the gorgeous Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club in Middletown on October 27 ... and we need YOU to be there!!! ⛳️

We've got a million different ways for you to engage with this fun event - sponsorships! silent auction! games! and, of course, golfing! - and we really hope you'll join us. 😎 In addition to offering a raucously good time - like all RISSA gatherings! - the tournament will raise vitally important funds to support our amazing members and their life-changing adventures in experiential learning. 🥰

Visit www.rissagolf.org for all the info and register today!!! 🤩 Hope to see you for a golden day of golf on October 27!!! ❤️

08/17/2025

It's National Nonprofit Day! 🤩 At RISSA, we're thinking of all of you A.M.A.Z.I.N.G people who support our charitable mission ... today and every day. 😍

You make it possible for us to create life-changing learning experiences for incredible young people with special needs ... with life skills instruction, social skills mentoring, health and fitness programs, arts and culture and community engagement activities, and much more. And your support has never been more vital!

Our fall session starts in September, and we need your help!!! ⭐️Together, we'll provide a strong, safe launchpad for more and more young people ... helping them imagine and create full, vibrant adult lives. 🥰Truly ... a million bizillion thanks for your support and your belief in RISSA. 😘 If you'd like to make a gift to RISSA today, please visit www.rissanewport.org. ❤️

08/07/2025

Huge, heartfelt thanks to our beautiful RISSA family for supporting our Inclusion Night jersey fundraiser! 😍

Our friends, the Newport Gulls, wore special commemorative jerseys during this year's Inclusion Night game and offered them for sale, with all proceeds benefiting RISSA. ⚾️And wowza ... did you guys ever step up!!! 🤩Every jersey flew like a gull after a French fry ... selling out in no time and raising an incredible $3,500 in support of our experiential learning community for young people with special needs! 🥰

On Sunday, August 3, the Gulls' Eric Lindley presented RISSA co-founder and President Denise Patsos with the impactful proceeds of your generosity. (Pictured, left to right: Chris Patsos, Derek Patsos, Denise Patsos, and Eric Lindley.)

Did you buy a jersey? Post a pic in the comments! 😎

Missed your chance to buy a jersey, but want to support RISSA? Visit www.rissanewport.org to make a gift! ❤️

A million bajillion thanks! You are all champions of our hearts 🥰

07/22/2025

It's World Brain Day! 🤩 Every day, RISSA celebrates neurodiversity and helps amazing young people with special needs unleash their creativity, individuality, and potential ⭐️ Want to get involved? 🌼 To volunteer or make a vitally important gift in support of our warm, innovative learning community, visit www.rissanewport.org ❤️ It takes a lot of creative minds and huge hearts to keep our nonprofit organization going strong, and we're so grateful to all our friends for providing the rocket fuel that powers our life-changing mission 🥰

07/09/2025

We had the best time yesterday and last night! 😊 Many thanks to our incredible friends, the Newport Gulls, for hosting another wonderful Inclusion event 🥰 And big thanks to everyone who scooped up a commemorative 2025 Inclusion Night jersey! 😘 Your purchase helps RISSA fulfill our nonprofit mission and keeps our signature experiential learning program growing in scope and excellence. So grateful to have such amazing friends!!! ❤️

07/09/2025

What a blast to have celebrities in our midst! 😎 Big applause for our friends, Claire and Sean, and our many other RISSA friends who kick up their heels with Dance Me In. This wonderful program complements RISSA's innovative experiential learning offerings perfectly! Big thanks to Sue Young and everyone who makes the magic happen at Common Fence Point !!!🥰

07/06/2025

If you'd like to own a jersey worn by a possible future Major Leaguer - and support RISSA's all-star programming for young people with special needs - visit https://newport-gulls-ltd.square.site/ and pre-order yours today! ☺️ Monday, July 7 is Inclusion Night at Cardines Field, and every Newport Gulls player will be wearing a special commemorative jersey that's available for purchase, with all proceeds benefiting RISSA's life-changing experiential learning program. 🥰Hurry and scoop up your shirt today! They're flying out of here faster than Gully can run! ⚾️Thanks so much for your support ❤️

02/08/2024

Thank you Kerrie, and O'Brien's Pub for providing us with the perfect party place with food!! A BIG, BIG THANK YOU TO TYLER BERNADYN AND KARL MAGNER, our guest bartenders for the afternoon!
What a great day! For those of you who supported us, by being there, or sending your support Thank You!
RISSA loves what we do,
and we do it because of you!
It takes a village, and you, are our village.
Thankful, grateful, and blessed!