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Support the good work of Happiness House in the Finger Lakes community.
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Promote and expand long-term services
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Foster equal opportunity and independence
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Help us change lives forever
Contact Us
Geneva,
Ontario County
Administration:
(315) 789-6828
Children's Programs:
(315) 789-6850
Canandaigua,
Ontario County
Adult Programs:
(585) 394-9510
Children's Programs:
(585) 394-1190
Golisano Autism Center,
Monroe County
Children's Programs:
(585) 685-8300
Toll free:
(866) 408-2550
Welcome to Happiness House
Welcome to the Happiness House - Finger Lakes Cerebral Palsy website. Happiness House is the leader in services provision for children with disabilities, including Autism, and adults with brain injuries in the Finger Lakes region.
Happiness House opened its doors in the late 60's when a young father living in Geneva was told that his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter had cerebral palsy. This father had no idea what could be done to help his little girl. The girl's physician instructed him to give her a football helmet and forget about her condition. Her father didn't know where to turn. Through an article placed in the Geneva Times, volunteers stepped forward to create the Finger Lakes Committee of United Cerebral Palsy. They soon learned that there were many children with cerebral palsy in the area. Thanks to help from the New York State Elks Club and the Women's Club of Geneva, money was raised to open Happiness House's first childcare center in a house on North Street in Geneva, serving 5 children with developmental disabilities. Today this young girl has obtained a Master of Science degree and is a Librarian.
With persistent grassroots enthusiasm and a professional staff of two hundred, Happiness House now operates three center-based programs (in Geneva, Canandaigua, and Waterloo) that provide a variety of educational, therapeutic, recreational, and family support service options. Each year, these programs serve more than 1,150 children and adults with and without disabilities.
Happiness House has enriched the lives of others by offering services to children, adults and their families, employment opportunities, internships for college students, and numerous community volunteer opportunities. The Finger Lakes community has responded positively by providing generous support in many ways, which has been the impetus of Happiness House's growth and continued success.
If you are interested in services, employment, volunteering or making a donation, please contact us at (315) 789-6828.
Mary Walsh Boatfield, Chief Executive Officer
B.S. in Speech Pathology
M.S. Education/Speech Pathology
Brian P. Meath, Chair of the Board of Directors