Wellness GIFTS was founded by Janet Opila-Lehman in 2001 to provide social, recreational, therapeutic, and educational activities for individuals with special needs and their families. In the first four years, one retreat was held with an additional retreat added each year. We now have four summer retreats, three for all ages and one for older individuals. We continue to strive to achieve the three R’s: Respite, Recreation, and Rejuvenation. In January 2022, Wellness GIFTS merged with Pathways, Inc., a not-for-profit human service organization serving individuals and families across the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, and Rochester, New York regions by providing an array of services through core programs including Care and Coordination Services, Childcare and Educational Services, Community and Habilitation Services, and Residential Services.
OPWDD funding supports families from Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties. Participation by families from out-of-region may result in increased expense.