Wheeling Forward

What Wheeling Forward does

Wheeling Forward is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Alex Elegudin and Yannick Benjamin, both of whom sustained spinal cord injuries in October 2003 and went on to build careers as an attorney and Advanced Sommelier, respectively. Headquartered at 540 Court Street in Brooklyn, New York, the organization serves people with disabilities — particularly those with spinal cord injuries, children, adults, and veterans — across the New York Tri-state area, with programmatic extensions into Chicago and Washington D.C. Its service portfolio spans eight core programs: Wheelchair Giving (339 wheelchairs provided cumulatively, averaging 50 per year), Play It Forward adaptive sports (surfing, water skiing, skating, skydiving), Spinal Mobility fitness training, Advocacy for navigating health and social service systems, Nursing Home Transition support, Jean-Luc Le Du higher education scholarships for CUNY students, Urban Outings, and the Axis Project health and wellness center in Manhattan. Wine on Wheels, the signature annual grand tasting at City Winery featuring 60+ sommeliers and 250+ wines, serves as both a fundraiser (over $750K raised in 7 years) and a community-building vehicle.

The organization operates entirely as a donor-funded charity with no products or services sold. All programs are provided at no cost to beneficiaries, funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Paul Weiss, Northwell, Moët Hennessy, Fessler Foundation, Le Du's Wines), event-based fundraising (Wine on Wheels, NYC Marathon charity team, Casino Nights), and foundation partnerships (Christopher Reeve Foundation, Independence Care System, Wheels of Progress, Life Rolls On, Diveheart). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging authentic founder credibility, peer referrals within the disability community, and earned media coverage (NY1, Wall Street Journal, Village Voice, NY Daily News). The organization has no proprietary technology platform; digital operations are limited to a WordPress website, Vimeo video content, and Flickr event documentation. A 2025 $750K fundraising campaign signals scaling ambition, while continued partnerships with City Winery, Moët Hennessy, and TCS NYC Marathon indicate stable institutional support.

Name

Wheeling Forward

Legal name

Wheeling Forward

Website

https://wheelingforward.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wheeling Forward is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 that provides wheelchair donations, adaptive sports, advocacy, nursing home transition support, and higher education scholarships to people with disabilities, primarily in the New York Tri-state area, funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and signature fundraising events like Wine on Wheels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting disability services and programs. All donations directly fund programs and are tax-deductible.
2. Event Fundraising: Signature fundraising events including Wine on Wheels Grand Tasting and Auction, NYC Marathon charity partnerships, casino nights, and wine tasting events. Over $750K raised in 7 years through Wine on Wheels alone.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from corporate partners including Paul Weiss, Northwell, and other Play It Forward sponsors for adaptive sports events.
4. Scholarship Programs: Jean-Luc Le Du Scholarship Fund assists young people with disabilities in pursuing higher education through GED or Bachelor's degree programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Wheeling Forward is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free programs and services to people with disabilities, including wheelchair donations, adaptive sports through Play It Forward, Spinal Mobility fitness training, advocacy, nursing home transition support, higher education scholarships, and urban outings. Funding comes from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and signature fundraising events such as Wine on Wheels. The Axis Project operates as a dedicated health and wellness center in Manhattan.

Product overview

Wheeling Forward is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a portfolio of programs and services for people with disabilities. The organization operates as a single unified offering centered on disability support and advocacy, with distinct programs including Wheelchair Giving, Spinal Mobility fitness training, Advocacy services, Nursing Home Transition support, Higher Education scholarships, Urban Outings social events, and the adaptive sports program Play It Forward. Wine on Wheels serves as the signature fundraising event leveraging the co-founder's sommelier expertise. The Axis Project provides a dedicated health and wellness center. The organization also produces educational resources like the Adaptive Surfing Book.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Play It Forward An adaptive sports program that empowers children, adults, and veterans with disabilities through inclusive, community-based events including skating, surfing, water skiing, power soccer, skydiving, and scuba diving. Designed to break barriers, build confidence, and create moments of joy in the disability community.
• Wheelchair Giving Donates custom power and manual wheelchairs to people with disabilities on a need basis. The organization provides an average of 50 wheelchairs per year and has supplied 339 wheelchairs to date.
• Spinal Mobility A comprehensive fitness program that trains people with spinal cord injury to integrate exercise into their daily lives.
• Advocacy Helps people adapting to life with a long-term disability navigate the health and social service systems to secure needed services and advocate for their rights.
• Nursing Home Transition Provides young people with disabilities the resources needed to transition from nursing homes to life free from institutional walls, including support groups and coordination with home care services.
• Higher Education Awards need-based scholarships covering tuition, assistive technology, and books to students with disabilities attending City University of New York colleges through the Jean-Luc Le Du Scholarship Fund.
• Urban Outings Promotes active lifestyles for people with disabilities by organizing social outings to cultural and athletic events in the New York Tri-state area.
• Wine on Wheels Signature fundraising event and wine education program with deep ties to the wine community, teaching people with disabilities to appreciate wine culture and raising over $750K in seven years.
• Axis Project A health and wellness center operated by Wheeling Forward in Manhattan, promoting healthy living and community for people with disabilities.
• Adaptive Surfing Book A resource providing information on adaptive surfing techniques and health and wellbeing for people with disabilities, developed in partnership with Medilux for telehealth consultations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 339 wheelchairs provided to people in need
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Access Self StorageminorOthersCorporate partner with logo displayed on About page. Storage services support for organization operations.
• Christopher Reeve FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner logo displayed on About page. Collaboration in spinal cord injury advocacy and resources.
• Independence Care System (ICS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity insurance company providing health services for independent living. Helping individuals with disabilities make transitions from nursing homes to community living.
• Wheels of ProgresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in creating the Axis Project - a health and wellness initiative promoting healthy living and community in Manhattan.
• Life Rolls OncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for adaptive surfing events 'They Will Surf Again'. Organization builds confidence through adaptive surfing.
• DiveheartmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWine on Wheels DC proceeds split between Diveheart and Wheeling Forward. Diveheart builds confidence through scuba diving for people with disabilities.
• Le Du's WinescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWine on Wheels events hosted with Jean-Luc Le Du. Co-founder Yannick Benjamin works there. James Beard Award winner curates wine selections for fundraisers.
• City WinerycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHome venue for Wine on Wheels annual grand tasting event in NYC's West Village.
• Moët HennessymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted the 4th Annual Happy Hour Blind Tasting event with sommelier selections.
• The Cava Spiliadis CollectionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGreek wine portfolio partnership for Odyssey wine tasting adventure event.
• Olé & ObrigadominorGTM or Marketing PartnerImporter partner for Albarino & Alvarinho Grand Tasting event featuring Iberian wines.
• Hudson River Park TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlay It Forward 2025 Season Sponsor.
• PBAminorOthersPlay It Forward 2025 Season Sponsor - Professional Bowlers Association.
• University ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for Corks and Cards Casino Night and charity poker tournaments.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Christopher Reeve Foundation: National nonprofit focused on spinal cord injury advocacy, research funding, and quality-of-life grants. Directly comparable as a peer organization serving the same SCI community and listed as a strategic partner of Wheeling Forward.
• Life Rolls On: Nonprofit that runs adaptive surfing programs ('They Will Surf Again') and other adaptive sports for people with disabilities. Directly comparable through its adaptive sports program model, which Wheeling Forward also delivers via Play It Forward.
• Diveheart: Nonprofit using scuba diving to build confidence and rehabilitation outcomes for people with disabilities. Directly comparable as a peer adaptive-sports nonprofit that splits Wine on Wheels DC proceeds with Wheeling Forward.
• Independence Care System: New York-based nonprofit that helps individuals with disabilities transition from nursing homes to independent community living. Directly comparable to Wheeling Forward's Nursing Home Transition program and listed as a core strategic partner.
• Wheels of Progress: Nonprofit partner that co-created the Axis Project health and wellness initiative with Wheeling Forward. Comparable through shared focus on disability wellness, mobility, and community integration.

Broad incumbents

• United Spinal Association: Larger national nonprofit serving the spinal cord injury community through advocacy, peer mentoring, and member services. Broader incumbent in the same SCI/disability space as Wheeling Forward.
• Move United: National nonprofit (formerly Disabled Sports USA) that delivers community-based adaptive sports programs nationwide. Larger incumbent operating in the same adaptive-sports niche as Wheeling Forward's Play It Forward.
• Challenged Athletes Foundation: National nonprofit providing grants and adaptive sports opportunities to people with physical disabilities. Larger incumbent in the adaptive-sports funding space overlapping with Wheeling Forward's beneficiary base.
• National Spinal Cord Injury Association: Long-standing national organization providing resources, advocacy, and peer support for people with spinal cord injuries. Broader incumbent serving the same SCI beneficiary population as Wheeling Forward.

Others

• Medilux: Telehealth partner that collaborated with Wheeling Forward on the Adaptive Surfing Book resource. Listed as a partner enabling health-related programming for the disability community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/wheelingforward
• Xx.com/wheelingforward
• Facebookfacebook.com/WheelingForward
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wheeling-forward

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wheeling Forward