Healing Hearts Adaptive Recreation

What Healing Hearts Adaptive Recreation does

Healing Hearts Adaptive Recreation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization co-founded by Kimberly Colletto and Tom Bacha that delivers social, recreational, and adaptive fitness programming for children, teens, and young adults with disabilities, along with respite and community-connection support for their families. The organization operates from a single physical site at 48 Union Street, Stamford, CT, housed inside BreakThru Fitness — a fitness facility co-owned by the same two founders. Its program portfolio comprises eight offerings: Club Night (weekly Friday social program, 6-8 PM), Adaptive Fitness Class, Yoga, Personal Fitness Training, an After-School Program, Weekend Excursions, a Holiday Concert, and an upcoming Writing Club.

There is no proprietary technology platform; the service model is entirely in-person and human-delivered, relying on staff with specialized credentials (a 25+-year certified personal trainer and a 30+-year Krav Maga instructor). Supporting digital infrastructure is limited to off-the-shelf tools: a WordPress website, a PayPal donation button, an Amazon Wishlist for in-kind supply donations, and Eventbrite for ticketing the annual Taste of Hope fundraiser.

The organization is funded entirely through donations, sponsorships, and fundraising events; no fees are charged to participants. It reports an active 2024 corporate sponsor base of 23 named partners (including BreakThru Fitness, BevMax, Stamford Police, Palmer's Darien, and Bearingstar) and has reached at least its tenth consecutive annual fundraiser. Geographic reach is regional, confined to 14 towns in Lower Fairfield County, Connecticut (Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, Wilton). The leadership team of 1-10 employees is governed by a Board of Directors including a Special Education teacher from New Canaan High School, providing direct referral pathways from regional school districts.

Name

Healing Hearts Adaptive Recreation

Legal name

Healing Hearts Adaptive Recreation

Website

https://healingheartsrecreational.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Healing Hearts Adaptive Recreation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Stamford, CT that delivers free adaptive fitness, social, and recreational programs for children, teens, and young adults with disabilities across Lower Fairfield County, funded through donations, sponsorships, and an annual fundraiser.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Recreation Services for Individuals with Disabilities

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Adaptive & Special Needs Personal Training (HSADAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH), Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK), Adaptive & Para-Sport Coaching (HSADAEAM), Rehabilitation Return-to-Exercise Training (Non-Clinical) (HSADAAAK)

Keywords

• Adaptive recreation programs
• Special needs services
• Disability recreation
• Community fitness programs
• Youth adaptive activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Stamford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals through PayPal and other channels. Donations fund programs for children, teens, and young adults with disabilities and their families.
2. Annual Fundraising Events: The organization hosts an annual fundraising event (Taste of Hope) to generate revenue and community awareness for programs.
3. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsors support the organization through financial contributions, with sponsors recognized on the website and at events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Healing Hearts Adaptive Recreation operates a portfolio of free adaptive recreation programs for children, teens, and young adults with disabilities, including Club Night, Adaptive Fitness Classes, Yoga, Personal Fitness Training, an After-School Program, Weekend Excursions, a Holiday Concert, and a Writing Club. Programs are delivered at a single physical facility inside BreakThru Fitness in Stamford, CT, serving families across Lower Fairfield County. The organization is funded entirely through donations, sponsorships, and annual fundraising events rather than participant fees.

Product overview

Healing Hearts Adaptive Recreation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a single unified program providing social and recreational services for children, teens, and young adults with special needs. The organization offers a portfolio of eight programs including Club Night (weekly Friday social events), Adaptive Fitness Class, Yoga, Personal Fitness Training, After School Program, Weekend Excursions, Holiday Concert, and Writing Club (upcoming). These programs are designed to foster friendships, promote fitness, and support independence, with the core platform being the physical recreation center housed within BreakThru Fitness in Stamford, CT. The programs collectively serve Lower Fairfield County and operate as an integrated ecosystem of social, fitness, and educational activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Club Night Weekly Friday evening social program (6:00-8:00 PM) for young adults with special needs, focused on developing social skills through activities including arts and crafts, board games, gym workouts, basketball, kickball, video games, and birthday celebrations. Dinner is served.
• Adaptive Fitness Class Structured fitness class designed for individuals with special needs, providing adaptive exercise and physical activity in a supportive environment.
• After School Program After-school program offering structured activities, homework help, and social opportunities for children and teens with special needs after regular school hours.
• Holiday Concert Seasonal musical event featuring performances and festive activities for participants and their families.
• Yoga Weekly yoga class offered on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM for participants with special needs, focusing on flexibility, relaxation, and mindfulness.
• Personal Fitness Training One-on-one personal fitness training sessions available by scheduling with the Executive Director, providing individualized exercise programs for participants with special needs.
• Weekend Excursions Weekend outings and trips for participants with special needs, with email sign-up available for notification of upcoming events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Safe, welcoming environment for social skill development
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and minor.

• 2024 Sponsors (23 sponsors listed)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 202423 corporate sponsors support Healing Hearts programs including BreakThru Fitness, BevMax, Summer Tax, Pellicci's, Kid Characters for Parties, So Fresh Donut Co., Lunch Lady, Stamford Police, Zody's 19th Hole, Bearingstar, Palmer's Darien, Winfield Coffee, Umbrella Club, Forever Sweet Bakery, BM Photo Video DJ, La Hacienda, Greenwich Maids, M Communications, Fetch Rescue, Krav Maga, BJ Ryan's Banchouse, Bodywise by Betty, and Hoop Girls. These sponsors provide financial support, goods, and services in exchange for recognition at events and on the website.
• BreakThru FitnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreakThru Fitness is co-owned by Healing Hearts co-founders Kim Colletto and Tom Bacha. The organization is housed within BreakThru Fitness, providing fitness facilities, equipment, and instructors for Healing Hearts programs. This co-location enables seamless integration of adaptive fitness classes, Krav Maga instruction, boxing, and general gym access for program participants.
• Tom Bacha / Connecticut Krav Maga LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTom Bacha, co-founder of Healing Hearts and co-owner of BreakThru Fitness, is also Lead Instructor and Owner of Connecticut Krav Maga LLC. Krav Maga classes are offered to Healing Hearts participants as part of the programming, taught by Mr. Tom with years of experience working with individuals of all abilities.
• Local Schools and Special Education ProgramssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Joanne Gerardi serves as a Special Education teacher at New Canaan High School, creating connections between Healing Hearts programs and school communities. The After-School Program serves students from schools across the region.
• EventbriteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEventbrite platform is used for ticket sales to the annual Taste of Hope fundraising event, enabling online registration and payment processing for the fundraiser.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National Ability Center: Park City, UT-based nonprofit providing adaptive recreation and outdoor adventures for individuals of all abilities. Closest direct peer in mission (community adaptive recreation with fitness emphasis) and structure (donation/scholarship-funded direct service programs), though larger and outdoors-focused.
• Kula for Karma: Northeast-based nonprofit delivering adaptive yoga and mindfulness programs to trauma survivors, veterans, and individuals with special needs. Directly comparable adaptive-wellness programming model for underserved populations via volunteer instructors and partner facilities.

Broad incumbents

• Best Buddies International: National nonprofit creating opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and inclusive living. Comparable mission around social inclusion and friendship-building for special-needs populations, with a national footprint Healing Hearts lacks.
• Move United: National nonprofit federation providing adaptive sports opportunities to people with disabilities. Comparable as a broader umbrella for community-based adaptive recreation programs, but operates as a network of member organizations rather than a single direct-service provider like Healing Hearts.
• Easterseals: Large national nonprofit providing disability services including recreation, therapy, and community programs. Comparable target population (individuals with disabilities and families) and program breadth, though Easterseals operates at much larger scale with clinical and therapeutic services Healing Hearts does not provide.
• Achilles International: National nonprofit enabling people with disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics, primarily running. Comparable adaptive-athletics mission with volunteer mentorship model, though narrowly focused on endurance sports versus Healing Hearts' broader adaptive fitness/social programming.
• Central Connecticut Coast YMCA: Regional YMCA serving Lower Fairfield County (Stamford, Bridgeport, etc.) with adaptive swim, fitness, and inclusion programs. Comparable regional geographic footprint and inclusion-program model, though operates as a broad community fitness club rather than a dedicated adaptive-recreation nonprofit.

Regional players

• Ability Beyond: Connecticut-based nonprofit supporting individuals with disabilities through residential, vocational, and community programs including recreation. Comparable CT-based disability-services mission with a broader service mix than Healing Hearts.
• BINA Farm Center: Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) providing therapeutic horsemanship and adaptive recreational programs for individuals with special needs. Comparable regional Northeast nonprofit serving the same disability community through structured adaptive programs and volunteer-driven delivery.
• Special Olympics Connecticut: State-level affiliate of the Special Olympics movement serving individuals with intellectual disabilities through year-round adaptive sports training and competition. Most directly comparable as a CT-based adaptive sports organization, though much larger in scale and event/tournament-oriented rather than community-recreation-oriented.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HealingHeartsRec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healing-hearts-pediatric-andtherapy-center-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Healing Hearts Adaptive Recreation