Our Lady of the Wayside

What Our Lady of the Wayside does

Our Lady of the Wayside, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Avon, Ohio, that has served individuals with developmental disabilities and intellectual challenges since its founding in 1941. The organization delivers a coordinated suite of four core programs across Northeast Ohio: a Residential Program managing 70 homes in nearly 40 communities across four counties (Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, and Summit); a Healthcare Services Program providing nursing care, medication management, and proactive medical oversight for medically vulnerable individuals who cannot self-advocate; the Pathways Day Program, the region's largest adult day program of its kind, hosting 300+ participants daily at five sites (Avon, Garfield Heights, Mentor, Valley View, and Westlake); and a Transportation Program operating a 115-vehicle fleet that logs one million miles annually, with each residential home assigned a dedicated modified vehicle. The agency employs over 500 dedicated professionals, including on-staff nurses that it identifies as a differentiator relative to peer providers.

The organization's revenue model is built on three streams: (1) Medicaid waiver funding as one of the largest waiver providers of its kind in Ohio, (2) service and funding agreements with the four County Boards of DD that coordinate referrals and reimbursement, and (3) donations and event-based fundraising, including the annual Duets gala ($175K raised for Healthcare Services in one year; $275K raised for the John Gohlke Fund in 2024) and major estate gifts such as the ~$1 million Carol Glowe gift. Operating geographies are entirely regional (Northeast Ohio); there is no global footprint. The organization holds a multi three-year certification from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, which it describes as the highest tier of state regulatory compliance.

The organization's technology footprint is minimal. No proprietary platform, API, or AI/ML capability is described; the 2026 Strategic Plan introduces Britco, a digital records keeping system, as the agency's primary technology modernization initiative. Marketing and donor engagement operate through a Squarespace-hosted website, Constant Contact email newsletters, social media, and recurring fundraising events including the Champions event at Progressive Field. Leadership is Terry Davis (President & CEO), Bonnie Perez (COO), and Shirley Sharp (CFO), with a separate Board of Directors and an affiliated Wayside Housing Corporation subsidiary focused on affordable housing for people with developmental disabilities.

Name

Our Lady of the Wayside

Legal name

Our Lady of the Wayside, Inc.

Website

https://thewayside.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Our Lady of the Wayside is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing residential, healthcare, transportation, and adult day programming services for 500+ children and adults with developmental disabilities across four Northeast Ohio counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Residential Care

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Assisted Living for Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities (Adult) (HLADABAJ), Transportation-Integrated Adult Day Programs (Day Program + Non-Emergency Transport) (HLADAIAK)

Keywords

• Developmental disabilities services
• Residential care programs
• Nonprofit social services
• Medicaid waiver provider
• Adult day programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Avon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medicaid Waiver Funding: Our Lady of the Wayside is one of the largest waiver providers of its kind in the State of Ohio. Services are funded through Medicaid waivers administered in partnership with County Boards of Developmental Disabilities.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises funds through annual fundraising events such as the Duets gala (raised $175,000 for Healthcare Services Program; raised $275,000 in 2024 for the John Gohlke Fund) and receives major individual estate gifts such as the $1 million gift from Carol Glowe's estate.
3. County Board Partnerships: Operational funding and service agreements with Cuyahoga County Board of DD, Lake County Board of DD, Lorain County Board of DD, and Summit County Board of DD for residential, day program, transportation, and healthcare services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Our Lady of the Wayside provides residential, healthcare, transportation, and adult day programming services for children and adults with developmental disabilities throughout Northeast Ohio. Services include 24/7 residential care across 70 homes, on-staff nursing and medication management for medically vulnerable individuals, the Pathways adult day program serving 300+ daily participants at five locations, and accessible transportation via a 115-vehicle fleet. Operations are funded primarily through Medicaid waivers and partnerships with Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, and Summit County Boards of Developmental Disabilities.

Product overview

Our Lady of the Wayside is a non-profit social services organization offering a coordinated suite of residential, healthcare, and day program services for individuals with developmental disabilities in Northeast Ohio. The core service portfolio consists of four interconnected programs: the Residential Program (managing 70 homes across 4 counties), the Healthcare Services Program (providing nursing and medical management), the Pathways Day Program (supporting 300+ participants at 5 sites), and the Transportation Program (maintaining 115 vehicles). These services work together to provide individuals with comprehensive, person-centered support including medical services, therapy, community integration, and daily activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pathways Program: Adult day program for individuals with developmental disabilities, offering activities and community integration opportunities at 5 locations in Northeast Ohio.
• Wayside

Products and services

• Residential Program Manages 70 homes in nearly 40 communities across 4 Northeast Ohio counties, offering supported living, consortium homes, and transitional living services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Staff are available 24/7 with comprehensive supports including medical services, behavior support, therapy services, and community integration.
• Healthcare Services Program Provides nursing attention and proactive health measures for medically vulnerable individuals with developmental disabilities who live without the ability to communicate, ambulate or advocate for themselves. Includes medication management, ongoing treatments, physician order implementation, infection control, and collaboration with medical professionals and therapists.
• Pathways Day Program The region's largest adult day program for individuals with developmental disabilities, supporting 300+ participants daily at 5 locations (Avon, Garfield Heights, Mentor, Valley View, and Westlake). Offers in-house activities and community outings including computer, crafts, cooking, games, and music to support community integration, social connections, and daily living skills.
• Transportation Program Operates a fleet of 115 vehicles logging 1 million miles annually, with each residential home having a dedicated specially-modified vehicle. Provides accessible transportation for work, school, medical appointments, day programs, activities, social outings, and family visits across Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, and Summit Counties.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four County Boards of DD that partner with Our Lady of the Wayside for service delivery, funding, and coordination of care for individuals with developmental disabilities in Northeast Ohio.
• Lake County Board of Developmental DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four County Boards of DD that partner with Our Lady of the Wayside for service delivery, funding, and coordination of care for individuals with developmental disabilities in Northeast Ohio.
• Lorain County Board of Developmental DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four County Boards of DD that partner with Our Lady of the Wayside for service delivery, funding, and coordination of care for individuals with developmental disabilities in Northeast Ohio.
• Summit County Board of Developmental DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four County Boards of DD that partner with Our Lady of the Wayside for service delivery, funding, and coordination of care for individuals with developmental disabilities in Northeast Ohio.
• Blue TechminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event benefiting Wayside's Healthcare Services Program.
• CavitchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event benefiting Wayside's Healthcare Services Program.
• Cleveland GuardiansminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event and Champions event host venue (Progressive Field).
• Cleveland CavaliersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.
• Cleveland MonstersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.
• Cleveland ChargeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.
• Medical MutualminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.
• Great Lakes Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.
• Gordon Green EventsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue host for the Duets fundraising event held at Gordon Green venue in June.
• Schenk Wines USAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.
• Contract GuardianminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.
• SedgwickminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.
• Sedgwick MCOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.
• Tito's VodkaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.
• Spice Catering Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor/caterer for the Duets fundraising event.
• Fenton MobilityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.
• Lipson OsheaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.
• OneDigitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.
• RoundstoneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Duets fundraising event.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heritage Christian Services: Nonprofit organization providing residential, day, employment, and clinical services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in upstate New York. Closely matches OLW's mission, multi-program structure, and reliance on Medicaid-funded HCBS, but operates in a different geography.
• Hope Services: Nonprofit agency serving children and adults with developmental disabilities in California through residential, day, employment, and behavioral health programs. Comparable integrated service model with state HCBS funding dependency.
• Community Options, Inc. National nonprofit operating residential homes, day programs, supported employment, and clinical services for individuals with IDD. Highly comparable operating model to OLW with 24/7 DSP staffing and county-level service agreements.

Broad incumbents

• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network): Largest US provider of home- and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, operating residential, day, and behavioral health programs across many states. Comparable to OLW in service mix (residential + day + nursing) though at national scale and for-profit structure.
• Easterseals: National nonprofit network providing disability services including adult day, residential, and vocational programs through independently operated affiliates. Comparable only at the broad category level given scale and franchise affiliate model.
• BrightSpring Health Services: Public diversified home and community-based services provider offering IDD residential services, day programs, pharmacy, and behavioral health. Highly comparable in service categories and Medicaid waiver funding model, with Ohio presence through its Residential and Day services portfolio.

Regional players

• LifeBridge Services: Nonprofit providing residential, day, and case management services for individuals with developmental disabilities across Ohio, including the Cincinnati region. Closely comparable operating model and Medicaid waiver dependency to OLW within the same state regulatory environment.
• People Inc (People First): Nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Western New York, with residential, day habilitation, and clinical services. Operates a near-identical integrated HCBS model in a comparable Rust Belt regional footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OurLadyWayside

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Our Lady of the Wayside