Sa Life Academy, Inc.

What Sa Life Academy, Inc. does

SA Life Academy, Inc. is a Texas-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 20-5613727) founded in 2017 by Cindy and Bryan Boynton in San Antonio. The organization operates a community-based day program serving approximately 170 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across 49 ZIP codes in Bexar County, with enrollment grown from 22 students at founding. The core offering is a Monday-through-Friday day program (8:30am–3:00pm) housed at 308 Mount Calvary Drive on the campus of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, delivered by six Lead Teachers and eight Associate Teachers (all credentialed in Special Education or related fields) at a maximum 12:1 classroom ratio with a Lead and Associate Teacher per room. Monthly curriculum is designed around five domains — relationship building, expressive creativity, academics, community involvement, and health & wellness — and integrates off-site volunteer work (5–6 hours per student per week) with 30+ community partners including the SA Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Catholic Charities, Morgan's Wonderland, and H-E-B.

The business model combines three revenue streams: (1) recurring program fees paid monthly via Medicaid Waiver Activity Contribution or private tuition, with a $8 processing fee for online card payments, (2) tax-deductible donations and foundation grants from a roster including the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation, Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation, Ed Rachal Foundation, John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation, and Gordon Hartman Family Foundation, and (3) a small earned-income line from Rising Stars Coffee, a student-operated mobile coffee truck launched September 2025 operating three mornings per week. A second vocational storefront, Cindy's Cottage, is in active capital campaign with construction anticipated to begin in 2026.

Following founder Cindy Boynton's death from pancreatic cancer, leadership transitioned in February 2025 to a co-executive director model with Samantha Pety as Executive Director/Head of School and Ellen Shoemaker as Executive Director/Development & Administration. In December 2024 SALA co-founded the IDD Champions Coalition with five peer Bexar County nonprofits (Brighton Center, The Arc of San Antonio, Respite Care of San Antonio, Morgan's Multi-Assistance Center, ABC of Southwest Texas), producing over 800 survey responses and May 2026 white papers. Sub-brands include Rising Stars Coffee (vocational), Cindy's Cottage (planned vocational storefront), and SALA Ambassadors (student public-speaking program). The organization maintains a continuously growing waitlist and operates a single physical site.

Name

Sa Life Academy, Inc.

Legal name

SA Life Academy, Inc.

Website

https://salifeacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SA Life Academy is a San Antonio 501(c)(3) operating a community-based day program serving approximately 170 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, delivered by credentialed special-education teachers with vocational training through Rising Stars Coffee and a planned Cindy's Cottage storefront.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Disability Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Schools & Life Skills Programs (EDAKAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Vocational Evaluation & Career Assessment (Transition-Age) (EDAKANAC)

Keywords

• Adult disability services
• Special education program
• Vocational training
• Community-based day program
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

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, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees (Medicaid Waiver): Tuition supplemented by Medicaid Waiver programs through Activity Contribution payments
2. Program Fees (Private Pay): Private payment options for families not using Medicaid Waiver, with $8 processing fee for online payments
3. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations under SA Life Academy, Inc. EIN# 20-5613727; major annual fundraising through Off Broadway Gala
4. Rising Stars Coffee: Social enterprise coffee truck operating Monday, Wednesday, Friday mornings generating revenue from coffee and beverage sales

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SA Life Academy is a community-based day program that provides continuing learning opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who have aged out of the public school system. Operating Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM at its San Antonio campus, the program delivers a monthly curriculum designed by certified Special Education teachers covering relationship building, expressive creativity, academics, community involvement, and health & wellness. The organization supplements its core program with vocational training initiatives including Rising Stars Coffee (a student-operated coffee truck) and the planned Cindy's Cottage storefront.

Product overview

SA Life Academy operates as a unified community-based day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), featuring a core educational curriculum supplemented by vocational training initiatives. The core SA Life Academy Day Program provides structured learning with certified Special Education teachers, while vocational products like Rising Stars Coffee (a student-operated coffee truck launched September 2025) and the planned Cindy's Cottage storefront provide real-world employment experience. The SALA Ambassadors Program offers leadership development through public speaking opportunities. All programs operate under the guiding philosophy of 'Doing Life Together,' with enrollment growing from 22 students in 2017 to 170 students currently.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rising Stars Coffee: A vocational coffee truck program launched September 2025 providing real-world job experience for SALA students, operating Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00am-10am at 308 Mount Calvary Drive, San Antonio.
• Cindy's Cottage
• SALA Ambassadors

Products and services

• SA Life Academy Day Program A community-based day program providing exceptional continuing learning opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Features certified Special Education teachers, a low teacher-to-student ratio (maximum 12 students per class with a Lead Teacher and an Associate Teacher), and runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM.
• Rising Stars Coffee A student-operated coffee truck providing vocational training and real-world employment experience for adults with IDD. Offers coffee, espresso, lattes, Americanos, lemonade, hot chocolate with various flavor options and alternative milks. Operates Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 8:00am-10am at 308 Mount Calvary Drive, San Antonio.
• Cindy's Cottage A planned vocational training storefront honoring founder Cindy Boynton's vision. Will provide permanent space for students to develop real-world job skills while engaging with the San Antonio community. Features will include a student-operated storefront, career development space, and community green space.
• SALA Ambassadors Program A leadership and public speaking program that empowers SA Life Academy students to represent the organization throughout the community. Students develop confidence, professionalism, and presentation skills while educating others about inclusion and the abilities of adults with IDD.

Quantifiable outcome

• 315% growth rate since 2017 founding
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, influential and major.

• Brighton CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Part of the IDD Champions Coalition formed in December 2024 to address gaps in support for individuals with IDD in Bexar County; collaborated on community-centered participatory study with over 800 survey responses
• The Arc of San AntoniocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024IDD Champions Coalition member; partnered on community research study identifying immediate needs and long-term priorities for families and individuals with IDD
• Respite Care of San AntoniocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024IDD Champions Coalition co-lead; collaborated on IDD Champions Community Study and published white papers in May 2026
• Morgan's Multi-Assistance Center (The MAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024IDD Champions Coalition member; partnered on community-centered participatory study for individuals with IDD in Bexar County
• ABC of Southwest TexascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024IDD Champions Coalition founding member; part of coalition addressing gaps in IDD support in Bexar County
• SA Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for volunteer opportunities; students engage in food security work as part of community involvement curriculum
• SA Hope CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing volunteer opportunities for students
• Catholic CharitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for volunteer opportunities
• Meals on WheelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for volunteer work allowing students to give back to seniors
• House of Neighborly ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for volunteer opportunities
• Morgan's WonderlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInclusive amusement park partner for community-based instruction and recreational activities
• Nowhere BookstoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing volunteer opportunities and community integration
• Rise School of SAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly childhood development partner organization
• Operation GratitudeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for volunteer work creating care packages
• GardopiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for gardening volunteer opportunities
• The Mermaid CafecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal cafe where SALA students work, gaining employment experience in an inclusive setting
• My Possibilities (Plano, TX)influentialStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisited by SA Life Academy founders to study an exceptional Day Program model that was adapted and brought to San Antonio
• H-E-BmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter; grocery shopping outings and community partnership
• Frost BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate supporter and community partner
• Topograph & Coral StudioscoreTechnology or IntegrationArchitect team for Cindy's Cottage vocational training storefront project (capital campaign)

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Arc of San Antonio: The Arc of San Antonio provides advocacy and direct services for individuals with IDD in Bexar County, including programs overlapping with SALA's day-program and transition services. It is also a fellow IDD Champions Coalition member, serving a similar San Antonio population.
• Melwood: Melwood is one of the largest U.S. employers of people with disabilities, operating adult day, vocational training, and social enterprises. Its combination of day programming and integrated vocational businesses (horticulture, retail) closely parallels SALA's core program + Rising Stars Coffee/Cindy's Cottage strategy.
• Brighton Center: Brighton Center is a San Antonio nonprofit serving children and adults with disabilities through therapy, education, and vocational programs. It is an IDD Champions Coalition partner with overlapping clientele and programming for adults with IDD.
• The Academy at Morgan's Wonderland: The Academy at Morgan's Wonderland is an inclusive education program in San Antonio serving students with IDD. Career Development Director Donna Galvan previously worked there, and the program is closely comparable in mission, model, and San Antonio geography.
• My Possibilities: My Possibilities is a Plano, TX-based adult day habilitation program for individuals with IDD. SA Life Academy founders explicitly visited My Possibilities to study its model before launching SALA, making it the closest operating analogue.
• Respite Care of San Antonio: Respite Care of San Antonio provides day programs, respite, and support services for children and adults with special needs. It co-leads the IDD Champions Coalition with SALA and serves overlapping families in the San Antonio IDD community.

Broad incumbents

• The Arc of the United States: The Arc is the largest national organization advocating for and serving people with IDD, including adult day and transition services through local chapters. It is a broad incumbent addressing the same population SALA targets but at advocacy and policy scale rather than direct day-program operation.
• Easterseals: Easterseals is a national nonprofit network providing disability services including adult day programs, vocational rehabilitation, and supported employment across many states. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities to SALA's but at much larger scale and national footprint.

Others

• Down Syndrome Association of South Texas: Founded by SA Life Academy founder Cindy Boynton in 1994, the Down Syndrome Association of South Texas provides support, education, and advocacy for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. It is a mission-aligned community partner rather than a direct day-program competitor, sharing donor networks and referral pipelines with SALA.

Regional players

• RISE School of San Antonio: RISE School of San Antonio provides early childhood education for children with and without developmental disabilities. While it serves a younger age group than SALA, it operates in the same San Antonio market with overlapping families and is led by an overlapping board community (its board co-founder Jeff Higgins also serves on SALA's board).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SALifeAcademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/salifeacademy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Sa Life Academy, Inc.