WindSwell Foundation

06/02/2026

Meet our newest coworker, Hilda! This very smart girl was well trained by our friends at Canine Companions, but she wasn’t able to meet the incredibly high standards (reasonably so) to be a service animal. Patti has adopted her so that she has a good home, and she comes to the office each day to bring us all some joy. So far, she and Dart are getting along great.

We want to be clear that while we call her our coworker (because it’s fun), she is not working as she is not a service animal. She’s an office dog that just happens to have great training. If you are visiting our office and are either afraid of or allergic to dogs, please let us know so that we can accommodate you properly.

Hilda takes no offense if you don’t want to meet her but will love to meet any of our guests who do. Come say ‘hi!’

Learn more about service animal requirements of the ADA: https://tr.ee/I4Dg7d

Image descriptions:

ID1: Photo of a yellow Labrador retriever sitting on an office carpet next to a bright green dog-shaped toy (Dart), looking attentively at the camera.

ID2: Photo of a yellow Labrador retriever sitting on an office carpet and looking directly at the camera, with an orange ball visible behind them.

05/29/2026

Last week we attended the League for the Blind and Disabled Inclusion Institute Leadership Academy graduation. WindSwell Board Member Tommy Smith spoke to the graduates about resilience, commitment to a better community, and finding the leader within ourselves.

The Leadership Academy is designed by and for people with disabilities to develop leadership skills and build confidence in their self-advocacy.

Learn more about the program and how to apply: https://the-league.org/leadership-academy/

Image Descriptions:
ID 1: Photo of graduates from The Leagues' Inclusion Institute posing together with framed certificates. The group includes people standing and seated in mobility devices in front of a black backdrop featuring The League logo. The graduates smile and hold their certificates during the recognition ceremony.

ID 2: Photo of Tommy Smith, seated in a motorized wheelchair speaking into a microphone during a graduation ceremony. He is wearing a dark suit and blue tie and is seated in front of a backdrop displaying The League logo.

05/19/2026

This month, Daniel's Place broke ground on their new respite care facility. Respite is a vital service for families when caregiving for someone with a disability. Daniel’s Place takes people of all ages. This project will give them a permanent home to better serve their current and future guests. We can’t wait to see it all finished!

Learn more about Daniel’s Place at: https://www.daniels-place.org/

Image descriptions:
ID 1: Photo of a groundbreaking ceremony for Daniel’s Place Respite Care. A group of people wearing white and yellow hard hats stand with ceremonial shovels decorated with blue bows in front of construction equipment at the future building site.
ID 2: Photo of a sign at a construction site reading “Future Home of Daniel’s Place Respite Care” with a rendering of the planned building, contact information, website, and a QR code for more information.

05/07/2026

We’re just two days away from this year’s Disabilities Expo! With over 100 vendors, all-day activities, and an art sale, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Join us this Saturday, May 9 at the Memorial Coliseum for a fun and informational day. Whether you’re looking for disability resources, or just want to get out of the house, we’ve got you covered.

The Expo is from 10am – 3pm and is free to attend with free parking, just let the attendant know you’re there for the Disabilities Expo. Thanks to our friends at CTN, you can get an accessible shuttle from your car to the door if needed.

More info is at: https://tr.ee/OyBv3y

ID: Graphic promoting the 2026 Disabilities Expo. Background photo shows a child riding on an adult’s shoulders while families and attendees gather at the expo. Text highlights “Something for Everyone” and includes event details that are also provided in the post caption. The Disabilities Expo logo appears in the upper right corner.

04/30/2026

On Tuesday our staff went across our 12-county region to celebrate Pay it Forward Day. We gave 11 nonprofit disability service providers $10,000 each. $5,000 is to be used for needs and activities internally. The other $5,000 was to be used for their disability self-advocates to choose organizations in their communities who they feel make a difference in either their own lives or in their communities in general, and “pay it forward.” This program results in surprise donations and a joy-filled day.

Learn more about Pay it Forward Day and the organizations chosen this year: https://tr.ee/hKKigb

ID: Several photos of groups of people presenting large, ceremonial checks at various locations.

04/28/2026

Heads up, our office is closed today. It’s one of our favorite days of the year, Pay it Forward Day! Our staff will be all over Northeast Indiana helping disability self advocates from 11 nonprofit service providers give back to their communities by surprising local nonprofit organizations with donations.

Who caught us this morning on 21Alive when League for the Blind and Disabled gave CASS Housing their check? Stay tuned for more fun throughout the day.

How can you pay forward some kindness in your life today?

Image description: Photo of four adults standing in front of the WindSwell Foundation grantee wall, as one person holds a ceremonial check while being interviewed with a handheld microphone.

04/23/2026

Sheets Family Park opens in Angola on May 30! We’re proud to have played a role in the collaboration that brought it to life.

Mandy recently attended the Connect to Reflect breakfast hosted by Steuben County Community Foundation, where community partners were recognized for their role in the project. We were honored to receive a replica of the mural featured in the park.

Designed with full inclusion in mind, this space will create more opportunities for people of all abilities to play, connect, and belong in Steuben County.

Learn more: https://tr.ee/fHVBxR

ID:
Photo 1: Photo of a person holding a replica panel of the mural at Sheets Family Park, featuring a colorful, illustrated design set against a park backdrop.

Photo 2: Photo of four adults standing indoors in front of large windows and a banner, smiling while one person holds a replica of the Sheets Family Park mural; balloons are visible behind them.

04/15/2026

Today we joined Fort Wayne Urban League and Alliance Health Centers for the groundbreaking of their new clinic. Our grant funding supported renovating the space at Urban League knowing the clinic will fill a gap for children and families in providing access to early identification of developmental delays and timely interventions with specialized therapies.

Read more about it at https://tr.ee/UHm10F.

Video description: Video with no sound of a group of people wearing hard hats tossing dirt with shovels in a celebratory groundbreaking.

04/14/2026

Today we joined Visit Fort Wayne for their Accessibility Connect Session. Panelists, including our own Eric Garber, shared about their experiences traveling with their varying disabilities. Attendees were given tips on how they can take simple steps to be more welcoming to guests with disabilities.

You can access the Accessibility Playbook at VisitFortWayne.com/playbook/

[ID]
Image 1: Photo of printed handouts and pens on a round table at an event, including “Accessibility Connect Session” materials from Visit Fort Wayne and a sign noting the table has the best view of the closed captioning screen.

Image 2: Photo of a large conference room from the back with attendees seated at round tables, listening to a presentation at the front of the room.

Image 3: Photo of a panel discussion with six speakers seated at a table on stage as a moderator speaks into a microphone.

02/06/2026

This is a great write-up highlighting the expanded accessibility features of the Arts United Center renovations. We're proud that we have leaders in our community that prioritize inclusive spaces.

Recently renovated Arts United Center in Fort Wayne, IN sets a high standard for what universal design can mean for the arts and its surrounding community