Foundation hosts walk to celebrate abilities

NILES -- Whether walking or rolling around 7 17 Credit Union Field at Eastwood on Saturday afternoon, approximately 1,500 participants proved that having a disability does not limit them.

The Abilities Unite Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, which was formerly known as the Fairhaven Foundation, hosted its fifth annual Ability Walk & Roll, which drew participants from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

Stephanie Champlin, executive director, said the event has tripled in size since its first year when 500 people participated.

Champlin said she founded the Walk & Roll because it was important to her "to create an experience within the community that could be enjoyed by everyone and one that celebrated all individuals with developmental disabilities.

"The Ability Walk & Roll was created with a lot of thought and intentional planning for those we serve. The focus was centered around celebrating the many abilities that people with disabilities have and the unique gifts and perspectives they bring to the world."

She said the Ability Walk & Roll began as -- and remains -- a tri-county event.

"This was intentional to help unite communities and reduce barriers between county lines. Many provider agencies in our area serve people from multiple counties within day programs or homes. This allows everyone the opportunity to come together for a fun social experience. It keeps the focus on inclusion, not excluding someone based on where they may live or receive services. It has also allowed families to connect from different parts of the Mahoning Valley that may not have otherwise met."

She said the first event put the wheels in motion to expand the Fairhaven Foundation and form a partnership with Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana County Boards of Developmental Disabilities.

"From day one, we were all united behind this event and our mission of enriching the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. This dream became a reality in July 2025 when Fairhaven Foundation became Abilities Unite Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and expanded to serve Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties," Champlin said.

She said the Ability Walk & Roll is the agency's signature awareness event and its sole fundraiser.

"We seek sponsorships for this event to help us live our mission throughout the year of enriching the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities. In the last four years alone, we have provided more than 23,000 inclusive experiences in our community. We also provide grants to individuals to help pay for summer enrichment camps, therapy not covered by insurance, assistive technology, adaptive equipment and unexpected expenses," Champlin said.

She said the baseball field was chosen as the venue because the stadium's capacity can safely accommodate large crowds. She said Abilities Unite helped bring Scrappy's Safe Haven, a soundproof sensory room, to the baseball stadium. The agency also installed a universal changing table with a hoyer lift, making the Scrappers stadium a fully accessible venue.

"We're told that Scrappy's Safe Haven is used every day the stadium opens its gates," she said.

Champlin said for the first three years, the Ability Walk & Roll featured a special movie in the stadium after the celebratory lap around the field. They also hosted a separate awareness night at the stadium during a Mahoning Valley Scrappers game.

"Last year, we decided to combine the Ability Walk & Roll with a game on the same night. It was a huge success. Combining the events elevated the experience for everyone and allowed us to start a new tradition of lining the in-field with players from the MV Scrappers and the visiting team, along with hundreds of volunteers from the community. We also send an individual out onto the field from each county to throw out the first pitch, and 15 more individuals get to experience the Field of Dreams with players in the outfield while the National Anthem plays," Champlin said.