News & Events
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EEDA Reader: Summer 2026
This edition of the EEDA Reader is packed with EEDA news! This issue features stories about our artists in the NYAII Art Exhibit, the Harvest Festival, the new Kinexion Studio, our expansion of Self-Direction services to NYC, the Friendship Workshop, our advocacy efforts, our celebration of America's 250th birthday, the EEDA forum, the new Vanguard training program with Robert Budd, and so much more!
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EEDA's LEEPERs Win Cardboard Boat Race!
Riverhead’s annual Cardboard Boat Race took place on August 1 on the Peconic waterfront in downtown Riverhead. EEDA is so proud of Kelly and Cale and the rest of the LEEP team who helped make this boat, Susan, Hava, and Christine who helped make their winning patriotic boat. Kelly and Cale won the Grand National Regatta Race, and they also won the Outlaw Race!
The LEEP team was featured in the Riverhead News-Review for their success as a model of inclusivity. The team told reporters that they went through five sheets of cardboard and ten rolls of duct tape to make their winning boat. |
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EEDA's 2025 Impact Report
Learn all about how EEDA moved through 2025. Read EEDA's impact report now and get a bird's eye view of our year. The report features messages from the executive director, associate executive director, our funding overview, strategic initiatives, organizational highlights, program and staff numbers, and ways to get involved with EEDA.
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EEDA Celebrates America 250
As our nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States, EEDA is proud to celebrate alongside the Town of Riverhead, Suffolk County, communities across New York, and the entire nation. Guided by our vision of a world where every person is embraced and valued by society, our mission of fulfilling dreams, elevating voices, and cultivating unique potential for people of all abilities, and the values that define The EEDA Way, America 250 reminds us that the story of our country is strongest when every person is included, respected, and empowered to thrive.
Drive by EEDA's headquarters on Roanoke Avenue in downtown Riverhead to see our building decked out for America's 250th birthday in a stunning, original Max Moran painting titled, Celebration of Stars and Stripes, that the artist created for this purpose and donated to EEDA. Posters of this original Max Moran painting are available in 20" x 30" prints. All sales support EEDA! |
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John V. Beltrani Memorial Golf Classic
As we enjoy the warmer weather, we are already looking ahead to the fall and hope you will join us for the John V. Beltrani Memorial Golf Classic at the Westhampton Country Club on October 5, 2026. Shotgun start at noon, and foursomes are limited to 28, so reserve your spot today! Your participation helps strengthen our community and supports EEDA's mission.
If you have questions or wish to sponsor or register, please call me at (631) 636-0403 or email [email protected] today. Your support makes a difference! |
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EEDA Social CAP Performance
Check out EEDA's Creative Arts Program's performance at the EEDA Social! To view pictures from the EEDA Social's photo booth, the honoree video, or learn more about the Wellness initiative launched, click the button below.
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EEDA Social: Party with a Purpose!
The EEDA Social: A Party with a Purpose was held at the The Vineyards at Aquebogue on June 10, 2026. We connected with so many friends, families, and community partners. It was a great reminder of what we can accomplish together. We celebrated inclusion, recognized extraordinary honorees, and invested in opportunities for people of all abilities.
Together, we raised critical funds and celebrated the people and partnerships that bring The EEDA Way to life. During the event, we introduced our Wellness funding priority, an initiative to create wellness opportunities that promote health, confidence, social connection, and independence for the people we support. View our digital journal from the event or ch learn more about the Wellness initiative, view photo booth pics, the event’s digital journal, our honoree video, or CAP’s performance, please visit https://www.eed-a.org/eeda-social, or scan the QR code. Watch the Creative Arts Program's performance at the EEDA Social!
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Watch the EEDA Social's Honoree Video!
Check out the EEDA Social's Photo booth pics!
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EEDA rallies with Disability Advocates to Increase State Funding #InvestInUs
On March 13, EEDA's own Byron Preston made Messenger Papers for his powerful speech at the Long Island #InvestInMe rally where advocates of the I/DD community rallied together to increase state funding for people with I/DD. Thank you for your voice, Byron!
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Learn about EEDA's Refreshed Vision, Mission, and Values
Our Vision: We envision a world where every person is embraced and valued by society.
Our Mission: Leading with a steadfast commitment to fulfill dreams, elevate voices, and cultivate unique potential for people of all abilities. Our Values: At EEDA, values are not just words, they’re lived moments. These values come alive in every EEDA home, every program, every job site, and every dream fulfilled. Together, they embody The EEDA Way, our unwavering promise to deliver excellence with heart every single day. Wellness: We are considerate of our collective mind, body, and spirit. Kindness: We give freely of our patience, empathy, and understanding. Creativity: We find original ways to enrich the lives of everyone around us. Good Humor: We laugh together to feel connected. Integrity: We do what’s right, even when it’s hard. Respect: We welcome individual expression and authenticity. Gratitude: We are thankful to everyone who contributes to our community. |
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CAP Performs at Harvest Festival
Community performance alert! Catch EEDA’s Creative Arts Program perform next Friday at the Harvest Festival as the opening act choir!
When: Friday, November 21, 7:00 p.m. (don't be late, we're the opening act!) Where: Galilee Church of God, 87 Old Quogue Road in Riverhead |
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Talent Show: Shine like a Star!
Join us for the EEDA Talent Show and watch performers across EEDA’s three day programs come together to put on a show just for you! Come out and show your support!
When: Friday, November 14, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Where: Galilee Church of God in Christ 87 Old Quogue Road, Riverhead All are welcome! FREE admission! |
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Give & Go Food Drive
Give & Go Food Drive is a shared space where ANYONE can quietly give or receive food as needed.
Pick-up Food @ 784 Harrison Ave., Riverhead Weekdays between 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. No sign-ups, no questions, just kindness. As many in our community face challenges accessing food due to changes in benefit programs, EEDA is stepping up to help ensure the shelves stay full for the people we support and our neighbors in need. Inspired by our values, EEDA’s Give & Go station is open to all—because caring is part of the EEDA way. Two additional drop-off only sites are available as well. We accept donations of non-perishable food in jars, cans, and sealed packets. We are also accepting donations of whole turkeys or ham. DROP-OFF ONLY SITES: 107 Roanoke Ave. in Riverhead Weekdays, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 745 Rt 25A Ste. E in Rocky Point Weekdays, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For more information, contact Lisa Kennedy at [email protected] or 631-369-7345 ext. 215 |
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EEDA Reader: DSP Week 2025
This issue of the EEDA Reader is all about EEDA's DSPs!
Highlights include: Direct Support Professional (DSP) Week, DSP love letters from families and staff, our latest vacation at Winter Clove Inn in the Catskills, the EEDA Cares Fair (including photo booth pics!), and an article remembering our friend, Richard. |
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EEDA Reader: Summer 2025
This issue of the EEDA Reader contains events at EEDA from late 2024 through the summer of 2025.
Highlights include: Joy & Matt's journey from DSP to executive, EEDA Artists in the NYAII Art Exhibit, JaQuan's faith transformation, Seth's NJ Devils trip, the Kelly fishing trip, a grant from Mother Cabrini, advocacy in action, and investment in a leadership program. Keep an eye out for an upcoming special edition of the EEDA Reader celebrating our DSPs. |
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The History of EEDA
In this video, Lisa Meyer Fertal, EEDA's founder, talks about her son, Andrew, as the inspiration behind EEDA, the grassroots efforts that started EEDA, and the philanthropy that helped EEDA grow.
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Unconditional Love
EEDA's founder, Lisa Meyer Fertal, talks about how being Andy's mother has impacted her life and career in this short video celebrating a mother's love.
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Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Provides EEDA Grant to Complete Latino Outreach
EEDA was featured in Newsday for the outreach we're doing to connect families in the Latino IDD community on Long Island with the self-directed services they’re entitled to receive, enabling them to hire linguistically competent staff to support them. This outreach was made possible through a generous grant of $180,000 from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. EEDA is grateful to the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for this opportunity!
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EEDA Receives Grant from Marilyn Lichtman Foundation
EEDA received a generous grant from the Marilyn Lichtman Foundation to create a wheelchair ramp and replace the deck that attaches to it at our Barnes Road house. We are so grateful to the Marilyn Lichtman Foundation for their continued support!
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DSP TalkListen to EEDA's own Senior Direct Support Professional, Danielle Neff, discuss her role as a DSP on the new podcast, DSP Talk! You can listen to this wherever you download podcasts, or listen on Spotify.
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Rally in AlbanyEEDA advocates participated in a New York Disability Advocates organized rally in Albany to ask legislators to include a Direct Support Wage Enhancement to permanently increase the salaries of DSPs and a 3.2% increase in the cost of living adjustment (COLA). Governor Hochul’s 2025 Executive Budget only includes a 1.5% COLA increase, which is less than half of the minimum required to meet the annual rise of inflation for this year, and no increase to DSP salaries. You can read more about the rally here.
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Celebrating FriendshipWatch this video to learn about Michael and Andrew's special friendship and how they found a home at EEDA where they can grow together.
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Celebrating EEDA Advocacy PrideSuffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Legislator Nick Caracappa signed legislation June 9th requiring that any affordable housing development receiving funding from Suffolk County must provide five housing units for veterans and individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities.
With Suffolk County having the largest population of veterans in New York State, and more than 14,000 individuals on Long Island living with disabilities, this passed legislation was necessary and is a great accomplishment! We can celebrate even more EEDA Pride as EEDA’s very own Seth Kasden and Chris Zerella helped to advocate for this legislation and are featured in the news reports! Check out these articles on News 12 and on Newsday to learn more! |
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