HAPPY

​Dance & Yoga

Erin Saslav

​​


​Weight Training

Anthony Peters         


         

Arts & Crafts

Heather Taylor



Lead Counselor

Samantha Scaccia  



Group Counselor

Mariluz Garcia​​

                                Founder
                         Penny Shaw
​
Penny Shaw was the founding

director of Project HAPPY, 

​and led the program from its

inception in January 1981 until her retirement in December 2023.

Who We Are


Since 1981, PROJECT HAPPY (Hunter Activity Program for Parents and Youth) has been providing sorely needed athletic and recreational services to New York City’s children, youth and young adults who have disabilities.
 
Project HAPPY’s mission is to promote the well-being of New York City’s children, youth and young adults with disabilities by providing them with individual and team sports and recreational activities. In doing so, we aim to impart improved physical health, social skills, and self-confidence in those who are often marginalized as a result of their disability. Additionally, we strive to advocate for, and provide awareness of, the needs of urban children, youth and young adults who have disabilities.   
 
Presently we serve participants between the ages 8 and 35 who have disabilities such as:


  • Spina bifida
  • Cerebral palsy and other orthopedic disabilities
  • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
  • Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Intellectual and developmental disabilities​



Program Activities


Project HAPPY’s activities are conducted by specialists in adapted physical education and include swimming, dance, aerobics, frisbee, basketball, softball, soccer, yoga, weight training, table tennis, and arts and crafts.
 
The instructors are assisted by a group of volunteers from Hunter College, local high schools, and the community.

​​​


Donate


Project HAPPY is funded by grants and generous donations from people like you. 

Checks can be made payable to "Hunter College" with "Project HAPPY" in the memo, and mailed to:

Project HAPPY, Hunter College

695 Park Ave, Room 1000W

New York, NY 10065


Or you can use the button below to donate through PayPal.


                       Coordinator

                 Olivia Matthews 

​

​Olivia Matthews has a B.S.

in Business Administration

from Southern New Hampshire University, and is currently completing her Master's in Real Estate Finance at NYU. 

HAPPY

STAFF

​​                             ​Director
Semra Kayabas, L.M.S.W.
​
Semra Kayabas received

her B.A. in Psychology from

Binghamton University, and

her M.S.W. from Hunter College School of Social Work. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker. She has been part of the staff since 2010 and took over leadership from the founder director, Penny Shaw, in 2023.​