Iona’s Hynes Institute and The Viscardi Center Partner to Champion Inclusive Entrepreneurship
New Rochelle, N.Y. - Iona University’s Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation partnered with The Viscardi Center, a nonprofit dedicated to educating, employing and empowering individuals with disabilities, to host the third annual IdeaSpark program. “Iona’s commitment to nurturing a diverse and inclusive community is at the heart of this partnership,” said Dr. Christoph Winkler, endowed professor and founding program director. “Together, we’re building a vibrant ecosystem where innovation thrives and every aspiring entrepreneur has the opportunity to succeed.”
In celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 10 aspiring entrepreneurs from across the country spent eight weeks developing their business ideas, culminating in a high-energy PitchFest.
“Partnering with Iona University and the Hynes Institute allows us to create an entrepreneurial space where people with disabilities not only develop groundbreaking ideas but also gain the support and resources needed to turn those ideas into impactful ventures,” said Dr. Chris Rosa, president & CEO of The Viscardi Center. “Together, we’re opening doors to economic opportunity and redefining what’s possible.”
Participants competed for $7,500 in non-equity cash grants, showcasing not only their entrepreneurial spirit, but also a shared commitment to inclusion, innovation and breaking barriers for individuals with disabilities.
Congratulations to the following 2025 IdeaSpark winners:
- 1st Place: Alex Garrett, OneLegUpAlex
- 2nd Place: Gesy Duran, Wheel Eating
- 3rd Place: Edith Alvarez, EMA Designs
Learn more about The Viscardi Center here. To learn more about the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, visit here.
About The Viscardi Center
The Viscardi Center, a network of non-profit organizations based in Albertson, NY, provides a lifespan of services that educate, employ, and empower people with disabilities. Its programs and services include Pre-K through High School education (to age 21), school-to-work transition services, vocational training and job placement, digital accessibility services, entrepreneurship, veteran employment and workforce diversification assistance for children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities and businesses. It was founded in 1952 by Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. who himself wore prosthetic legs, served as disability advisor to eight U.S. Presidents, from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Jimmy Carter, and became one of the world’s leading advocates for people with disabilities. Learn more at ViscardiCenter.org.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.