Reno Rodeo Wish
The Reno Rodeo Foundation’s Rodeo Wish Program, presented by Dolan Auto Group, enhances the quality of life for children in Northern Nevada living with long-term, non-terminal medical, mental health, or developmental conditions. We accept nominations for children facing challenges such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, epilepsy, congenital heart defects, juvenile arthritis, and other chronic illnesses, as well as those with developmental or mental health conditions including autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, ADHD, and anxiety disorders.
Through this program, we provide personalized, memorable experiences and funding for adaptive equipment, vehicle repairs, home modifications, and other essential resources. These interventions promote independence, improve day-to-day functionality, and help ease the physical, emotional, and financial burdens families face.
CURRENT GOALS
- Reduce barriers to healthcare by covering travel expenses, adaptive equipment, therapy services, in-home modifications, and other essential resources for children with long-term medical, developmental, or mental health conditions.
- Boost confidence and joy through personalized Rodeo Wish experiences that reflect each child’s unique needs and interests.
- Strengthen healthcare partnerships by collaborating with providers, clinics, and social workers to identify children living with chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities, and mental health challenges.
- Alleviate family strain by offering tangible support that eases the emotional, physical, and financial burdens families face when managing a child’s ongoing care needs.
INITIATIVES
- Reno Rodeo Wish Experience
Deliver extraordinary, personalized experiences that bring joy, build confidence, and create lasting memories for children with long-term medical, developmental, or mental health conditions and their families.Create and deliver extraordinary, memorable experiences that bring joy and lasting impact to children and their families. - Pathways to Care: Year-Round Assistance for Children & Families
Provide funding for critical quality-of-life needs including adaptive equipment, vehicle repairs, in-home modifications, therapy-related costs, and travel assistance for medical appointments.Provide funding for medical assistance, transportation, or quality of life enhancements, including adaptive equipment and home modifications.
WHY THIS MATTERS
- Prevalence of Special Health Care Needs in Nevada: Approximately 13.3% of children in Nevada have special health care needs, encompassing chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions that require health and related services beyond that required by children generally. Source: America’s Health Rankings
- Impact of Assistive Technology: Access to assistive technology (AT) is crucial for children with disabilities. AT can significantly enhance learning, mobility, and independence, reducing disparities between children with and without disabilities. However, evidence for large-scale use of AT with positive impacts remains limited, highlighting the need for programs like Rodeo Wish to bridge this gap. Source: World Bank
- Economic and Social Implications: Families raising children with disabilities often face increased financial strain due to additional costs and lost earning opportunities. Children with disabilities are more vulnerable to poverty and social exclusion. Providing support through programs like Rodeo Wish can alleviate these burdens and promote better outcomes for these families. Source: UNICEF
EXPECTED IMPACT
- Short-Term
- Immediate financial relief for families managing ongoing care needs
- Confidence-boosting experiences for children facing medical, developmental, or mental health challenges
- Long-Term
- Improved emotional well-being and social development
- Strengthened family stability through reduced financial and logistical burdens
- Better health and functional outcomes supported by access to essential resources
ELIGIBILITY
- Age
Children must be under 18 years at the time of application. - Residence
Children must reside in Northern Nevada (excludes Clark, Lincoln, and Esmeralda counties). - Nominations
Nominations for the Reno Rodeo Wish Program are accepted from professionals who work closely with children and families and can speak to the child’s needs and circumstances. Eligible nominators include:- Medical Providers (e.g., physicians, nurses, specialists)
- Hospital or Clinic Case Workers
- Licensed Mental Health Professionals and Therapists
- Nonprofit Professionals
- Social Workers
- Court-Based Professionals (e.g., court appointed special advocates, court social workers, victim advocates, family court case managers, court clerks or coordinators)
- School-Based Professionals (e.g., counselors, nurses, special education staff).
If you are eligible to submit a nomination and would like to receive the nomination form, please contact us at info@renorodeofoundation.org.
SCOPE
The Reno Rodeo Wish Program is dedicated to supporting children under the age of 18 who reside in Northern Nevada and are living with long-term, non-terminal medical, developmental, or mental health conditions. This includes children managing everyday medical challenges that require ongoing care, as well as more complex or less common diagnoses. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Chronic medical conditions: diabetes, asthma, severe allergies, epilepsy, gastrointestinal disorders, congenital heart conditions, or juvenile arthritis
- Developmental and neurological conditions: autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or other learning and physical disabilities
- Mental and behavioral health challenges: ADHD, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and mood disorders
While we deeply respect the work of organizations supporting children with terminal illnesses, the Reno Rodeo Wish Program focuses on serving children whose ongoing conditions are not life-threatening but still impact their quality of life. We do not provide funding for hospital stays or direct medical treatment. Instead, we focus on eliminating barriers to care and improving day-to-day life through meaningful support—such as adaptive equipment, home and vehicle modifications, therapeutic tools, and customized wish experiences.
TIMELINE
The recipients of the 2025 Reno Rodeo Wish experience will be selected in April 2025. Any nominations received after that date will be considered for the 2026 Reno Rodeo Wish experience. For the year-round program, decisions will be made on an ongoing basis as nominations are received throughout the year.
