Iona’s Hynes Institute and The Viscardi Center Join Forces to Break Barriers in Entrepreneurship
The second IdeaSpark Pitchfest engaged individuals with disabilities in developing an entrepreneurial mindset.
New Rochelle, N.Y. - Iona University’s Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation partnered with The Viscardi Center -- a nonprofit organization that educates, employs and empowers individuals with disabilities as part of the second annual IdeaSpark program. Nine participants from around the country dedicated eight weeks to develop their entrepreneurial ideas for the chance to win $7,500 in non-equity cash grants. The culmination of their hard work resulted in a PitchFest which took place during Disability Pride Month.
Presenting to a panel of judges, participants shared their ideas from mental health services to accessibility tools for clothing racks.
“Through IdeaSpark, The Viscardi Center – a global leader in disability inclusion – is proud to partner with Iona University and its world class Hynes Institute of Entrepreneurship & Innovation to create truly inclusive training for aspiring entrepreneurs with disabilities,” said Dr. Chris Rosa, president & CEO of The Viscardi Center. “Working collaboratively and drawing on their strengths, Iona and Viscardi are ensuring that founders with disabilities have the capacity and opportunity to participate more equitably in economic development.”
Dr. Christoph Winkler, endowed professor and founding program director, kicked off the event with opening remarks. “This partnership aligns with Iona’s values to foster and support a diverse community of learners.” said Winkler. “We’re dedicated to cultivating a dynamic ecosystem of innovation and opportunity for all.”
Among the attendees celebrating the IdeaSpark participants was Anne Marie Hynes, benefactor of the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
“I truly enjoyed attending this event,” said Hynes. “It is remarkable to hear from the next generation of change agents.”
Congratulations to the following 2024 IdeaSpark participants:
- Eric Ryan, Trippr, 1st place: Launched an accessible transportation service in July 2023 with specialized customer care.
- Maria Torre, All Cando!, 2nd place: Specialized in arts and crafts for individuals with disabilities.
- Miguel Angel Davila, Davila Applied Anthropological Research, 3rd place: Provided business-to-business support by assisting business owners with organizational structure, research and operational strategies.
- Christina Sparrock, See the Person: Focused on mental health and conducts community workshops on domestic violence.
- Gabrielle Mendonca, Accessibility Consulting: Built an accessibility consulting firm.
- Joe Marks, The Shopping Plaza: Created a digital mall for personalized shopping experiences accessible to all.
- Marqueeta Hughes, Walk with Confidence: Founded a women's footwear luxury brand with conscious design.
- Nicole Harper, Harper & Enigma Custom Creations, LLC: Developed an accessibility tool for clothing racks usable by everyone.
- Patricia Johnson, Jammin Health: Revamped unhealthy dishes into delicious nutritious meals.
Left to Right: Dr. Christoph Winkler, endowed professor and founding program director of the Hynes Institute; Steven Markowitz, Pitchfest judge; Lendynette Pacheco-Jorge, associate director of the Hynes Institute; Dr. Alison Munsch, Chief DEIB Officer and associate professor; Anne Marie Hynes, benefactor of the Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation; Dr. Tricia Mulligan, Iona University provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs; Dr. Chris Rosa president and CEO of The Viscardi Center; Kristine Welker, PitchFest Judge; Marisol Chappell, assistant director of the Hynes Institute.
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 is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” 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 NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. 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.