Non-profit to donate new motorized wheelchair to Ossining 12-year-old after theft

Alexandra Rivera, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·2 min read
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A non-profit organization in Brooklyn is donating a new motorized wheelchair to a 12-year-old Ossining girl after it was stolen from her home last week.

Aliyah Rivera was getting ready to go to school the morning of Nov. 16 when a man was caught on security camera footage stealing her motorized wheelchair, which was set up outside her house before she rode the bus.

Rivera, who has a spinal cord condition called acute flaccid myelitis, needs the wheelchair to get around at school and has not been able to attend since the mobility device was stolen. Rivera's laptop and backpack were also stolen.

A GoFundMe was set up to help raise money to replace the wheelchair and laptop, which has since raised over $6,000. But Vanessa Rivera, Aliyah's mother, said she got a call at her job on Wednesday from a non-profit organization offering to donate a wheelchair for free.

Bill and Karen Santo of the Christian J. Santo Legacy Foundation said they saw Aliyah's story and wanted to help support her and her family. The foundation has been supporting children with disabilities since their son, Christian, passed away of heart failure in 2020.

"They said, 'Don't use the GoFundMe money. We'll give it to you for free," Rivera said. "I've had a hard time keeping it together here at work."

Bill Santo said the foundation raises money through fundraisers every year and holds a holiday-themed block party as a way to give back to the community. He said the foundation will host this year's block party in Bay Ridge on Dec. 2, where they will present Aliyah with her new wheelchair.

"We happened to have a board meeting last night and, unanimously, the whole board of 10 people voted we’re buying this young girl a new wheelchair," he said.

The block party will include an appearance from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, a Central Park horse and buggy and food vendors.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Ossining 12-year-old getting a free new wheelchair after theft