"Lifelong Friends, Building Community"
Our Story
Visionary Founder
Colleen Short, the founder of Infinite Friends, has been working with intellectual and developmentally disabled (IDD) teens for over a decade. Her current role is the director of Greater Sacramento Capernaum Young Life, a faith based non-profit organization focusing on improving the lives of special needs teens and their families. Capernaum Young Life gives special needs teens the opportunity to experience life with fun and adventure, while developing friendships with others sharing the same unique needs.
​
While working within the special needs community Colleen has come to recognize gaps in the services and community foundations available to the developmentally disabled entering adulthood and amongst the unique special needs individuals aging out of Young Life programs at age 22. Through countless discussions with Parents and Guardians caring for our special needs 'friends' and community leaders it became apparent that a new organization focused on helping older "friends' continue their journey into becoming independent adults is needed in the community.
Infinite Friends was born out of this recognition of need.
Mission
Infinite Friends is a non-profit 501c3 organizations that focuses on creating a place where those who are 22 years and older and have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can come together and realize their full potential as adults. Infinite Friends is a place where everyone knows one another, a place where they feel at home and more importantly where they want to be. Infinite Friends connects them to the greater world around them with resources and relationships that will last a lifetime. At Infinite Friends we believe everyone, including our friends have the right to be included, to dream big and reach for their goals no matter how big.
​
The purpose/vision of Infinite Friends is:
​​
-
To create an environment to explore opportunities.
-
Develop personal strengths and skills and to help them maximize their full God created potential.
-
Develop in each ‘Friend’ a healthy self image and positive self esteem.
-
Develop personal independence i.e. cooking, home care needs and socialization.
-
Develop skills to help them enter the public workforce.
-
Provide them with social experiences to expand their world view i.e. camps, work training, educational opportunities and service projects.
Join the Cause
Infinite Friends comes with a community of volunteers who embody the long term goals and mission of developing Infinite Friends. Committed to serve long term by developing lasting relationships with all who participate. Talented and gifted volunteers working along side our friends who use their passions to make a difference in every individual life.
​
Our volunteers will love, care and see our friends like Jesus does which is the strength of Infinite Friends.
​
Our longer term vision is to purchase a piece of property to provide a permanent place where our friends feel welcomed — a place that feels like a home away from home. A community place that provides activities such as a basketball hoop, swing sets, a chicken coop, a garden, a large indoor space where they can gather, play games have impromptu dance parties, provide on going training opportunities — a place like home!
Board Of Directors
Executive Director - Colleen Short
As the current director of the Greater Sacramento Capernaum Young Life ministry and founder of Infinite friends Colleen is dedicated to serving those with disabilities. Infinite Friends will bring together community and resources to help those with disabilities transitioning to adulthood during a time when opportunities for them are limited.
​
Secretary - Chris Thomas
​
Chris volunteers his time and sits on our board: It is important to me that our Friends in the community we serve have a safe place to engage, connect, and grow. As a parent of a special needs child, I want to ensure she and every one of our Friends have a place to be loved and hear about the love of Jesus.
​
Treasury - Rhett Beal
​
Members of the Board
Joel and Ada Morgan