"I Can Too" Impact Stories

Addie, Oklahoma City, OK:

"For a long time I have told myself I can do hard things. When I swim a new stroke or at a cheer competition when I get nervous I say this to myself all the time. Just because I have a disability does NOT mean I can not do things! If I want to do something I try my best. Like when i told my mom i wanted to go to OU she told me to apply so she helped me and I did. I had to interview and showed I could find my way around campus which I did and they accepted me! I know I will go back to my high school one day and be a TA and help other people other have a harder time than me."

Sam The I Can Man Foundation gave a grant to Addie to help with her first semester of school at the OU Sooner Works program.

The image here was one shared with us on her move in day!

Think Ability, Duncan, OK:

"These funds will give five individuals with differing abilities the ability to say I CAN, and I AM! We have highly motivated individuals waiting for their turn to show just how capable they are as they run their popsicle stand, serving and interacting with their community, and becoming self-sufficient."

"For the Sam The I Can Man Foundation to create opportunity from heartbreak is such a beautiful inspiration and example for others. We remain proud to be a partner organization, sharing and aligning our missions."

Sam The I Can Man Foundation gave a grant to Think Ability, Inc. to help launch their mission pops business that helps employ individuals with differing abilities. They all work on creating their own flavors and selling them at their cafe and community events!

The image here shows the freezer that was Sam The I Can Man Foundation helped purchase and Denise and Micah with their mission pops.

Teo, Newberg, OR:

"There is so much negative rhetoric around what our children with disabilities can do. Even professionals who are trying to help us don't realize how discouraging some of their feedback can be. Our son has challenges but so many gifts. Learning to swim is something that will open many doors for him I think, from being able to possibly join a swim team someday (he loves to race!), or even pursuing a career in marine science (sea creatures are one of his lifelong special interests). Or maybe even trying surfing! He's fearless around the water so providing him with water safety skills is something we've wanted to do but not had the resources to do so."

"The lessons are going great! Teo is starting to learn how to float, and slowly learning how to kick in swimming. These 1:1 lessons with Teo's teacher Kenzie have already been so valuable!"

Sam The I Can Man Foundation gave a grant for Teo to have one on one adaptive swim lessons at a local center near him! Water safety is so important, especially for individuals on the autism spectrum since they are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers.

DSACO, Oklahoma City, OK:

"Launching a button-making business isn’t just about producing and selling a product—it’s about building confidence, learning new skills, engaging with the community, and showing others what’s possible. With each button created and every interaction at a sales table, our self-advocates will be living out Sam’s legacy—choosing to believe in their potential and proving they can too."

"We have purchased 2 button machines and all the equipment we need for our photo button business. We have named it 'Can Do Buttons'"

Sam The I Can Man Foundation gave a grant to the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma to help launch their Self Advocacy Center's button making business. This opens doors for the self-advocates to design, create, and sell custom buttons as part of a small business initiative. This hands-on project allows them practice job-related skills such as customer service, technology use, product development, and money management.

The images here show some of the self advocates making buttons!

Tre's Wish, Make-A-Wish OK, Oklahoma City, OK:

"Sam’s story is a powerful reminder of the “I Can Too” spirit we strive to ignite in every wish kid. At Make-A-Wish Oklahoma, we believe that when one child experiences a wish come true, they begin to believe, “I can too.” That belief is where our mission begins.
From our very first wish granted to every child we serve today, we have seen how one wish can spark the courage to dream bigger, hope harder, and believe in the impossible. Each time a wish is granted to our critically ill children, it does not just change one life, it echoes out, inspiring others to think, “If they can, I can too.”

Sam The I Can Man Foundation gave a grant to Make-A-Wish OK to send Tre to Morgan's Wonderland in San Antonio, TX. Morgan’s Wonderland is more than just a theme park; it is a space built with inclusion at its heart. From wheelchair-accessible rides and a sensory village to a fully inclusive water park and 4D cinema, it offers experiences that Tre and his family cannot find elsewhere.

The Image here shows Tre and his brother on a ride at Morgan's Wonderland.