Children Builds New Sensory

Celebrate the Children Builds New Sensory Room Thanks to Bike to the Beach New York Riders 🚴‍♀️💙

A Ride That Turned Pedal Power Into Real-World Impact

Each summer, hundreds of cyclists take on Bike to the Beach New York, pedaling from the city to the ocean to raise funds and awareness for autism and developmental disabilities. Among the many nonprofit partners that benefit from this ride, Celebrate the Children (CTC) stands out as a powerful example of what community fundraising can achieve.

Thanks to the incredible fundraising efforts of Bike to the Beach riders, teams, and donors, Celebrate the Children has officially begun construction on the first of two new sensory rooms—a transformative space that supports the developmental, emotional, and educational needs of their students.

The finish line will have a variety of activities to keep the whole family entertained. Lunch options will be available for all Bike to the Beach participants.

Come for the ride; stay for the memories. At The Beach House, the coast truly does the most!

From Miles to Milestones: How Riders Made It Happen

The journey started with a simple challenge:

The Task: Continue the Bike to the Beach tradition — fundraise and ride!
The Reason: Impact, celebrate, and inspire on behalf of people with autism and disabilities.
The Goal: Build two new sensory rooms for students at Celebrate the Children.

And this year, that goal is becoming a reality.

Funds raised through the Bike to the Beach New York charity ride directly supported the construction of CTC’s first sensory room, a purpose-built environment designed to help students manage sensory needs, improve focus, and engage in meaningful learning experiences.

As of this fall, construction is well underway — a milestone that belongs to every rider, team, and donor who contributed to the cause.

The Power of a Sensory Room

At Celebrate the Children, sensory rooms aren’t just a nice-to-have — they’re an integral part of the school’s Developmental, Individual Relationship-Based (DIR®) approach, pioneered by Dr. Stanley Greenspan and Dr. Serena Wieder.

These immersive spaces:

  • Help students self-regulate and manage sensory input

  • Encourage emotional connection and communication

  • Create safe, calming environments for individualized learning

  • Support therapists and educators in implementing cutting-edge interventions

For many students with autism and developmental differences, sensory rooms are the key to unlocking focus, communication, and confidence.

About Celebrate the Children

Founded in 1995, Celebrate the Children is a New Jersey state-approved school serving children ages 3–21 with difficulties in relating and communicating. Their multi-disciplinary program includes:

  • Research-based interventions targeting sensory, motor, and visual-spatial challenges

  • Art, music, yoga, and community-based education

  • Transition and life-skills programs for young adults

  • Family coaching and support groups that empower parents and siblings

CTC believes that emotionally meaningful experiences unlock intelligence and potential — and that every child deserves an education that meets them where they are.

Why Bike to the Beach Partners With Celebrate the Children

Bike to the Beach is proud to partner with Celebrate the Children as part of our New York Ride community, uniting cyclists, sponsors, and nonprofits in a shared mission to make inclusion and opportunity possible for all.

Every dollar raised, every mile pedaled, and every story shared helps build the infrastructure — literally — for a more inclusive future. The sensory room under construction today exists because of the dedication of riders who turned their passion into progress.

Join the Movement: Ride, Fundraise, and Build What’s Next

Bike to the Beach is more than a charity ride — it’s a movement for impact. Join us for the next Bike to the Beach New York Ride and help Celebrate the Children finish their second sensory room.

You can:

  1. Register to Ride at rides.biketothebeach.org/new-york

  2. Fundraise for CTC and share your story on social media

  3. Recruit a Team — rally your colleagues, friends, or family to join you on the road

  4. Celebrate the Finish Line knowing your ride helped build something life-changing

Because when we ride together, we don’t just raise awareness — we build spaces where children with autism can thrive.