Built from a parent's frustration and one OT's calling.
Pathways to Possibility Foundation began with a mother turned away on the first day of camp — and an occupational therapist who couldn't stop thinking about why that happens so often in Spartanburg County.
Our mission
At Pathways to Possibility Foundation we believe every individual deserves a clear path toward growth, connection, and joy. Our mission is to empower individuals with special needs to build confidence, independence, and life skills through hands-on, sensory-rich experiences delivered in a supportive, inclusive setting.
Our vision
We envision a world where individuals with special needs have every opportunity to discover their potential, pursue their passions, and belong fully in their communities. Pathways to Possibility Foundation strives to be a model for inclusive programming that opens doors and builds futures, one possibility at a time.
How one question became a Foundation.
Founder and President Rachel Moreno has always had a heart for serving others, especially those with varying abilities — a calling that led her to become an occupational therapist. Shortly after entering the field, she began to notice a recurring gap: there were few programs or activities truly accessible to individuals of all abilities, and few spaces where individuals with special needs could simply belong.
In 2021, Rachel began dreaming of one day combining two things she loved: mini golf and serving individuals with special needs. Two years later, in 2023, a second idea took root through her work as an occupational therapist in Spartanburg County, where she treated children with a range of needs in their homes and daycare settings. During this time, a parent of a child on her caseload was searching for a summer camp for her son, who has special needs. After struggling to find a special needs camp in Spartanburg County, and ruling out a program in Greenville County as too far for a daily commute and unsuitable for an overnight stay, she eventually enrolled him in a local YMCA summer camp that was not specifically designed for special needs — though the camp had assured her, months in advance, that they could accommodate him.
Shortly after drop-off on the first day, she was called to come pick him back up: the camp could not accommodate him after all. Frustrated, and rightfully so, the parent remarked that it was no wonder so many special needs children struggle to develop social skills, when they so rarely have the same opportunities to build them outside of school. Her words stayed with Rachel, sparking a simple but persistent thought: why can't I just start something like that?
That question became the seed of an idea — a place where individuals with special needs and abilities could gather, build social skills, and create memories and community together. Over time, that idea grew into a vision: using a nonprofit organization to launch a summer camp built specifically to accommodate individuals with special needs.
That vision became reality in June 2026, when Rachel founded Pathways to Possibility Foundation. The organization's flagship program, CampCreate, is set to welcome its first campers in June 2027 — bringing Rachel's years-long vision full circle and giving Spartanburg County families the accessible, special-needs-specific summer camp experience that had once been so hard to find. Rachel's original 2021 dream remains part of the Foundation's long-term future as well, with plans to one day open an adaptive mini golf experience designed for individuals with special needs and their families.
Who we serve and why
Population served
Individuals with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, or developmental delays. Age range varies by program and events. Pathways to Possibility Foundation's CampCreate is targeted to serve ages 7–30.
Why we serve this population
Individuals with special needs and their families in Spartanburg County, South Carolina face a year-round shortage of programming, events, and community spaces designed with their needs in mind. While the broader disability services landscape offers clinical support — therapy, special education, medical care — recreational and social programming specifically designed for individuals with special needs remains scarce. The result is a community where individuals with special needs are frequently excluded from the everyday experiences their peers take for granted: summer camps, community events, recreational activities, and the informal social connections that come with them.
Families are left searching, often unsuccessfully, for programs that can truly accommodate their loved ones — and when they do find one, the fit is rarely guaranteed. Individuals with special needs benefit enormously from year-round opportunities to build social skills, develop independence, and experience a sense of belonging in their community — yet these opportunities are rarely available in Spartanburg County in an accessible, intentionally designed format. Community events, sensory-friendly recreational programming, and inclusive social gatherings can have a profound impact on confidence, communication, and quality of life for individuals with special needs and their families.
The absence of such programming does not simply inconvenience families — it isolates them. Pathways to Possibility Foundation exists to change that, beginning with CampCreate as the Foundation's first concrete step toward building a more inclusive and connected community for individuals with special needs across Spartanburg County.
Volunteer leadership behind the mission.
Pathways to Possibility Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by an amazing board. Click on a board member to read their bio.
Rachel Moreno
Christine Hall
Kelsie Melette
Reasey Bou
Porscha Pollock
Denise Boyce
Benita Yowe
The six things we never compromise on.
Belonging
Welcoming environments where every individual is valued, respected, and given meaningful opportunities to participate.
Compassion
Kindness, patience, empathy, and understanding in every interaction.
Possibility
Every individual has unique strengths and unlimited potential. We focus on abilities, not limitations.
Accessibility
Removing barriers so every individual has equitable opportunities to learn, create, and participate.
Empowerment
Encouraging confidence, independence, self-advocacy, and the skills to reach personal goals.
Connection
Relationships among participants, families, staff, and the broader community that outlast any single program.