About the event

Join us, and others from around the country, as we cook a meal together and raise money for SitGrit!

All money raised from this event will be donated to Social Creatures, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization helping to power SitGrit, a seated movement program designed with and for individuals with disabilities. 100% of event proceeds will fund SitGrit’s continued operations in 2023.

6:30-7:30 pm ET: Virtual Cook Along led by SitGrit participant and chef, Natalia Mendez, and SitGrit Instructor, Nora Minno, RD, CDN

Learn about SitGrit, Social Creatures, and the accessibility issues we are tackling within the fitness industry as we prepare a simple yet delicious meal together. Chef Natalia Mendez, SitGrit participant and Founder of Women on Wheels NYC, will guide attendees on how to prepare a simple holiday meal (recipe sent after event registration).

7:30-8:00 pm ET: An Interview with Blake Hunt

As we eat our meal, stay to hear from Blake Hunt, a SitGrit regular, and co-Founder of the Quad Gods, a professional esports team of quadriplegic gamers on a mission to integrate and highlight all gamers with disabilities as serious esports competitors.

How it works

1. After you register, you will be sent an email to download the recipe card for the dish via the email address you provide in registration.

2. Before the event, gather your ingredients and have them prepped and ready to cook with (details in the recipe card).

3. You will receive an email 24 hours prior to the event with Zoom login information and password for the event.

4. Log on at the event start time and Natalia and Nora will guide you through the dishes step by step as we all cook together!

5. Stay to hear an interview with our keynote speaker, Blake Hunt, as we share our meal together.

Other Info

Zoom log in info and password will be emailed to you 24 hours prior to the event

We will be "actively" cooking for about 45 minutes

Please 1 registration per computer/device

Recipe is gluten free, and will include substitutions so it can easily be made vegetarian and/or dairy free.

If you have dietary restrictions, please email rose@thesocialcreatures.org and we can provide alternative ingredient suggestions.

About SitGrit

Created with the Spinal Cord Injury Transitions Group of Mount Sinai and powered by Social Creatures and Performance 360, SitGrit is a seated movement program designed with and for individuals with disabilities. SitGrit classes provide free, fully seated, home-based aerobic and strength training workouts, led by high-performance and Olympic fitness trainers. The classes have been universally designed so that they are accessible to wheelchair users and individuals with chronic illness/neurological conditions. All proceeds from this event will go towards funding SitGrit in 2023, so that we can continue to offer the classes for free to our SitGrit community.

What People Are Saying About SitGrit

"My experience with SitGrit so far has been phenomenal! I am so honored and full of gratitude to experience these progressive workouts that make you do your best each time- even after 11 years of paralysis for me."

"In a wheelchair I find it very difficult to do things that raise my heart rate outside of SitGrit."

"SitGrit has been a lifesaver. Having it offered has truly kept me from feeling isolated. Disability in and of itself is an isolating experience and having a live class has kept me grounded. As my disability has progressed it has given me structure and purpose in my week. I would truly miss it if it didn't continue."

"SitGrit changed my life. It motivates me, keeps me on track, I am less lonely... SitGrit cares about me!!"

"SitGrit produced a body healing for me. During breathing lessons my diaphragm, lungs expanded- opening core. Stopped my body from imploding in itself during COVID. SitGrit is a game-changer!"

“Keep supporting this organization - it provides invaluable opportunities for people with limited abilities to exercise from comfort of their homes regardless where they live.”

Ticket Info

This event is ticketed on a sliding scale-- you can select your ticket price based on the amount that you would like to donate. 100% of the money raised from this event will be donated to Social Creatures, a registered 501(c)(3) organization that helps power SitGrit. All donations are fully tax-deductible and will go towards SitGrit operations in 2023.

We are fundraising to meet our goal of providing at least two free SitGrit classes a week in 2023. These classes will be provided live on Zoom, and then archived on our YouTube channel for continued use. No donation is too large or too small. Donors who contribute more than $250 in a single contribution will be provided with a donor acknowledgment letter. If you contribute $250 or less but wish to receive a donor acknowledgment letter, please email rose@thesocialcreatures.org. Thank you!

Our total goal raise is $4,000:

$25 sponsors 10 min of free SitGrit programming

$50 sponsors 20 min of free SitGrit programming

$75 sponsors 30 min of free SitGrit programming

$150 sponsors one free 60 min SitGrit class

$300 sponsors one week of free SitGrit programming (two 60 min classes)

$600 sponsors two weeks of free SitGrit programming (four 60 min classes)

$1,200 sponsors an entire month of free SitGrit programming (eight 60 min classes)