Mission Statement

The Texas Ramp Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free wheelchair ramps to low-income older adults and people with disabilities identified by local health care providers. Ramps are built exclusively with volunteer labor, keeping costs to a minimum. Ramps are built without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, age or gender.

Vision Statement

Our vision is that no Texas resident shall lack safe access because of financial limitations.

Our History

Download a History of the Texas Ramp Project (PDF)

In 1985, members of the Kiwanis Club of Richardson, Texas, were asked to build a wheelchair ramp for a friend. That initial effort, and the next, and the next, resulted in the Dallas Ramp Project and development of a system for providing wheelchair ramps to low-income people with disabilities in Dallas County, at no cost to the recipient.

Twenty years later, the Dallas Ramp Project had built over 1,400 ramps, and it became obvious that the entire state could benefit from this volunteer ramp-building model. Thus, a new statewide nonprofit called the Texas Ramp Project was incorporated in June 2006. Its mission: to establish regional organizations across the state to build ramps for older adults and people with disabilities in financial need. Founder and executive director was John Laine, who had served as volunteer director of the Dallas Ramp Project.

Since 2006 the Texas Ramp Project has expanded into more than 40 Texas regions, from Texarkana to El Paso and Amarillo to McAllen. Over 24,000 ramps have been built, which, if laid end-to-end, would extend for over 122 miles. To accomplish this, the Texas Ramp Project partners with local churches, civic organizations, businesses, military servicemen and women, students, youth groups and many others, along with foundations and corporations, all across the state.

What’s most unique about the Texas Ramp Project is its use of all-volunteer labor. That means that TRP can hold the cost of a ramp to about a third that of a retail contractor. For an average of $1,000 in materials and a few hours of donated labor on a Saturday morning, the life of a homebound person can be completely transformed.

TRP ramps provide safety, independence and improved quality of life to clients and relief to their families and caregivers. They often allow clients to age in place at home, surrounded by those who love and care for them. The ramps are built following ADA guidelines and are safe, strong and durable. They are built without regard to race, religion, age, gender or ethnicity. They are always free to clients.

updated 03/16/2023

Fact Sheet – September 2023

Download Fact Sheet (PDF)

Year Established: 2006

EIN No.: 33-1139484

D-U-N-S No.: 969581003

Organization Address: P.O. Box 832065, Richardson, TX 75083-2065

Telephone: 214-558-0339        Fax: 469-613-0873

Email: info@texasramps.org

Web Site: www.texasramps.org       

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/TexasRamps

LinkedIn: Texas Ramp Project

Twitter: @texasramps

Instagram: @tx_ramp_project

Local Organizations: Over 40 regions incorporating 22 Texas Councils of Government

Ramps Built: 1,903 in 2022 in 123 Texas counties; 1,903 in 2022 in 123 counties; total builds since 1985 = 25,087 (128 miles)

Referrals: 5,739 in 2022 in 200 Texas counties; current rate of referrals 560 per month

2022 Revenues: $1,807,360 (audited)

2023 Budget: $1,630,000 to build 1,900 ramps

Functional Expenses (2022 Audited Financial Statements): Program Service Expenses 94.3%, Management and General Expenses 5.2%, Fundraising Expenses 0.5%

Approximate Number of Volunteers: 3,500 statewide

Executive Director: John Laine

Mr. Laine spent over 36 years in sales and management for industrial and aerospace products, including 20 years in his own business. A member of the Kiwanis Club of Richardson, he served as volunteer director of the Dallas Ramp Project from 1989 to 2005, when he left to found the Texas Ramp Project as a separate nonprofit serving all of Texas. He has been executive director since 2006. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from St. Lawrence University.

Texas Demographics

Over 3.8 million Texans—13.1%—are age 65 or over, and nearly 23% report an ambulatory disability. More than 1.6 million Texas men, women and children have a disability that may require a wheelchair or walker. Many of them are veterans. With Texas’ poverty rate at 14.2%, it is likely that there are a large number of people who need safe access to their homes but lack the means to obtain it.

How to Get a Ramp

TRP does not accept direct referrals from clients or their families. Referrals must come from a third-party health care provider via the TRP website. (The provider qualifies the client as being in financial need.) The provider fills out the online referral form available on the “Request A Ramp” page of the TRP website. The form is sent to the region coordinator. A trained surveyor will visit the client and design a ramp at the preferred entry/exit that is appropriate in length, slope and direction. Based upon the survey, a volunteer construction crew led by a trained leader will then implement the design in four to five hours.

Why Texas Ramp Project

Many of TRP’s clients have been housebound for months or years, or have been negotiating either steep steps or dilapidated or unsafe ramps, which puts them in harm’s way whenever they leave home. With a free ramp from TRP, these people gain independence, improved quality of life, and safe exit in the event of a fire or other emergency. In addition, their families and caregivers attain welcome relief. Many of the caregivers are elderly spouses and risk a fall whenever they assist their patient on steps.

We have also found that most older adults prefer to age in place in their own home, surrounded by friends and family. But if their home is not accessible, they may end up in a nursing facility. An $1000 ramp built by the Texas Ramp Project can save taxpayers up to $100,000 per year for an uninsured client to be housed in a nursing home.

TRP ramps follow ADA guidelines of 1 foot of slope for every inch of elevation. The ramps are built of pressure-treated lumber and are 48 inches wide, with a 3-1/2-inch kickboard and handrails to prevent tipping. The finished product is safe, strong and durable.

GuideStar: 2023 Gold Seal of Transparency

Donate by check: Send check to Texas Ramp Project, P.O. Box 832065, Richardson, TX 75083-2065

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Donate one time or set up recurring donations.

Why Texas Ramp Project?

Many of TRP’s clients have been housebound for months or years, or have been negotiating either steep steps or dilapidated or unsafe ramps, which puts them in harm’s way whenever they leave home. With a free ramp from TRP, these people gain independence, improved quality of life, and safe exit in the event of a fire or other emergency. In addition, their families and caregivers attain welcome relief. Many of the caregivers are elderly spouses and may be frail themselves.

We have also found that most elderly people prefer to age in place in their own home, surrounded by friends and family. But if their home is not accessible, they may end up in a nursing facility. A $700 ramp built by the Texas Ramp Project can save taxpayers up to $80,000 per year for an uninsured client to be housed in a nursing home.

TRP ramps follow ADA guidelines of 1 foot of slope for every inch of elevation. The ramps are built of pressure-treated lumber and are 48 inches wide, with a 3-1/2-inch kickboard and handrails to prevent tipping. The finished product is safe, strong and durable.

How to Get a Ramp

TRP does not accept direct referrals from clients or their families. Referrals must come from a third-party health care provider via the TRP website. (The provider qualifies the client as being in financial need.) The provider fills out the online referral form available on the “Request A Ramp” page on the TRP website. The form is sent to the region coordinator. A trained surveyor will visit the client and design a ramp at the preferred entry/exit that is appropriate in length, slope and direction. Based upon the survey, a volunteer construction crew led by a trained leader will then implement the design in about four to five hours.

A trained surveyor will visit the client and design a ramp at the preferred entry/exit that is appropriate in length, slope and direction. Based upon the survey, a volunteer construction crew led by a trained leader will then implement the design in about four to five hours.

Keith Henderson

President

Peter Heinkel

Vice President

Donna Burton

Treasurer

Roy Harrington

Board Member

Molli Harris

Secretary

Kay Champagne

Board Member
Pete Carey - Board Member

Pete Carey

Board Member

Stephen England

Board Member
Mark Hinzman Board Member

Mark Hinzman

Board Member

Myron Knudson

Board Member
Rachel Marchand - Board Member

Rachel Marchand

Board Member

Marge Oberg

Board Member

Suraj Pelluru

Board Member

Gary Stopani

Board Member

Gary Gatzlaff

Board Member

John Laine

Executive Director

Sandra Knutson

Director of Administration