Peri Finkelstein of Long Island is building a movement

For West Hempstead native Peri Finkelstein, launching a foundation was the next step in a journey that began as a fundraiser and grew into a movement.

Finkelstein founded the Team Peri Foundation in 2022, after years of fundraising with Team Lifeline, the racing branch of the nonprofit Chai Lifeline. Since 2009, Team Peri had raced annually in the Miami Marathon, ultimately raising more than $1 million to support children with serious illnesses. Along the way, what started as a family initiative became a full-fledged organization focused on inclusion, advocacy and systemic change.

Finkelstein discovered her passion for marketing and nonprofit work as a teen, working with Team Lifeline and taking on leadership roles despite having no formal training. “Every mistake became a foundation for growth,” she said.

A turning point came when fellow Team Peri member David Stulberger asked why they weren’t a nonprofit themselves. Finkelstein shelved the idea for years — until she earned both a Bachelor of Science and an MBA with a concentration in marketing from Adelphi University. While finishing her graduate degree, she laid the groundwork for the foundation.

Team Peri now amplifies marginalized voices through speaking engagements, social media, and its podcast, “Step Out of Line.” Its mission is to confront ableism and challenge societal norms by promoting true inclusion.

“Team Peri partners with organizations that share our values to ensure everyone is included, understood and accepted,” Finkelstein said.

One of the most influential of those partnerships was with the Be Like Josh Foundation, a nonprofit focused on changing perceptions of disability in both animals and people. Finkelstein interned with the group in 2022 and built a close friendship with founder Kimberly Elliott, whom she met as a guest on the Team Peri podcast.

Elliott’s mentorship inspired Finkelstein to embrace the complexities of living with a disability and to speak openly about it. She later wrote and delivered a TEDx Talk — narrated by Mayim  Bialik — at Texas Woman’s University, weaving together themes of inclusion, AI technology, and personal growth. 

TEDx Talk: Peri Finkelstein | Always Wanting More & Stepping Out of Line

Finkelstein’s advocacy also extends to the healthcare system, where she aims to help providers better communicate with patients who have physical disabilities.

“Far too often, physicians speak around patients instead of directly to them,” she said. “These perceived differences create distance, discomfort and miscommunication.”

Her goal is to educate and challenge assumptions. “Inclusion requires rethinking the way people speak, listen and engage,” she said. “It starts by asking: How can we make sure no one feels othered?”

The foundation’s podcast — active since 2020 and available on Spotify, Apple, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music and YouTube — has become a key piece of that mission. What began as a personal coping tool during the Covid-19 pandemic grew into a national platform.

Guests have included actors Mayim Bialik and Alex Borstein, journalist Dana Arschin, designer Pnina Tornai and Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman.

Following its major fundraising milestone, the Team Peri Foundation launched the Julie Hait Adler Scholarship Fund in April 2024, in partnership with Adelphi. By December, they met their $25,000 goal, which the university matched. The fund honors a close family friend and supporter, and will support students in Adelphi’s Levermore Global Scholars program.

“Julie was a leader, even if she didn’t realize it,” Finkelstein said. “She showed up for our family — and for this cause — without hesitation.”

The foundation also runs The Peri Project, which assembles self-care kits for Pediatric ICU caregivers, and continues to host in-person events like its annual Bowl-a-Thon.

Finkelstein encourages anyone interested in getting involved to visit teamperi.org or reach out via email. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, she said — whether for in-person events or virtual support.

“It is never too late to Step Out of Line,” she said. “Be fearless. Go against the grain. Color outside of the lines. Don’t look back — just keep moving forward with purpose and passion.”

This story has been modified as of October 23, 2025