DPAO Concerts

About Us

DPAO FOUNDATION
For the past 47 years, with over 250 concerts, DPAO brought to Watertown and Northern New York some of the most notable artists in the world. Superstars like Alan Jackson, Journey, Jeff Dunham, Blake Shelton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Reba, Foreigner, Chicago, Keith Urban, The Tragically Hip, Jeff Foxworthy, REO Speedwagon, Sugarland, STYX, The Doobie Brothers, Johnny Cash, Tony Bennett, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Meat Loaf, Randy Travis, Huey Lewis & The News, Kenny Rogers and Train.

The DPAO Concerts and events are the principal fundraising activity for the DPAO.

Disabled Persons Action Organization (DPAO) was started in 1974 and fully incorporated in 1976. Joseph L. Rich, an anchor for WWNY Radio and TV at that time, began the not-for-profit organization part time from his home. DPAO is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization whose mission is to provide quality and effective individualized services for developmentally disabled children and adults in Jefferson and Lewis Counties. The services are primarily geared toward helping families cope with the stress of caring for their disabled loved ones. DPAO currently services over 500 children, adults, and their families and is the primary provider of overnight and hourly respite services in the region, offering the services to families with developmentally disabled individuals residing at home.