Lon Dolber, CEO and president of American Portfolios Financial Services of Holbrook, N.Y., has made a lot of friends through his many good deeds.

One of those good deeds is a five-year, $500,000 funding commitment, in conjunction with a grant from Google, to open the American Portfolios Assistive Technology Lab in Hurleyville, N.Y. The technology lab, located in The Center for Discovery’s Technology Hub and Incubator, will work on new and innovative designs and techniques to benefit the mentally and physically disabled.

The Center for Discovery (TCFD) has worked on the development of assistive technologies and devices for the disabled for more than three decades.

“The official opening of the American Portfolios Assistive Technology Lab brings us one step closer to being able to transform lives, not just here, but everywhere,” said Patrick H. Dollard, president and CEO of The Center for Discovery, during the lab’s ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday.

The Assistive Technology Lab at TCFD will produce devices allowing disabled athletes to have greater mobility so they can participate in competitive sports events. According to Dolber, the competitions include both disabled and non-disabled athletes, which promotes greater acceptance of the disabled.

“When you spend time with somebody that looks so different from you, you come away ... with a greater acceptance of their humanity,” Dolber said in an interview with Financial Advisor.

Since 2010, Dolber has organized the Adventure Team Challenge in partnership with World T.E.A.M. The competition includes disabled residents of The Center for Discovery. Disabled and non-disabled athletes engage in a series of athletic, recreational and outdoor experiences that provide a sense of achievement and teamwork, he said.

Each year, American Portfolios employees, affiliated investment professionals, friends and other volunteers hold the competitions.

“Doing something for the community is very important,” Dolber said. “Handling their money is very important, but doing more is possible, too.”