Pegasus is a grass roots organization founded by a small group of volunteers in response to a need they saw in the community.

Pegasus was founded in 1994 by a Founding Board of Directors led by Marie Perrotta, a parent of Andrew, her adult son with developmental disabilities, and comprised of Margret Ewing, a parent of a daughter Sarah; Allison Masters, a teacher of young children with development disabilities in the Metropolitan Toronto School Board; Sally Grieve, an occupational therapist working in the same school board as Allison, and Janice Murphy, a day care administrator. Shortly after the programs were launched, they were joined by Barbara Johnson, a nursing instructor at the University of Toronto, whose daughter Gretchen became one of the original participants.

As a group of parents and professionals, the founders feared for the future of people who did not have any support or programs after they finished school at age 21, the situation faced by hundreds of young people in 1994. They could foresee the erosion of social skills, academic losses, loneliness, isolation and heightened stress for families.

Most acutely, they feared these young people would lose their connection to community life, a connection that for most people is forged through daily interaction, work, and participation with fellow community members.

They seized the opportunity to create an exciting and progressive organization. Optimism and creativity are predominant themes reducing fear and anxiety for the future that spearheaded the initiative at the start.

Pegasus became incorporated and a Registered Charity, and opened its first program in Fall 1994. It now has four separate program sites, and a Thrift & Gift Store which provides participant support and programming.  Pegasus offers service to 42 individuals Monday through Friday, 11 1/2 months of the year.

In 2004, Marie Perrotta, pictured here with her family, was named Citizen of the Year for Beaches/East York. On recieving this recognition, Ms. Perrotta stated that, "this award is a gift to all of us who have worked to make Pegasus part of our community and I am thrilled to accept it on our behalf."