Gwinnett Adapted Sports Program Receives Grant from Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

Gwinnett County Public Schools announced that it has received a $5,600 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The award was one of 69 grants totaling almost $425,000 funded by the Reeve Foundation. These grants were provided to nonprofit organizations nationwide that aid in providing more opportunities, access, and daily quality of life for individuals living with paralysis, their families, and caregivers. Created by the late Dana Reeve, the program has awarded 2,055 grants totaling over $15.6 million since 1999.

GCPS’ adapted sports program will use the grant to purchase equipment needed to provide students with physical disabilities the opportunity to participate in competitive athletics. Specifically, the funding will help with the purchase of sport wheelchairs for the athletes.

Gwinnett’s program just completed its fourth year of existence. As a member of the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, the Gwinnett HEAT participates in wheelchair handball, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair football.

“We are extremely honored to have had our adapted sports program selected to receive one of the Quality of Life Grants from the Reeve Foundation,” said Mike Emery, GCPS director of Athletics, Student Activities, and Community Schools. “This grant will help us continue to provide our students with the best equipment available so they can continue to pursue their dream of participating in interscholastic athletics. We are thankful the Reeve Foundation viewed the Gwinnett Heat as a worthy recipient of the grant.”

“The Reeve Foundation believes that each of the nearly six million Americans living with paralysis deserves access to the best programs and services available. The Quality of Life Grants Program supports other nonprofit organizations that not only believe in that same independence, but achieve great success in carrying out their programs’ missions,” said Peter T. Wilderotter, president and CEO of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. “We are honored to recognize these organizations which empower those affected by paralysis.”

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life grants program was conceived by the late Dana Reeve to address the myriad needs of children and adults with paralysis and other mobility impairments and their families. Grants support critical life-enhancing and life-changing initiatives that improve physical and emotional health and increase independence. Funded projects offer a diversity of services and approaches: improving access; providing education and job training; sponsoring organized sporting activities; and much more. Quality of Life grants are funded through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About the Reeve Foundation

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information, and advocacy.

For more information, and to review the entire list of Quality of Life grant recipients, please visit their website at www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-225-0292.

(Editor's Note: This is a press release from Gwinnett County Public Schools.)