Carvel Foundation Awards United Spinal Association $10,000 Grant for Kids Adaptive Sports Clinics
United Spinal Association, a national disability rights organization headquartered in New York City, has been awarded a $10,000 grant to support adaptive sports clinics for children with disabilities. The grant comes from the Yonkers, NY-based Thomas and Agnes Carvel Foundation and will fund the coordination and implementation of four clinics in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, as well as some associated equipment costs, for youngsters under the age of 18.
“The Thomas and Agnes Carvel Foundation has graciously provided much needed support to help United Spinal expand its children’s adaptive sports clinics to areas beyond New York City,” said Paul Tobin, United Spinal’s Deputy Executive Director. “With Carvel’s assistance, we will introduce basketball, softball and other sports to children who might not otherwise have an opportunity to participate. This will, in turn, help those children develop their self-esteem, confidence and friendships.”
United Spinal has held clinics in conjunction with New York City Public Schools, the Kessler Rehabilitation Corporation and Shriners Hospitals for Children. Adaptive sports clinics enable adolescents to build self-esteem, increase their strength and endurance, maximize their mobility, renew their self-confidence, and develop long-term friendships with fellow participants. These clinics are a means of improving not only the physical health, but the emotional health and well-being of the young adult participants as well.
Last year the Association hosted approximately 6-8 adaptive sports clinics, most of which took place in New York State, and approximately 200 teens participated. United Spinal will now be using the Carvel Foundation grant to run four more clinics this year, introducing between 200 and 400 juniors with disabilities to adaptive sports.
Named after the legendary ice cream franchiser, Tom Carvel, the Foundation’s mission is to award general operating grants, project/program grants, grants-in-aid and matching gifts in the area of children, youth and health.
United Spinal Association is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with spinal cord injury or disease by assuring quality health care, promoting research, advocating for civil rights and independence, educating the public about these issues and enlisting its help to achieve these fundamental goals. Guided by the belief that the benefits of athletic competition are no different for athletes with disabilities than for the able-bodied, the Association sponsors a wide variety of wheelchair recreational and adaptive sports programs. For more information please call our toll free number, 800-404-2898.