Grants available for sports programs that serve disabled vets

Community-based organizations that create or expand Paralympic sports and physical activities programs for disabled veterans are eligible for $1.6 million in grants from U.S. Paralympics.

Underwritten by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Olympic Opportunity Fund offers grants of $10,000 to $25,000 to projects that “increase the number and quality of opportunities for physical and visually impaired veterans to participate in physical activities,” said Scott Blackmun, chief executive of the U.S. Olympic Committee, which includes U.S. Paralympics.

“This funding will have a profound effect on programs across the country,” he added, benefiting both veterans interested in recreational activities in their communities as well as those eager to compete regionally or nationally in Paralympic sports.

Chris Nowak, director of the Veterans Affairs’ sports and special events programs, said the grants will help adaptive sports programs to “stretch their resources further and serve more veterans. … [That] is integral to the rehabilitation and health of our disabled veterans.”

Eligible organizations include Paralympic Sport Clubs, USOC member organizations, military and veteran groups, universities and community groups that provide Paralympic sports programming.

Application documents are available online at http://bit.ly/H94bBf. That Applications are due May 11.

Additional information is available from Tim Willis, USOC manager of Paralympic Grants, at 719-866-4536 or tim.willis@usoc.org.