The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) was able to fully fund all qualified 2021 grant applications for individuals with physical challenges. This year, 3,038 grants were distributed totaling $5.1 million in support to athletes ranging from Paralympic athletes to first-time applicants. In addition to the grants, CAF supported over 400 recipients who chose to defer their 2020 grants to 2021. Due to the pandemic, many of these grants could not be redeemed due to cancellations of adaptive sports competitions.
“Our belief in the power of sport to strengthen from the inside out is deeper than ever,” said Virginia Tinley, chief executive director. “Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, many of these grants provide critical support for coping with the impact of the pandemic.”
This year’s grant distribution spans across 94 sports and activities including track and field, wheelchair basketball, adaptive fitness training, blind surfing, wheelchair rugby, para-equestrian, Nordic skiing, and outdoor recreation. CAF partnered with GRIT Freedom Chairs on research and development of customized chairs and funded all 80 grant requests, 15 of whom are youth athletes. In partnership with Össur, 81 Össur prostheses were granted.
