The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) announced that it has distributed $3.5 million in grants through its annual Access for Athletes grant program. Grants were awarded to 1,709 challenged athletes in 32 countries to provide financial assistance for adaptive sports equipment, sports prostheses, coaching, mentoring, and competition. The awards represent CAF’s largest grant distribution since it was established in 1994.
Of those who received the grants, 56 percent are first time CAF grant recipients, and 13 percent are wounded military personnel and first responders (supported by CAF’s Operation Rebound program). Grantees range in age from three to 77 years old. The most requested pieces of equipment were sports chairs, handcycles, sports prostheses, and bicycles. Compared to the 2014 distribution, the number of applications received increased by 13 percent, and the number of applications approved increased by 16 percent.
“The determination and commitment of CAF’s donors, sponsors, and fundraisers have enabled us to fund this historic number of grants and together we form Team CAF, proud to cheer on athletes around the world,” said Virginia Tinley, CAF’s executive director.
