CAF attendees, from left, Kelly Ray, Haven Shepard, and Breezy Bochenek. Photograph courtesy of the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
The Challenged Athletes Foundation’s (CAF’s) ninth annual “A Celebration of Heroes, Heart and Hope” gala, held June 10 at the Waldorf Astoria New York, raised more than $2.3 million to support fitness and athletic endeavors of people with physical challenges around the world. The gala raises funds for CAFs Access for Athletes Grant Program, which provides adaptive sports equipment, travel, and training expenses to challenged athletes around the world, and to support the organization’s mentoring programs and schedule of annual, free sports clinics. More than 50 challenged athletes, including CAF athlete, Paralympian, and Dancing with the Stars participant Amy Purdy and CAF athlete and Paralympian Rudy Garcia-Tolson, were among the 775 attendees.
Byron Roth, chairman and CEO of ROTH Capital Partners, received special recognition at the event for his dedication to embracing the organization’s mission through personal and company-sponsored philanthropic efforts that have raised more than $700,000 for CAF.
“The transformational power of physical activity and sports should be accessible to everyone, and it’s thanks to our dedicated supporters who stand beside the Challenged Athletes Foundation in this premise that allow us to make this a reality for people with physical challenges,” said Scott Stackman, gala founder, committee chairman, and CAF board member. “We gather to celebrate the unbreakable athletic spirit exhibited by inspirational challenged athletes all over the world, but we also know there are people who still need support to realize their athletic goals.”