U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), announced that the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has been selected to receive grant funding in support of Paralympic sport and physical activity programs for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. More than $4.4M in funds from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has been awarded to 95 community organizations around the country.
Through this program, grants ranging from $2,500 to $500,000 were provided to USOC partner organizations and community programs to increase the number and quality of opportunities for physically or visually impaired Veterans to participate in physical activity within their home communities and in more advanced Paralympic sport programs at the regional and national levels.
?NRPA is pleased to support nine park and recreation agencies throughout the country in the Parks: Return & Restore program this year,? said President and CEO of NRPA Barbara Tulipane. ?We appreciate USOC and the VA recognizing the critical role park and recreation agencies serve in helping our nation?s injured service members and veterans gain access to sport programs and physical activity in their local communities.?
?We couldn?t be happier with this latest round of grants to be awarded to these new partner organizations,? said Director, VA National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events, Chris Nowak.? ?These grants provide more outlets for our disabled Veterans and injured service men and women to stay active and perhaps, ultimately, the opportunity to take their athleticism to the next level of competition as a U.S. Paralympian.?
?This funding is already having a tremendous impact on disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces,? said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. ?Through the USOC/Veterans Affairs partnership many community programs have been able to expand their programming and provide increased opportunities for Veterans to participate.?
Research has shown that regular participation in physical activity has a positive effect on the rehabilitation process, self-esteem, education, employment and overall health.
Parks: Return & Restore grant funding establishes and expands park and recreation programs that provide sport and recreation programs for injured service members and Veterans. For a complete list of park and recreation agencies participating in the program, please visit www.NRPA.org/usoc. For more information about NRPA and its programs, please contact Shelley O?Brien at sobrien@nrpa.org.
midnight madness john henry john henry zack greinke zack greinke siri san diego news
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.