KINGS PARK, NY – JUNE 29, 2008 – THE NEW YORK CHARIOTS OF FIRE are proud to announce that it has received a $6800 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. The award was one of almost 100 grants totaling almost $800,000 awarded by the Reeve Foundation to nonprofit organizations that help people living with disabilities become more fully integrated members of society.
NEW YORK CHARIOTS OF FIRE will use the grant for customized sports specific wheelchairs and other badly needed equipment and services provided to maintain and expand their program of Indoor Wheelchair Soccer, a multi-disability competitive team sport. Indoor wheelchair soccer is played six a side on a regulation sized basketball court with five floor players and a goaltender, and includes most disability groups in its participation. The sport features various disability levels that range from highly functional to the severely disabled athletes who use powerchairs on the court along-side athletes with higher functionality. Indoor wheelchair soccer is a fast-paced sport governed by BlazeSports America, who stages an annual national championship tournament in two highly competitive divisions. The disability groups include athletes with five levels of classification within five categories of disability inclusion: cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injury, neuromuscular disabilities, bone and joint impairments, spinal cord disabilities and athletes with amputations.
“We are proud to be recognized by the Christopher and Dana Reeve foundation as an organization that makes a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities,” stated Anthony Nussbacher, President and Chairman of the board of the New York Chariots of Fire. “Our vision is for individuals with all levels of disability to be able to compete and be involved in all aspects of sports, which mimic the values and challenges of everyday life and promote the overall health and well-being benefit that sports provide.”
“The dedication and philosophy of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation has made it possible for those who live with the obstacles of disabilities to meet the challenge of living positive and productive lives, a reality,” stated Nussbacher, who has been an advocate and coach of disabled sports for two-and-a-half decades. “The New York Chariots of Fire deeply appreciate this honor of receiving this award, which is crucial for us in continuing to provide our time-tested program of highly organized, inclusive, competitive team sports for all individuals with disabilities,” declared Nussbacher, who has coached 11 national championship teams in indoor wheelchair soccer. The NY Chariots of Fire currently prepare two teams for national competition and other local and regional tournament play throughout the year.
“As the late Dana Reeve once stated, our Quality of Life grants are about freedom, said Peter T. Wilderotter, president of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.” “The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation provides hope for individuals living with paralysis and their caregivers who are everyday striving to improve their physical and emotional well-being. We are honored to help The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation continue the heartfelt mission that Dana Reeve herself started back in 1999. “
The Reeve Foundation’s Quality of Life grant program, started by the late Dana Reeve, acknowledges the ever present and demanding needs of people living with paralysis and other disabilities and the importance to enable individuals to maintain a positive and fulfilling quality of life. To date, the Reeve Foundation has awarded 1,454 Quality of Life grants totaling nearly $12 million to organizations nationwide that help improve opportunities, access and day-to-day quality of life for individuals and their families.
Health Promotion grants, a special category of Quality of Life grants, are funded through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Funding is awarded to non-profit organizations that address the needs of people living with paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries and other diseases and birth conditions that result in paralysis. Health Promotion grants strive to remove societal and environmental barriers that limit the abilities of individuals living with paralysis to participate in life activities. Participation in these activities improves physical and emotional health and prevents secondary conditions for persons living with paralysis. Health Promotion grants totaled $558,341 and was awarded to 57 organizations.
About the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. For more information, please visit our website at www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-225-0292.
Mission Statement
The New York Chariots of Fire seeks to promote the welfare of physically disabled individuals by organizing and promoting athletic activities to be played in a competitive forum. The New York Chariots will support this mission by establishing two teams (The New York Chariots [IWS Open Division] & The New York Strikers [IWS A Division]) to compete in the athletic event known as indoor wheelchair soccer, and other sports as dictated by the governing board. Anyone interested in the NY Chariots of Fire and Indoor Wheelchair Soccer can contact the team on the web at: www.ny-chariots.org and by phone at 631-236-9099.
Contact
Anthony P. Nussbacher
New York Chariots of Fire
631-236-9099
mailto:info@ny-chariots.org
Lin Lawson
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
800-225-0292
media@ChristopherReeve.org
