A $24,700 grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation National Paralysis Resource Center will help Metroparks Toledo purchase equipment to provide adaptive outdoor experiences for people with disabilities.
The grant to the Metroparks Toledo Foundation will buy two pieces of equipment to expand Metroparks adapted program offerings:
•An action track chair, which uses tracks rather than wheels so people with disabilities can venture over various terrain, not just paved paths. The chair will be available by reservation for personal use in the parks , and by request at nature walks and other programs.
•A portable, 32-by-22-foot pool used to introduce people to kayaking and stand up paddleboard at community events. The pool also will allow staff to provide programs adapted for people of varying abilities.
“Nature belongs to everyone, and one of our main objectives is to make the Metroparks accessible and welcoming to all,” said Dave Zenk, executive director. “With this grant, we will be able to expand our existing services to people with disabilities and introduce people to new ways of enjoying the outdoors.”
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation awarded 67 Direct Effect Quality of Life grants totaling $1.4 million from its Quality of Life Grants Program, which supports nonprofit organizations that empower individuals living with paralysis. Since the program’s inception, more than 3,490 grants totaling more than $36 million have been awarded. Funding was made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living.
“This cycle of Direct Effect grant projects offers a robust and impactful addition to our Quality of Life grants program,” explained Mark Bogosian, director of the Quality of Life Grants Program, Reeve Foundation.
“Grant funds are supporting wide-ranging projects including accessible community areas, adaptive sports, fitness and wellness, consumer education, peer mentoring and support and transportation. These projects foster inclusion, involvement and community engagement, and promoting health and wellness for those affected by paralysis.”
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research and improving the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis.
By uniting the brightest minds in the field, they are working tirelessly to accelerate scientific discovery across the field of spinal cord research by investing in labs across the globe. Additionally, through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living, the Reeve Foundation’s National Paralysis Resource Center (NPRC) promotes the health, well-being, and independence of people living with paralysis, providing comprehensive information, resources, and referral services assisting more than 100,000 individuals and families since its launch in 2002. The Reeve Foundation is committed to elevating our community’s voices and needs to achieve greater representation and independence. They meet all 20 of the Better Business Bureau’s standards for charity accountability and hold the BBB’s Charity Seal. For more information, visit ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-225-0292.
