Courage Center named as VA/USOC grant recipient
Funding to Operation Liberty will provide sports and recreation opportunities for disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces
(MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Jan. 13, 2012) – U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), has selected Courage Center and its Operation Liberty program as a recipient of $75,000 in funding in support of Paralympic sport and physical activity programming 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, including Courage Center.
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.
“The grant funding gives Courage Center the opportunity to give back to disabled and injured veterans, helping them discover or rediscover competitive and athletic activities,” said Ta'avasa “JR” Mamea, Paralympic sports coordinator/Operation Liberty with Courage Center. Research has shown that regular participation in physical activity has a positive effect on a client’s rehabilitation, self-esteem, education, employment and overall health.
“We couldn’t be happier with this latest round of grants to be awarded to these new partner organizations,” said Chris Nowak, director, VA National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events. “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.”
At Courage Center, the funds will be used to expose, teach and expand its Operation Liberty Paralympic sports program for disabled and injured veterans. It also means that Operation Liberty programming can continue to be offered free of charge to veterans, helping remove financial and physical barriers to their participation.
Grant funding for this program is awarded by U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, through funding provided by Veterans Affairs. The grants are provided to facilitate the growth of Paralympic sport programming for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.
Courage Center is a Minnesota-based, nonprofit rehabilitation and resource center that serves children and adults experiencing barriers to health and independence. Courage Center specializes in treating brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, chronic pain, autism, and disabilities experienced since birth. Founded in 1928, Courage Center offers advanced technologies and innovation provided in part through the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors. For more information go to www.CourageCenter.org.
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