Adaptive Sports NW
In a world where the tireless dedication of nonprofit organizations can go unnoticed, we take immense pride in shining a spotlight on those who have made extraordinary contributions to our community. The Impact Award, a symbol of appreciation and recognition, recognizes the potential of collaborative efforts that aim to uplift our youth and transform lives through athletics and education.
This year, we celebrate the outstanding work of Adaptive Sports NW (ASNW) as the recipient of the 2024 Impact Award. ASNW has not only demonstrated unwavering commitment to our community but taps into the power of partnerships to connect people with physical disabilities and visual impairments with recreational and competitive activities.
We celebrate their outstanding contributions to our community. We look forward to witnessing their continued success in transforming the lives of children in the Portland community, and we are proud to stand beside them as part of their team.
Swimming, cycling, goalball and wheelchair basketball are just a few of the activities that 2024 Impact Award recipient Adaptive Sports Northwest (ASNW) offers to people with physical and visual disabilities. Through recreational and competitive sports, the organization helps their members build self-confidence, social connections, and new skills to lead a healthy and active life.
The local nonprofit has been providing recreational opportunities to people with physical disabilities in Oregon and Southwest Washington since 1982, serving over 450 active athletes annually. Members range from 5 to 87 years in age. Many ASNW members have been managing a physical or visual disability their whole life, while some members, due to a medical condition or an accident, are new to managing a disability and are transitioning to a more unique and different lifestyle. In all cases, ASNW strives to continually improve participants’ quality of life through sports and recreation.
To accomplish this, ASNW creatively engages with a network of community partners to help serve their members in the best way possible. “It is imperative for Adaptive Sports NW to partner and engage throughout the community to continuously provide recreational and competitive opportunities to our participants through our extensive volunteer network, facility partnerships as well as our amazing individuals and businesses that help fund our 10 different sports programs. These various sports programs not only benefit from a physical, emotional and mental perspective, they build such a sense of community”, said Executive Director Jen Armbruster, who is a Paralympian who found community through sport when losing her vision as a teenager.
Check out the full spread on Adaptive Sports NW and the Impact Award that was published in the November 2024 issue of the MAC’s Winged M
