The Final Grant Cycle of 2019 Was Our Biggest One Yet at $176,046.41; Here’s Where That Money Goes
As a non-profit, we feel the weight of asking so much of our supporters. But when the end of our grant cycles roll around, that weight is lifted when we can report exactly what your donations do for the High Fives Foundation and our athletes.
From the bottom of all of our hearts, the Foundation’s and every single one of our athletes, thank you. Your generosity, kindness, and donations as a supporter do not go unnoticed and are never under-appreciated.
The money donated during our September grant cycle topped out at an incredible $176,046.41 which went directly toward funding 45 individuals and veterans with their recoveries, equipment, living expenses, insurance, and SO MUCH MORE.
Allow us to get granular with who received contributions:
- 45 individuals who have suffered from a life-altering injury resulting from an outdoor action sport received a portion of the funds.
- Out of those 45, 21 athletes are new to High Fives and 24 are recurring.
- Also out of the 45 individuals, five are veterans.
The athletes who received help from this round of funding are from across North America including 21 athletes in the central states of the U.S., 12 from the West Coast, nine from the East Coast, and three from Canada.
Our athletes collectively received 18 pieces of adaptive summer equipment like bikes and pool lifts and nine pieces of adaptive winter equipment like mono-skis. Furthermore, 15 individuals received help paying off insurance costs and three athletes received funds for travel expenses including a trip for one athlete to South America!
To these individuals, this money is life-changing. Not only do these funds get them the gear they need to be active again, but it also goes towards building a healthy mindset.
“Not only do the wonderful people at the High Fives Foundation bring us together in our common goals and dreams, but they also help us secure funding for therapies and equipment that keep our fires lit and our recoveries onward and upward, sometimes delivering us from very dire circumstances. Through their tireless efforts and infectious positivity, they have transformed the lives of so many of us and will continue to as they grow and become capable of helping more and more mountain sport athletes in need.”Adam Lavender | High Fives Athlete
High Fives Foundation calls its granting program the Empowerment Fund, and for good reason. The Empowerment Fund has many levels in how it helps those who have suffered from life-altering injuries which are defined as:
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Amputation
- Other Mobility-Limiting Injuries
Many of our athletes who have suffered from these kinds of injuries are left paralyzed or quadriplegic; some need to learn how to use adaptive equipment and how to live life in a wheelchair. Others need motivation and a community to help them move forward. Others need guidance with pain management, help with crippling medical bills, rehabilitation, and so much more.
The resources and inspiration we provide can be organized into nine funding categories:
- Living Expenses
- Insurance
- Health/Therapies
- Travel
- High Fives Healing Network (insurance)
- Adaptive Equipment
- Winter and Summer Equipment
- “Stoke” (positive energy, outlook, attitude)
While the High Fives Foundation focuses on preventing injuries before they happen, particularly with awareness campaigns targeted toward young athletes, we also provide resources, equipment, and hope for when accidents do happen.
A life-altering injury is a scary event, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. As the safety net of the outdoor sports community, that’s what the High Fives Foundation and all our incredible supporters help provide.
2019 was an epic year and we can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store!
