HIGH FIVES ATHLETE RECEIVES EMPOWERMENT GRANT | JIM HARRIS

Injured Salt Lake City Skier receives grant funding from Tahoe-based High Fives Foundation

33-year-old receives an Empowerment Grant towards rehabilitation after life-altering spinal cord injury

#HighFivesAthlete Jim Harris
#HighFivesAthlete Jim Harris

The High Fives Foundation is awarding Jim Harris an Empowerment Grant of $2,720 to aid in recovery from a traumatic spinal cord injury. The board-approved Grant will afford Harris the opportunity to receive important recovery treatments.

Jim was involved in a ski accident in November, 2014 causing fractures in his T7/8 and C2/3 vertebrae. The accident left Jim paralyzed at the T6 level. Through hard work at Craig Hospital in Colo., Jim has started to regain mobility. His long-term goal is to return to the sports he loves, and he is well on his way to achieving this goal. “Ultimately, I’d like to be able to be able to return to backcountry skiing, teaching avalanche courses, wilderness backpacking, and long mountain bike rides,” says Harris.

“It has been a pleasure to have the opportunity to work with Jim,” said Roy Tuscany, High Fives Foundation Executive Director. “Jim and other High Fives Athletes have proven to themselves that the time and effort they put in pays off in their road to recovery.”

The High Fives Foundation supports injured mountain sports athletes through grant funding to be used towards reaching their recovery goals. Since the High Fives Foundation’s January 2009 inception, the Empowerment program service has assisted 104 athletes from 22 states in nine respective funding categories which include: living expenses, insurance, travel, health, healing network, adaptive equipment, winter equipment, programs and “stoke” (positive energy, outlook and attitude).

In Quarter 1 of 2016 the High Fives Foundation disbursed $91,509 in board-approved grants to 19 athletes in 9 states.

###

About the High Fives Foundation: The High Fives Foundation is a Tahoe-based, national 501.c.3 non-profit organization. The High Fives Foundation supports the dreams of mountain action sports athletes by raising injury prevention awareness while providing resources and inspiration to those who suffer life-altering injuries. Formed as a way to “pay-it-forward” by the founder from his own recovery to help injured athletes, the Foundation has helped 104 athletes to date since its inception in 2009. For more information visit www.highfivesfoundation.org

Leave a Comment