The High Fives Foundation – Winter Empowerment program service disburses board approved grants to disabled winter action sports athletes participating in winter adaptive sports or athletes recovering from a life-altering injury. In November, the Foundation’s Board of Directors Grant Selection Committee approved the following grants for two athletes totaling $3,045.00. One of these athletes has previously been awarded grants through the Winter Empowerment Fund while one new athlete has been welcomed into the High Fives Foundation Family.
To date, the Winter Empowerment Fund has assisted 52 athletes from 17 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 2013 the High Fives Foundation set a budget of disbursing $180,000.00 via board-approved grants through the Winter Empowerment Fund. With these two grants the High Fives Foundation has surpassed the goal of $180,000.00 disbursed this year. In 2013 alone, a total of 31 High Fives Athletes were awarded 37 grants.
The following athlete has been awarded grants via the Winter Empowerment Fund in November:
PATRICK LONSDALE | BEN LOMOND, CA
Growing up skiing and competing in the East Coast at Sugarbush Resort (Warren, Vermont), Patrick has been involved with the winter sports community since 1972. In January 2013, Patrick crashed while skiing at Squaw Valley. He hit what he thought was a bamboo pole marking lift line lanes. To his surprise the pole was solid steel. The crash resulted in a shattered tibia / fibula shatter in 25 places. Ten surgeries and many complications later, Patrick was faced with the reality that his leg needed to be amputated below the knee. Now on the road to recovery, his goal is to return to skiing with his family and get back to the sport he loves.
November Winter Empowerment Grant for Patrick Lonsdale: $1,945.00 (Healing Network – 20 sessions Pool Therapy with Vibrantcare Rehabilitation, 15 Massage Therapy sessions with Jeanne Hofvendahl D.C. and 8 Acupuncture sessions with Jessica Davies L.Ac.: $1,945.00)