U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), announced that Milwaukee Recreation has been selected to receive grant funding in support of Paralympic sport and physical activity programs for disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. Milwaukee Recreation will receive $23,800. More than $4.4 million in funds from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has been awarded to 95 community organizations around the country.

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.

"This grant allows us to continue to provide adaptive sports programming for injured veterans and active duty personnel,” says Randy Kohl, Recreation Coordinator for Milwaukee Recreation. "It is an honor to provide these opportunities to our veterans. Through sports and recreation, veterans with disabilities have the opportunity to discover new passions, increase strength and stamina, and restore confidence to help rebuild lives and improve overall quality of life."

"We couldn't be happier with this latest round of grants to be awarded to these new partner organizations," says Chris Nowak, Director of 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."

Milwaukee Recreation will use the grant funding to purchase new adaptive equipment to support adaptive sports programming in Milwaukee, while working closely with the Clement J. Zablocki Medical Center and community partners that serve veterans and service men and women with disabilities.

Research has shown that regular participation in physical activity has a positive effect on the rehabilitation process, self-esteem, education, employment and overall health.

The 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.