Contact:	Roy Perkins
	858.526.6556
	Roy@challengedathletes.org
	Lauren Henne
	858.342.6946
	Lauren@challengedathletes.org

San Diego, Calif. – The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), a world leader in helping individuals with physical challenges get involved – and stay involved – in sports, today announced the distribution of more than $1 million in grants to 625 athletes with disabilities in 49 U.S. states (and the District of Columbia) and 20 countries through its Access for Athletes program.  The funding – totaling $1,077,207 – will pay for adaptive equipment (handcycles, sportschairs, running prosthetics, etc.), training and coaching, and competition expenses that will enable physically challenged athletes of all ages and abilities take part in life-affirming sports.

“This is a watershed moment in CAF’s history,” said Board President Jeffrey Essakow.  “Fifteen years ago, a group of friends came together on a San Diego beach to raise money so a friend who was paralyzed in a triathlon accident could regain his freedom.  We raised $45,000 that first year.  Now, with this latest distribution of more than $1 million in grants, we are literally changing lives all over the world.”

Despite a trying year when CAF’s San Diego headquarters building was destroyed in a fire and its top fundraising event – the San Diego Triathlon Challenge – was canceled due to the Oct. 2007 San Diego wildfires, the determination and commitment of CAF’s fundraisers, donors and sponsors still enabled the organization to fund a record number of grants.  Highlights of CAF’s 2008 grant distribution include:

• 92% of grant requests received by CAF were approved
• 63% were new grantees
• 43% reported an income of less than $20,000 per year
• 77% of grantees were men; 23% were women
• All ages were represented (137 grantees under the age of 18; 17 older than 55)
• Most requested items were:  basketball chairs (105); competition expenses (176); coaching and training expenses (69); and, handcycles (59)
• Thanks to its ongoing partnership with Ossur, CAF was able to approve grants for nine prosthetic running feet

Each grant application undergoes a rigorous review process prior to approval.  “CAF exists to help bridge the economic barriers to participation in sports for physically challenged athletes,” said Virginia Tinley, CAF’s Executive Director.  “However, we want to make sure that the people who receive our grants really need our help.  Each application is carefully reviewed by our staff and scored using a custom-designed software program.  The last thing we want is to provide a piece of equipment to someone who can afford it on their own, or will let it gather dust in the garage.”

Since 1994, CAF has raised more than $16 million and provided direct financial assistance to more than 3,300 athletes around the world.  CAF’s other  programs – Catch a Rising Star (mentoring and fitness for people with disabilities); Operation Rebound (helping troop permanently injured in Iraq and Afghanistan “get back in the game”) and Reach High (outreach to educate our communities about “what is possible”) – combine to touch an additional 65,000 people per year.

“It just costs more for persons with disabilities to compete in sports and the funds and equipment distributed by CAF make a critical difference,” said Tommy Knapp, CAF Board Member and member of USA Triathlon’s Physically Challenged National Team.  “Thanks to CAF, more and more athletes with physical challenges are getting into the game each year.  I am proud to be part of a cause that helps so many of my fellow challenged athletes participate in the sports that make us whole.”

For a printable PDF of the 2008 CAF Grant Distribution Summary, click here: http://www.challengedathletes.org/programs/access_for_athletes.htm.  For more information about CAF and its programs, visit:  www.challengedathletes.org.

###

2008 CAF Access for Athletes Grant Distribution
General		Competition Expenses
Applications Received	676	Basketball Competitions	29
Approved	92%	Coaching/Training	69
Total Distributed	$1,077,207	Misc. Competition	115
		Rugby Competitions	5
Male Approved	77%	Snow Skiing Events	7
Female Approved	23%	Triathlon Events	18
		Water Skis & Events	2
Under 18 Approved	137
18-35 Approved	264
35-55 Approved	207	Equipment
Over 55 Approved	17	Basketball Chairs	105
		Bikes	24
Distribution by Income		Handcycles	59
Under $20,000	43%	Hockey Sleds	2
$20,000-$39,999	22%	Misc. Equipment	45
$40,000-$60,000	12%	Mono and Sit Skis	11
Over $60,000	23%	Prosthetics (Flex-Foot)	9
		Quad Rugby Chairs	46
Geographical Distribution		Race Chairs	31
United States	551	Racing Wheels	4
International	74	Tennis Chairs	44
Distribution by Sport
Archery	2	Rowing	6
Basketball	137	Rugby	54
Beepball	18	Running	13
Bowling	1	Sailing	1
Climbing	5	Skiing	23
Curling	3	Snowboarding	16
Cycling	96	Soccer	20
Dance	2	Surfing	3
Equestrian	6	Swimming	20
Fitness	2	Table Tennis	4
Football	1	Tennis	56
Goalball	3	Track & Field	46
Golf	5	Triathlon	54
Hockey	11	Waterskiing	2
Marksmanship	1	Weightlifting	2
Martial Arts	2	X-treme Sports	4
Road Racing	6	Total Distribution	625