Press Releases

KELLY BRUSH FOUNDATION AWARDS $47K FOR ADAPTIVE SPORTS EQUIPMENT

by betsy on January 10, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Betsy Cabrera, Kelly Brush Foundation, 802-846-5298 or BetsyCabrera@KellyBrushFoundation.org
KELLY BRUSH FOUNDATION AWARDS $47K FOR ADAPTIVE SPORTS EQUIPMENT
ANNUAL GRANTS AIM TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION

BURLINGTON, Vt. (Jan. 10, 2012) – The Kelly Brush Foundation awarded $47,072 in grants for adaptive sporting equipment for individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI) as part of the foundation’s year end round of grant giving, Kelly Brush Foundation President Charlie Brush announced.

The foundation awarded 13 Kelly Brush Individual Grant Program grants to individuals from across the United States. The financial assistance assists with purchasing adaptive equipment including monoskis and handcycles.

“Enriching the lives of those with spinal cord injury through adaptive sports and recreation is a key goal of the Kelly Brush Foundation. Specialized adaptive equipment, often customized for the individual athlete, can be cost prohibitive. Through Kelly Brush Individual Grants, the foundation aims to remove financial barriers to participation in adaptive sports,” Brush said.

The Kelly Brush Individual Grant Program provides support to economically disadvantaged individuals to purchase adaptive sporting equipment. The program’s goal is to increase participation in adaptive sports and recreation activities and improve the quality of life for individuals living with SCI.

Chris Jefferson was among the foundation’s grant recipients. Jefferson, a U.S. Army veteran and former 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper, was awarded a grant for adaptive ski equipment that will help him as he strives for a berth on the U.S. Paralympic Team.

“This equipment will make a big difference in my skiing, which in turn will make me better and more competitive as I train for the chance to serve my country again in the 2014 Paralympics in Russia,” said Jefferson, who is training with the Paralympic Development Program in Aspen, Colo.

The foundation also announced $53,442 in Ski Racing Safety Grants to ski clubs and race teams across the country. Ski Racing Safety Grants assist racing organizations in purchasing equipment that enhances safety for racers, including safety netting to line race courses, padding for chair lift towers and spine protectors for racers. Fifteen clubs and organizations received Ski Racing Safety Grants ranging from $500 to Monroe County Special Olympics, in Michigan to replace old and unsafe helmets to $12,500 to the United States Ski and Snowboard Association Central Region, based in Minnesota, for safety netting to bring the entire region up to full netting on all courses.

The Kelly Brush Foundation annual grants are made possible by the foundation’s primary fund-raising event, the Kelly Brush Century Ride, which is held annually in September in Middlebury, Vt. and hosted by the Middlebury College Ski Team. This past September, 24 handcyclists and 721 cyclists rode in support of the foundation’s mission and raised more than $275,000 for the foundation’s programs including adaptive equipment grants, improving ski racing safety, advancing scientific research on SCI and supporting the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team.

About the foundation: The Kelly Brush Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving ski racing safety, enhancing the quality of life for those with spinal cord injury(SCI) through providing adaptive sports equipment, advancing scientific research on SCI and supporting the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team. Kelly Brush, together with her family, started the foundation in 2006 after she sustained a severe spinal cord injury while racing in NCAA Div. 1 competition as a member of the Middlebury College Ski Team in Vermont. The Kelly Brush Foundation affirms Kelly’s ongoing commitment to live life on her own terms and better the lives of others living with SCI. www.kellybrushfoundation.org

# # #

{ 0 comments }

KELLY BRUSH FOUNDATION AWARDS $100K IN ANNUAL GRANTS

by betsy on January 10, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE

CONTACT: Betsy Cabrera, Kelly Brush Foundation, 802-846-5298 or BetsyCabrera@KellyBrushFoundation.org

KELLY BRUSH FOUNDATION AWARDS $100K IN ANNUAL GRANTS

GRANTS SUPPORT SKI RACING SAFETY AND ADAPTIVE SPORTS

BURLINGTON, Vt. (Jan. 10, 2012) – The Kelly Brush Foundation awarded $100,514 in grants for spinal cord injury prevention at the end of 2011 enriching the lives of those with spinal cord injuries and furthering the foundation’s mission to improve ski racing safety, Kelly Brush Foundation President Charlie Brush announced.

The foundation granted $53,442 in Ski Racing Safety Grants to ski clubs and race teams across the country. In addition, the Kelly Brush Individual Grant Program awarded $47,072 for adaptive athletic equipment.

Ski Racing Safety Grants assist racing organizations in purchasing equipment that enhances safety for racers including safety netting to line race courses, padding for chair lift towers and spine protectors for racers. Fifteen clubs and organizations received Ski Racing Safety Grants ranging from $500 to Monroe County Special Olympics, in Michigan to replace old and unsafe helmets to $12,500 to the United States Ski and Snowboard Association Central Region, based in Minnesota, for safety netting to bring the entire region up to full netting on all courses.

“Raising the bar for ski racing safety is part of the Kelly Brush Foundation’s core mission. This round of Ski Racing Safety Grants supports clubs and race teams from Maine to Idaho in their efforts to make the safety of their athletes a priority and to change the paradigm for both ski racing and training,” Brush said.
The foundation also announced the awarding of 13 Kelly Brush Individual Grants for adaptive athletic equipment. Individuals from across the United States who are living with SCI received financial assistance with purchasing equipment including monoskis and handcycles.

IMAGE CAPTION: Kelly Brush Foundation grants assist adaptive athletes in purchasing sports gear including monoskis and handcycles. In this image adaptive athlete Chris Jefferson of Aspen, Colo. competes at Copper Mountain in Colorado in December.

# # #

{ 0 comments }

Kelly Brush Ride Raises Record Amount: Enjoys Largest Turnout Ever

by betsy on September 12, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Betsy Cabrera, 802-846-5298 or betsycabrera@kellybrushfoundation.org

RECORD SUPPORT
FOR 6^TH ANNUAL KELLY BRUSH CENTURY RIDE
OVER 700 RIDE FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY PREVENTION, ADAPTIVE SPORTS

BURLINGTON, Vt.(Sept. 15, 2011) The Kelly Brush Century Ride raised a record amount and drew the largest turnout in the six year history of the annual event held in Middlebury, Vt.

The 100-mile ride held on Sept. 10, raised over $275,000 for spinal cord injury prevention, adaptive sports and ski racing safety. A total of 721 riders participated in the scenic ride through theChamplainValley.

“With blue skies and comfortable temperatures, we could not have ordered a better day for the Kelly Brush Ride,” said Charlie Brush, president of the Kelly Brush Foundation. “I’d like to send out a huge thank you to all who rode and raised money. Thanks to the efforts of our many supporters, the foundation will be able to do more than ever to help people face the challenges of paralysis through the love of sport and improve ski racing safety.”

The largest fundraising ride in the state, the Kelly Brush Century Ride is also one of the best attended rides in the Northeast for handcyclists. This year 24 participants rode the course on handcycles.

The 100-mile ride raises money to support the Kelly Brush Foundation’s multi-faceted mission including: improving ski racing safety, enhancing the quality of life for those with SCI through adaptive sports equipment grants, advancing scientific research on SCI and supporting the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team.

For every $5,000 raised, the foundation donates adaptive sports equipment in the name of the team or individual who raised the money. In addition, funds raised support ski racing safety grants awarded to clubs and racing organizations across the country for safety equipment such as netting to line race courses and protective gear for racers.

The Kelly Brush Century Ride was started by the Middlebury College Ski Team as a way to raise money to buy an adaptive mono-ski for team member Kelly Brush, who was paralyzed as the result of a ski racing crash. Brush and her family later founded a non-profit, and the ride was opened to the public.

The Kelly Brush Century Ride is made possible thanks to the generosity of participants and sponsors including: VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, Shearer Audi, Sugarbush Resort, Earthlogic and many others.

About the foundation: The Kelly Brush Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving ski racing safety, enhancing the quality of life for those with spinal cord injury(SCI) through providing adaptive sports equipment, advancing scientific research on SCI and supporting the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team. Kelly Brush, together with her family, started the foundation in 2006 after she sustained a severe spinal cord injury while racing in NCAA Div. 1 competition as a member of the Middlebury College Ski Team in Vermont. The Kelly Brush Foundation affirms Kelly’s ongoing commitment to live life on her own terms and better the lives of others living with SCI. www.kellybrushfoundation.org

###

{ 0 comments }