Kendall Gretsch Fund for Adaptive Athletes, i-sba.org/sportsfund
Six-time paralympic medalist Kendall Gretsch, of Downers Grove, has established a fund to promote sports to Illinois children and adults with spina bifida. The Kendall Gretsch Fund for Adaptive Athletes is administered by the Illinois Spina Bifida Association (ISBA). The fund helps Illinois individuals and families living with spina bifida pay sports-related registration, equipment, and travel expenses.
Kendall, who was born with spina bifida, competes in Para-Triathlon and Nordic skiing. She won two golds in the women’s biathlon sprint and cross-country long distance at the 2018 PyeongChang Paralympic Winter Games. At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games Kendall won a gold medal in the Paratriathlon wheelchair event. Kendall medaled in all three Biathlon events winning bronze, silver, and gold medals at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. She is only the fifth American to claim gold medals at both the summer and winter Paralympic Games.
When establishing this Fund, our goal was to help increase access to sports for Illinois residents with spina bifida. The hope was that everyone would have the opportunity to find a passion for sport, which has played such a crucial role in my life. Thanks to generous support, we are well on our way to accomplishing our goal. I’m excited to share with you our annual report so you can see all that we were able to accomplish in the first year of the Fund. If there’s one thing you take away from the report, I hope it’s the smiles of the athletes featured. Join us as we continue to expand and find new ways to support the growth of adaptive sports in Illinois.
With gratitude,
Kendall
Fund Awards
Thanks to generous donors, the Fund distributed 38 awards totaling over $10,000, meeting all financial requests in 2022-23. The awards given to both children and adults were used to increase access to adaptive sports such as wheelchair basketball, swimming, sled-hockey, and taekwondo.
Adaptive sports opportunities are much farther apart in the southern half of the state. To fill in the map & support new adaptive sports opportunities, the fund made a $1000 gift to the YMCA in Champaign, IL to help them start a new wheelchair basketball team. Read local news coverage.
One of our next tasks will be to continue to publicize this new team and recruit new players. For the coming year, Kendall & ISBA staff will be evaluating opportunities to further fill in the map.
Filling In the Map
Circles represent wheelchair basketball teams within a one-hour drive.
The yellow circle is the new wheelchair basketball team in Champaign.
Partnering for Impact
Nationally, the biggest source of adaptive sports financial assistance is the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). Through her existing relationship with CAF, Kendall formed a partnership in which the Fund provided partial matching grants to CAF grants for Illinois residents with spina bifida. These grants helped both elite and beginner athletes buy adaptive equipment such as sled hockey equipment and basketball sports chairs. In 2022-23 the Fund provided 6 grants.
Athlete Profiles
Ava
Ava & the LWSRA Hawks Prep team made it all the way to the NWBA Nationals in Wichita KS and won 2nd place in March. We would like to thank you for helping Ava get there!!! Ava has big dreams of playing in college with the Illini team (or maybe Whitewater) & competing in the Paralympic games as well.
Ava says "Thank you Kendall Gretsch Fund! Without you I may not have been able to play Wheelchair Basketball and I love playing basketball!" "I love being on a team with other kids like me & I really like winning!"
Ryan
Ryan has also tried some adapted sports including wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis, and he is thinking about participating in sled hockey this season.
As a sports and fitness family, we understand and cherish the many benefits that are gained when one participates in sports. Ryan has not only increased his physical strength, but he has enjoyed the mental and social benefits as well.
Sports and fitness have taught Ryan how to overcome obstacles, how to have confidence in himself and believe in his abilities, how to set goals and achieve them, and how to work with others as a team unit.
We would like to thank Kendall, the ISBA, and everyone else involved in the Kendall Gretsch Fund. This act of kindness allows Ryan to do something that he loves on a year-round basis," says Ryan's mom.
Bryn
This has been a wonderful opportunity for adaptive athletes. Thank you so much for setting up this fund! We are very grateful for your support!
Bryn says, “Swimming makes me feel free. I am able to compete and challenge myself against people of all ages and abilities. Swimming is my best therapy and swimming helps me get the movement I need to stay healthy and active. Thank you for supporting me as an athlete!”
Q&A from a 9 year-old with spina bifida
Why do you like sports?
"Sports are fun, and they help me get stronger. I like playing with my teammates and having fun with them."
How do sports help you with your spina bifida?
"Sports help me get faster and build muscles in my legs. Karate has helped me with my balance."
What would you tell other kids who have spina bifida that want to be in sports?
"Just sign up! You can tell your coach and he/she can work with you on any things that you can’t do."
Thank You!
Thanks to all the generous donors to the Fund and to Kendall Gretsch and her family for their vision and dedication!
ISBA works to improve the quality of life of more than 965 Illinois children and adults living with spina bifida by promoting skills development and independence. ISBA also provides education and legislative advocacy, and helps to pay for medical care and supplies, post-high school tuition, emergency needs and research.
Fund applications are sent to Illinois residents on ISBA’s mailing list living with spina bifida. Contact us to sign up for ISBA’s free mailing list.
Visit i-sba.org/sportsfund to subscribe to the fund’s email newsletter.