Everyone involved with the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports knows the great work we do, providing adaptive sports, fitness and wellness programs to children and adults with disabilities.

With the support of 500 volunteers and coaches, this past year PCAS served 2,000 individuals with disabilities.

These are very impressive results!

But our work is far from complete. We still have many to reach in our communities who do not yet participate, so they too can benefit from the ability of adaptive sports to transform their lives. We firmly believe in inclusive communities where everyone, regardless of ability, has an equal opportunity to participate in sports and recreation. And we work every day towards building this community and we can’t do this without the help of our volunteers and donors.

PCAS focuses on maximizing impact and honoring every donor investing in our organization. We maintain a high rate of financial commitment to our direct service programming. During the past fiscal year, 80 cents of every dollar spent was directed to programs for the people we serve. Our financial stability, innovative approaches, and enduring commitment to our constituency has been rewarded with greater donor and stakeholder support than we have ever had before.

Here are just a few of the ways PCAS has benefited this past year from philanthropic support:

Our 2018 annual appeal generated nearly $20,000.
The Cinco de Mayo Bike Ride and Walk raised over $40,000.
The BAYADA Regatta, the largest adaptive rowing competition in the country, is made possible each year by the generosity of Mark Baiada and the BAYADA organization, which funds and manages the two-day event and provides hundreds of volunteer hours.
This year we were awarded the $50,000 WAWA Foundation Hero Award.
The Warrington Rotary supported our boatyard expansion with both funding and volunteer labor.
One ski camp participant raised $1,500 for the program through her Bat mitzvah.
Certa-Pro Painters painted our Boathouse free of charge, while Sherwin Williams donated the paint. It looks beautiful!
The family of one PCAS athlete who passed away this year requested that donations be made in her memory to PCAS.

Above: Warrington, PA Rotary members helping at the boathouse

There are many ways our donors and sponsors can keep PCAS vibrant and growing:

buying equipment, supporting training costs, expanding program offerings, alleviating space constraints and meeting the increasing costs of adapted technology. All of these efforts enable fun and healthy activities for hundreds of children and adults with disabilities in our area.

Our appreciation of PCAS supporters is best said by one of the parents of a Track and Field athlete: “I want to say thank you for allowing our athletes to receive a portion of their travel expenses to the nationals this year. It is such a big help and very much appreciated as this is a growing expense each year. Madison’s goal is to one day compete at the Paralympic level.”

PCAS is profoundly grateful to our donors, sponsors and volunteers for your continued support. As we enter this season of giving and thanksgiving, know that we are especially thankful for you!

(Contributed by Meg Jones)

PCAS PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Michelle Wheeler

If you’ve spent time at PCAS events, there’s a good chance that you’ve gotten to know Michelle Wheeler. The daughter of Bill and Joan Wheeler, Michelle got involved with PCAS at a young age and continues to be involved in many of its programs. “My mom and dad brought us to PCAS when I was about 10 years old,” Michelle said. “My siblings Melissa and Danny and I, did wheelchair basketball, hand cycling, kayaking, skiing, and more when we were younger, even at a time when there weren’t many programs for people with disabilities. Now there are more, but I still recommend PCAS to a lot of people. It’s made me the athlete I am today, and it’s become a big part of my life,” she added.

Michelle is currently earning her master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling at Penn State University. She plans to continue her studies and pursue her PhD. She is also the mother of 10-year-old Eva, a frequent participant in and helper at PCAS events.

Michelle competes in marathons as an elite wheelchair racer around the world. Michelle recently placed 9th in the Women's Wheelchair division of the Chicago Marathon in October, and more recently was named as a member of the 2019 US Paralympics Track and Field Marathon World Championships Team, and she is hoping to qualify for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

I really love PCAS,” Michelle said. “I love the comradery among the volunteers and athletes.” Michelle noted that PCAS is so much more than the activities it offers — it is an advocacy group made up of people who feel like family. “My whole life, I never felt limited in what I could do, because I was always surrounded by people who encouraged me,” Michelle added. “PCAS has been a big part of that.”

(Contributed by Irene McKnight)

PCAS PROGRAMS

Philadelphia Adaptive Rowing (PAR)

On October 26th and 27th, PAR athletes took part in the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta, an event with 8,500 rowers. The adaptive races kicked off the regatta at 8 AM Saturday. We had gorgeous fall weather and a great showing of athletes from around the region. Four doubles hailed from PAR, placing 2nd through 5th out of six boats. John Doughty and his partner received 2nd place and Will Chernets and his partner 3rd place.

You can review the official race results here: HOS Regatta Results.

The adaptive race was 4000 meters; our boats were on the water for about an hour, including race time to Boathouse Row, and then paddling back to Temple Boathouse – an excellent workout for everyone.

With a regatta of this size, handling boat traffic and maneuvering through bridges is a major part of the experience. The racecourse has four bridges through which rowers must navigate safely. All of our athletes prepared for this challenge at our Monday night practices.

As competitors navigate the course, they may need to pass one another or give way, depending on how crowded the course is through the bridge arches. Due to their training, everyone managed their course expertly during our race with no mishaps.

All of our medal recipients enjoyed the social aspect of race day while riding in golf carts from Temple Boathouse to the awards tent. After receiving their medals, doubles partners had the chance to have their photos taken on the awards stage, capturing that special moment.

(Contributed by Jen Koch)

PCAS NEWS

A new kind of program at PCAS

*Dance program in collaboration with Temple University*

We are introducing a new concept of short term activities called Pop-up Programs. The design of these programs is that they are easy to get involved in, don’t require long term commitment and provide additional ways for our community members to stay active during breaks of our regular offerings. According to Jeff McGinnis, Executive Director of PCAS, “We wanted to offer new activities that will be fun and exciting, but aren’t part of our standard program mix”.

Pop-up programs will run from 2-6 weeks. The first program, Adaptive Dance, started on November 7th and is in partnership with Temple University. Additional activities being considered are pickleball and wheelchair boxing. For more information and to suggest activities contact Judy Morrison.

(Contributed by Jeff McGinnis)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Adaptive Climbing

Second Wednesday of the month, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Gravity Vault, 175 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA
All experience levels, abilities and ages are welcome.
Contact Pat Bost for more information.

Adaptive Dance Program

Thursday afternoons, 3:30 - 5:00 PM
Runs thru December 12th
Temple University, Pearson Hall, 1800 N. Broad Street
Contact Judy Morrison for more information.

Indoor Rowing

Mondays, through winter. 6:00 - 7:30 PM (Start date: January 6)
St. Joseph University Boathouse, 2200 Kelly Drive, Philadelphia PA
Contact Judy Morrison for more information.
Cost: $20.00 for the season (10 weeks/20 sessions)
First session is free for new participants to try.

Ski Program

December through March
Camelback Ski Resort
Email to book your ski lesson or to learn more about volunteer opportunities. We welcome all abilities and levels of experience.

PCAS Proud

With the support of 500 volunteers and coaches, this past year PCAS served 2,000 individuals with disabilities.