Achieve Tahoe to Host Annual ‘Ability Celebration & Winter Ski Festival’ for Veterans with Disabilities From Across the Country
Sierra Rec Magazine – Alpine Meadows, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018 – Achieve Tahoe, a leading provider of winter and summer adaptive sports instruction for adults and children with disabilities, will host the “Ability Celebration & Winter Ski Festival,” its annual military sports camp for injured veterans and their family members January 16-19, 2018 in North Lake Tahoe. Sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows and Warfighter Sports, a program offered by Disabled Sports USA, the program will provide 34 participants with complimentary ski and snowboard lessons, overnight accommodations in the Village at Squaw Valley, meals and transportation.
“The military sports camp is our annual opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of some of the heroes who have sacrificed so much for our country, and to help them realize what they are capable of,” said Haakon Lang-Ree, executive director of Achieve Tahoe. “Thanks to the unwavering support of our sponsors, this event has tremendous impact on the participants and their families, and will continue to be an annual tradition.”
Participants will travel to North Lake Tahoe from all over the country to participate in specialized private ski and snowboard instruction that will be provided to them free of charge. Each person will receive lessons specifically designed to support their physical therapy, boost their emotional well-being, build their confidence and ultimately help their re-integration into their communities. The veterans in attendance are also invited to bring a guest to share in their experience, and to provide them with support and encouragement.
“Anthem champions making health care simpler, more accessible and affordable, which includes helping members get back to health, back to work and back to life faster when facing a disability,” said Greg Poulakos, president of Anthem Life. “We are proud to be a long-time partner of Disabled Sports USA and to once again serve as lead sponsor for this special event benefiting those who have given so much to serve our country. It is truly inspiring to watch these injured veterans demonstrate to themselves and others what they are capable of at the Ability Celebration.”
“One cannot find bigger supporters and fans of Achieve Tahoe than our company and team. What this group does for our community is so important, impactful and meaningful. Moreover, in that Achieve Tahoe’s mission and values are not just aligned but shared with our company’s core values, our teams work together as one to provide the best possible experience for their clients,” said Andy Wirth, president and COO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. “This programming element – The Military Sports Camp – is just one of their many high-impact programs and is near and dear to our hearts. We have and will continue to, with great pride, support our wounded veterans through many programs including this outstanding Achieve Tahoe program. These brave men and women have given everything to our country — as a community and a country, we owe them so much and truly hope that our mountains are a great place of healing and advancing!”
The Warfighter Sports program was designed to offer sports rehabilitation for severely wounded warriors in military hospitals and communities across the U.S. through a nationwide network of over 120 community-based chapters of Disabled Sports USA. The program helps to rebuild lives through sports by improving self-confidence, promoting independence and uniting families through shared healthy activities.
Contributions cover all expenses for participation of the warrior and a family member, including individualized adaptive instruction, adaptive sports equipment, transportation, lodging and meals. Since 2003, more than 12,000 of the most severely wounded and their families have been served, including those with amputations, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, visual impairments, and significant nerve and muscle damage.
Media interested in meeting the participating veterans and their instructors, and watching them ski or snowboard are invited to Squaw Valley on Friday, January 19 at 12:30 p.m. for the conclusion of the Ability Celebration & Winter Ski Festival event. To RSVP, please contact Jess Weaver at jessica@jvpcommunications.com or 530-448-6981.
To learn more about Achieve Tahoe, visit www.achievetahoe.org.
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About Achieve Tahoe
Achieve Tahoe is a North Lake Tahoe-based non-profit organization that provides year-round outdoor recreation programs for children and adults with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities. The organization, founded in 1967 and long known as Disabled Sports USA Far West, is the longest operating adaptive sports program in the country, and was designed to provide affordable, inclusive physical and recreational activities that build health and confidence. To learn more or to help, visit www.achievetahoe.org.
About Anthem
Life and Disability products underwritten by Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company. Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California. Anthem Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. To learn more about Specialty benefits, visit www.specialtybenefits.info/ca/.
About Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows
Voted ‘Best Ski Resort’ in North America for the third year in a row by USA Today and 10Best Readers’ Choice, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is an internationally renowned mountain resort in North Lake Tahoe, California. Spanning over 6,000 skiable acres across two mountains, skiers and riders of all ability levels are welcomed by over 65 percent beginner and intermediate terrain, 14 easy-to-navigate mountain zones and a custom app to make the most of every visit. The resort features slopeside lodging at The Village at Squaw Valley®, which bustles year round with nonstop events and over 50 bars, restaurants and boutiques. With an annual average of 450 inches of snowfall and 300 sunny California days, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is known as the Spring Skiing Capital™ as it provides one of the longest ski and snowboard seasons in Lake Tahoe. Visit squawalpine.com or call 1.800.403.0206 to learn more.
About Disabled Sports USA
Founded in 1967, Disabled Sports USA is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to develop independence, confidence and fitness through participation in sports. What began as a program to serve Vietnam veterans has since grown into one of the nation’s largest multi-sport, multi-disability organizations, annually serving more than 60,000 wounded warriors, youth and adults with disabilities. A member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, Disabled Sports USA offers programs in more than 50 summer and winter sports through its nationwide network of more than 120 community-based chapters. For more information, visit http://www.disabledsportsusa.org.
About Warfighter Sports
Warfighter Sports, a program of Disabled Sports USA, offers sports rehabilitation for wounded warriors with permanent physical disabilities in military hospitals and communities across the U.S. in partnership with a nationwide network of over 120 community-based chapters. Since 1967, Disabled Sports USA has proudly served wounded warriors, including those injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, offering over 50 winter and summer sports at more than 100 events each year. Warfighter Sports rebuilds lives through sports by improving self-confidence, promoting independence and uniting families through shared healthy activities. Contributions cover all expenses for participation of the warrior and a family member, including individualized adaptive instruction, adaptive sports equipment, transportation, lodging and meals. Since 2003, more than 10,000 of the most severely wounded and their families have been served, including those with amputations, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, visual impairments, and significant nerve and muscle damage. For more information, visit www.warfightersports.org.