By Todd Munn, ASF Executive Director
This past spring, the Adaptive Sports Foundation was awarded an extremely generous grant from the Gilbert Family Charitable Foundation for the renovation of the first floor of the Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center. Dan, who is a volunteer ski Instructor with the ASF’s winter program, and his wife, Elise, approached the ASF last winter with a desire to contribute to a need at the ASF. Through discussions with the staff and the ASF Board of Trustees, Dan and Elise determined the first floor of the Adaptive Sports Center was in need of a renovation. After 12 years of wear and tear as well as growth in programs, volunteers and the lunch program, the current layout was no longer functioning in an efficient and productive manner. Through an extensive planning process that involved the Gilberts and other key stakeholders, a re-designed first floor was developed that included a commercial kitchen to better accommodate the winter lunch program, commercial grade doors that can hold up to heavy traffic and a harsh winter environment, a more efficient layout to facilitate morning instructor check in, an area for instructors to gather during the day for breaks and lesson wrap up sessions and space for video analysis for instructor and race team training.
The Adaptive Sports Foundation is tremendously grateful to Dan and Elise Gilbert for their generosity and involvement in this project. Since Dan has been a volunteer instructor for three years and a new member of the ASF Board of Trustees, he was able to see the need and will also be able to experience the benefits of this much needed improvement to the Adaptive Sports Center. Dan stated that “My experience here working with our students has given me tremendous reward and a sense of renewed purpose. Elise tells me that since starting volunteering here, I am happier and more energized. Elise and I want to contribute as best we can to help enhance the student experience.”
“We are truly grateful to the Gilberts and their Family Charitable Foundation for this extremely generous investment into the Adaptive Sports Foundation infrastructure. Their generous contribution will have a great, lasting impact on our entire organization.” stated Todd Munn, Adaptive Sports Foundation Executive Director.
The Gilberts stated that renovation is made possible by a grant from the Gilbert Family Charitable Foundation in recognition of all ASF volunteers – past, present and future – who understand “you give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”