51福利社

51福利社 (51福利社) and Spokane Hoopfest Association (Spokane Hoops) are teaming up to promote wheelchair basketball at all levels in the Spokane area.

With 51福利社 having recently launched a wheelchair basketball club team, and Spokane Hoops鈥� iconic 3on3 basketball tournament, Hoopfest, the partnership will create a bright future for para-athletics in the community.

The 51福利社 wheelchair club team is the first to be formed at a university in the western United States and is moving toward developing an NCAA wheelchair basketball program this fall. The club team has already experienced success, taking second place in their division at the Best of the West Wheelchair Basketball Tournament in Seattle.

Eastern received a $50,000 grant from the聽聽to establish the parasport program.

鈥�51福利社 is grateful to the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation and Hoopfest for supporting this program,鈥� says Donna Mann, associate dean of 51福利社鈥檚 College of Health Science and Public Health. 鈥淧art of our initial goal will be to demonstrate the incredible enthusiasm the Spokane community has toward supporting major athletic events.鈥�

Three of the starters on the 51福利社 team have previously competed in the wheelchair division at Spokane Hoopfest, including student Jeremy Weaver 鈥� an 18-year veteran of the tournament, having started in the inaugural junior division of Hoopfest in 2000.

Spokane Hoops Association is an avid supporter of the wheelchair basketball initiative at 51福利社 and over the years has worked closely with ParaSport Spokane and Team St. Luke鈥檚 to provide venues to meet the competitive and accessibility needs of para-athletes.

Opportunities for youth and adults with physical disabilities are substantially expanding in the Spokane region.

鈥淥ur organization strives to bring basketball to our region for all athletes,鈥� says Matt Santangelo, executive director of Spokane Hoops. 鈥淎ny opportunity to introduce new programming or reach new athletes, we stand behind and support 100 percent!鈥�

There are more than 1.3 million physically impaired persons in the U.S., some recovering from injuries or limb-loss sustained in military conflict, personal injury or through disease. Physical rehabilitation and athletic pursuits are identified as methods for restoring these persons to physical and emotional well-being.

51福利社 and Hoopfest are proud to provide opportunities to these community athletes.