WARWICK- Beautiful People Adaptive Sports, Orange County’s largest nonprofit providing adaptive sports for children and young adults with disabilities, today announced it has been awarded a $50,000 grant by Orange County Youth Bureau to support expansion of Beautiful People’s programs in Newburgh and New Windsor, focusing on volleyball and baseball in Spring 2024.
Beautiful People’s programming already serves hundreds of families across Orange County, offering team sports and social engagement for young people of all abilities. The grant, funded by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, will empower Beautiful People to continue its growth across Orange County, expanding inclusive recreational opportunities and ensuring that more participants will have the opportunity to play more sports in more places, regardless of financial need.
“We are deeply honored and grateful to receive this significant grant from the Office of Children and Family Services through the Orange County Youth Bureau,” said Stefanie Kostenblatt, Executive Director of Beautiful People Adaptive Sports. “This funding will enable us to expand our reach and impact in Eastern Orange County, allowing more children with special needs to experience the joy and benefits of participating in adaptive sports.”
Beautiful People aims to foster a sense of belonging, confidence, and teamwork among participants while promoting physical health and well-being through physical fitness activities, social and team development and strength and ability training.
“In 2022, Beautiful People launched an initiative to double our programming, rolling out new activities and building our presence in parts of Orange County where there was the biggest need for adaptive team sports,” said Jeremy Zweig, President of Beautiful People Board of Directors. “We are thankful to the Youth Bureau and Orange County leadership for helping us build even further on our successful expansion and make important investments that will enhance opportunities for Beautiful People’s amazing athletes and volunteers.”
The grant includes support for substantial infrastructure and other capital improvements, scholarship reimbursements to mitigate cost for families with hardship, team uniforms to build morale and sense of belonging, custom developed adaptive sports equipment to serve more athletes, and more.
“We are excited to embark on this new chapter of expansion and outreach, thanks to the support of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and the Orange County Youth Bureau,” added Kostenblatt. “Together, we will continue to build bridges and champion inclusivity in sports, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to belong, play and thrive.”
For more information about Beautiful People Adaptive Sports and its programs, please visit www.beautiful-people.us.
