North Jersey Navigators Earn 2012 Amazing Sport Club Award
The U.S. Olympic Committee announced that the North Jersey Navigators — an adaptive sports team for junior athletes with disabilities—received the 2012 Amazing Sport Club Award, one of seven recipients of the 2013 Paralympic Amazing Awards. Navigators’ Head Coach Jim Cuevas was also awarded the 2012 National Coach of the Year Award for Paralympics Track & Field.
The Navigators provide opportunities for young athletes with disabilities to train in sports, including track and field, road racing, archery, swimming and table tennis. Based in Jersey City, N.J., the team competes on state, national and international levels. Navigator Raymond Martin won four gold medals in four events at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Kessler Foundation provided seed funding to the team and continues to distribute grants to cover travel and training costs.
Elaine Katz, Vice President of Grants and Special Initiatives at Kessler Foundation, said, “It has been wonderful to be so involved with the Navigators over the years, and to chart their success since they started out as a small, grassroots program and now watch them compete as a large team. We are proud of their accomplishments and happy they are getting the recognition they deserve.”
Upon his son joining the team 12 years ago, Cuevas got involved with the Navigators when there was just four members on the team. They obtained funding and partnered with other organizations to gain resources necessary to expand the team. “The past two years have been excellent for us and it has been an amazing experience to see our athletes grow up as independent and productive individuals. Some are developing to a point where they can compete at the next level at International competitions and even the Paralympic Games,” he said.
The Paralympic Amazing Awards honor individuals and organizations that make a significant impact on the Paralympic Movement in the U.S. Winners reflect success in grassroots development, elite performance, sponsorships and telling the Paralympic story. In return, more opportunities are provided to people with physical disabilities in the U.S. Award categories include Amazing Leader Award, Amazing Sport Club Award, Amazing Investor Award, Amazing Impact Award, Amazing Mentor Award and Amazing Salute Award.
About Kessler Foundation Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility and long-term outcomes, including employment, for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities.
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Contacts: Lauren Scrivo, 973.324.8384, 973.768.6583 - c, [email protected] Carolann Murphy, 973.324.8382, [email protected]
