It Started With Friends Helping a Friend. Now a Group Helps Thousands

Rudy Garcia-Tolson, a five-time Paralympic swimming medalist, was born with a rare birth defect, and his legs were amputated when he was 5 years old. He is one of more than 44,000 people who have been helped by the Challenged Athletes Foundation, which provided him with leg prosthetics.

The nonprofit was founded in 1994 by friends — Bob Babbitt, Jeffrey Essakow, and Rick Kozlowski — who raised money for another friend who had lost his leg in a motorcycle accident.

“Sport is therapeutic, and it gives people the mind-set that they can still be successful,” Babbitt says. “We help eliminate that spiraling depression that people can go through.”

The foundation provides grants to people with physical disabilities, primarily helping pay for adaptive sports equipment, providing training, assisting with sports competition expenses, and other services to help people stay fit. It also organizes clinics to teach people how to use their adaptive equipment.

Kristine Entwistle, CEO of the foundation, says the equipment needed to compete as athletes or for noncompetitors to stay active often costs thousands of dollars. For instance, running prosthetics can cost $15,000, according to Entwistle. The equipment costs are not usually covered by health insurance.

Garcia-Tolson says participating in adaptive sports — competitive or recreational sports for people with disabilities — has made a huge difference in his life, helping boost his spirits.

“The top benefit is for my mental head space and how confident I am,” he said.

About one in four adults in the United States has a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Research from the CDC shows that staying active helps people with disabilities reduce the impact of chronic diseases.

This year the foundation, based in California, gave the most it’s ever given — $7 million to 3,996 individuals. Over the years, it has raised almost $160 million. Private donors who gave to CAF include the Craig H. Neilsen and David C. Copley foundations, and corporate sponsors include Toyota, Smoothie King, and Nike.

Entwistle says the nonprofit has been able to increase the number of grants provided each year. “If we can provide more adaptive sports equipment, then it’s more people who have gotten activity into their life,” she says.

The foundation also provided essential aid during the Covid-19 pandemic when many people with disabilities had to stay home. It provided home-delivered fitness kits and videos to show how to use the equipment.

Kym Eisner, executive director of the Neilsen Foundation, said she was impressed with how the athletic foundation stepped up to help. “CAF found a creative way to serve their athletes, keeping everyone active and safe during a very scary time.”

Reporting for this article was underwritten by a Lilly Endowment grant to enhance public understanding of philanthropy. The Chronicle is solely responsible for the content. See more about the Chronicle, the grant, how our foundation-supported journalism works, and our gift-acceptance policy.