The Hartford Broadens Its Commitment To Supporting People With Disabilities With New Ability Equipped Program
Business Wire 15-Nov-2018 8:32 AM
Company partners with Disabled Sports USA and pledges $2.2 million
over three years to increase access to adaptive sports across the country
The Hartford named presenting sponsor of the Angel City Games in Los
Angeles
The
Hartford, a leading provider of disability insurance with a long
history of supporting people with disabilities, announced its new
Ability Equipped program to significantly improve access to adaptive
sports and provide adaptive sports equipment for youth and adults with
disabilities across the country.
Approximately 40 million Americans1 have a disability and
often face greater obstacles to healthy living and employment than the
general population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The Hartford's
new Ability Equipped program will provide people with disabilities, who
may be recovering from an injury or who would like to become more
active, with access to sports programs and essential equipment.
"We've seen first-hand the power of adaptive sports as a catalyst for
improved health and inclusion and we are honored to provide local sports
clubs with the resources and equipment they need," said Mike Concannon,
head of Group Benefits at The Hartford. "Our business is driven by our
long-standing conviction that people should be defined by what they can
do versus perceived limitations. We believe people are capable of
achieving amazing things with the right team, technology and support
behind them."
Partnership with DSUSA and Angel City Sports
The Hartford has been a longstanding partner of Disabled
Sports USA (DSUSA) and is celebrating its 25th year as
the title sponsor of The
Hartford Ski Spectacular, one of the nation's largest winter sports
festivals for people with disabilities.
Through the Ability Equipped program, The Hartford is partnering with
DSUSA to provide adaptive sports equipment and grants to more than 20 of
its local chapters across the country. The donations will be based on
the individual needs of each chapter that is selected and will include
equipment such as sports wheelchairs, hockey sleds, kayaks, mono skis
and hand cycles. The program will also assist individual members of
DSUSA's Elite Team – youth athletes with disabilities who are a pipeline
for U.S. Paralympics – by providing adaptive equipment and scholarships
through The Hartford's Ability Equipped Youth in Excellence award.
"Adaptive sports equipment is an important investment that grows and
sustains an athlete's active sports lifestyle as well as their
competitive opportunities. Unfortunately, this specialized equipment is
expensive and with prolonged use it often needs to be repaired or
replaced," said Glenn Merry, executive director of DSUSA. "We are
excited that The Hartford has partnered with us to help our local
chapters purchase the equipment they need to outfit everyday athletes in
our local communities."
In addition, The Hartford is partnering with Angel City Sports and has
been named presenting sponsor of the Angel
City Games, an annual adaptive sports festival in the Greater Los
Angeles Metropolitan Area that focuses on summer sports. As part of this
partnership, The Hartford will also provide adaptive equipment to
enhance the programs offered by Angel City Sports and scholarships to
support individual athletes across the country who attend the Angel City
Games.
The Hartford's longtime history of supporting people with disabilities
As a leading provider of disability insurance, The Hartford has a
long-held belief that sports are an important part of physical
rehabilitation following a disabling illness or injury. The company
began supporting athletes and events 25 years ago.
In 2003, The Hartford became a founding partner and official disability
insurance sponsor of U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States
Olympic Committee (USOC), that is dedicated to recruiting and training
elite athletes with physical and visual disabilities.
"The Hartford's history of supporting athletes like myself helps raise
awareness about what people with disabilities are capable of and helps
change perceptions about disabilities," said Keith Gabel, U.S.
Paralympic snowboarder, silver medalist and member of Team
Hartford. "It is inspiring to see that children and adults who may
be in the first stages of their recovery will have access to programs
and equipment that can help get them back to their active and productive
lives."
About The Hartford
The Hartford is a leader in property and casualty insurance, group
benefits and mutual funds. With more than 200 years of expertise, The
Hartford is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability
practices, trust and integrity. More information on the company and its
financial performance is available at https://www.thehartford.com.
Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TheHartford_PR.
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE:HIG) operates
through its subsidiaries under the brand name, The Hartford, and is
headquartered in Hartford, Conn. For additional details, please read The
Hartford's legal notice.
About Disabled Sports USA
Founded in 1967, Disabled Sports USA is a 501(c)(3) charitable
organization that provides opportunities for individuals with
disabilities to develop independence, confidence and fitness through
participation in sports. What began as a program to serve Vietnam
veterans has since grown into one of the nation's largest multi-sport,
multi-disability organizations, annually serving more than 60,000
wounded warriors, youth and adults with disabilities. A member of the
U.S. Olympic Committee, Disabled Sports USA offers programs in more than
50 summer and winter sports through its nationwide network of more than
120 community-based chapters. For more information, visit www.disabledsportsusa.org.
HIG-C
1U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 American Community Survey 1-Year
Estimates
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