Evening at Casa Cipriani Celebrates Athletes with Physical Disabilities and Raises Critical Funds for Access to Sport

The Challenged Athletes Foundation’s (CAF) 19^th annual Heroes, Heart & Hope Gala returned to Casa Cipriani South in New York City on Monday, November 17, raising over $2.4 million to support life-changing grants for adaptive sports equipment, coaching, clinics, travel, and inclusive school-based programs that open the door to sport for people with physical disabilities.

Honoring a Legacy of Leadership and Belief in What’s Possible

The evening embraced the theme “Impossible is Possible,” led by Event Chairs Scott and Emily Stackman, and brought together CAF leadership, partners, donors, and supporters. In the room were past Heroes, Heart & Hope honorees Dan Loeb, Michael Fish, Mike and Connie Casey, and Marty Berger, all of whom helped build the foundation for this event’s long-standing impact. Throughout the night, guests heard first-person stories from athletes whose lives have been transformed through CAF grants and programs, and experienced live moments that showcased the organization’s mission in action.

Celebrating the CAF School Program: 2025 Honoree

This year’s honoree, the CAF School Program, was recognized for its innovative work bringing CAF athletes and adaptive sport experiences directly into classrooms. The national initiative helps students learn empathy, inclusion, leadership, and awareness, empowering them to become the next generation of disability advocates and community leaders.

“CAF’s impact goes beyond grants and equipment; it reaches into classrooms and communities where inclusion takes root early,” said Scott Stackman, Host, Chairman, and Gala founder. “But none of that happens without nights like this. When we invest in adaptive sports, we’re not just funding a prosthetic or a racing chair—we’re funding confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging.”

Powerful Stories That Defined the Night

The evening highlighted powerful stories from CAF athletes, including Femita Ayanbeku, a three-time U.S. Paralympian and American record holder in the women’s 100m, who qualified for the Paris Paralympic Games just six months postpartum and serves as an Össur and CAF ambassador at Running & Mobility Clinics nationwide. Guests also met 7-year-old Stella Cannon, who was born with Spina Bifida and was introduced to adaptive sports in April at a wheelchair basketball clinic, the first time she truly lit up and felt comfortable. Since then, Stella has embraced surfing, sled hockey, and cycling, and is rarely seen without a big smile.

Funds raised at Heroes, Heart & Hope directly support individuals with physical disabilities by providing adaptive sports equipment, such as running prostheses, sport wheelchairs, and handcycles, as well as coaching, training, and local and national clinics. In the Northeast region alone, this funding will help fuel new and returning grants, expand community clinics, and ensure more athletes have year-round access to sport.

“Cost and access remain two of the biggest barriers to sport for people with physical disabilities,” Stackman added. “Because of nights like this, more athletes will get the chance to compete, more kids will see what’s possible, more schools and communities will embrace inclusivity, and more families will know that there is help when they need it most.”