Thrivent Mutual Funds and CAF Team Up to Provide Unparalleled Sports Opportunities for Individuals with Physical Challenges
Support Will Help Challenged Athletes Gain Access to Adaptive Sports Equipment, Competition and Training Expenses
San Diego, CA – January 26, 2017 – Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF) is proud to announce that it has entered a new partnership with Thrivent Mutual Funds to help individuals with physical challenges. As a part of Fortune 500 company Thrivent Financial, Thrivent Mutual Funds’ mission is to help investors prepare for a more secure financial future, and they are committed to supporting programs that have a positive impact on the community.
Through this partnership, Thrivent Mutual Funds will provide support for CAF’s Access For Athletes Grant Program, which is committed to helping athletes overcome financial impediments by providing funding grants for adaptive sports equipment, training, coaching and competition costs.
Thrivent Mutual Funds will contribute to CAF’s mission by helping individuals with physical challenges pursue an active lifestyle through physical fitness and athletics. CAF believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life. The past grant cycle, CAF awarded 2,098 grants worth over $3.7 million to people with physical challenges in 32 countries.
Support will help individuals like Eric Northbrook. Northbrook was going full speed when he was paralyzed from the chest down in a dirt bike accident in Baja California 10 years ago. Despite his own traumatic injury and the subsequent loss of his wife Denise to cancer, Northbrook focuses on what remains instead of what he has lost. Eric is a Team CAF athlete who is active in the world of golf via a paragolfer, an electric wheelchair that stands him up and allows him to enjoy playing golf. Eric has also participated multiple times in the Mazda Foundation Million Dollar Challenge, a seven-day, 620-mile journey down the breathtaking California coastline from San Francisco to San Diego.
Challenged Athletes Foundation Chief Executive Director Virginia Tinley said, “We are honored to have Thrivent Mutual Funds as our partner. Thanks to their support, we will be able to continue to provide life-changing opportunities to thousands of individuals with physical challenges, so they can pursue an active lifestyle through sport. Welcome to Team CAF.”
“Making a difference in our communities across the country is at the heart of our giving philosophy,” said Thrivent Mutual Funds President David Royal. “That’s why we value our partnership with Challenged Athletes Foundation®, and support their mission to help people with physical challenges lead active lives.”
About the Challenged Athletes Foundation
The Challenged Athletes Foundation® (CAF) is a world leader in helping people with physical challenges lead active, healthy lifestyles. CAF believes that participation in physical activity at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life. Since 1994, more than $76 million has been raised and over 13,000 funding requests from people with physical challenges in all 50 states and dozens of countries have been satisfied. Additionally, CAF’s outreach efforts reach another 60,000 individuals each year. Whether it’s a $2,500 grant for a handcycle, helping underwrite a carbon fiber running foot not covered by insurance, or arranging enthusiastic encouragement from a mentor who has triumphed over a similar challenge, CAF’s mission is clear: give opportunities and support to those with the desire to live active, athletic lifestyles To learn more, visit challengedathletes.org or call 858-866-0959.
About Thrivent Mutual Funds
Thrivent Mutual Funds helps investors prepare for a more secure financial future. We do this in a variety of ways, from the experience of our fund managers to providing convenient, flexible options to make investing easier. As part of its mission, Thrivent Mutual Funds through its asset manager Thrivent Asset Management gives back a portion of the asset manager’s profits to help make a positive impact in the communities we serve. To learn more, visit thriventfunds.com.