Benefit News: VA Offering up to $8 Million in Grants for Adaptive-Sports Programs that Aid Disabled Veterans

WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is providing up to $8 million in grants to fund adaptive-sports programs that offer activities for disabled Veterans and members of the armed forces who have disabilities, VA announced Feb. 22.

The application period for the fiscal 2018 Adaptive Sports Grant begins Feb. 21, 2017, and will close at 11:59 p.m. (EST) on April 21, 2017.

“We know disabled Veterans and military members of all ages and abilities report better health and an improved quality of life when participating in adaptive sports,” said VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin. “We encourage organizations to apply for a grant to better assist those who have faced life changes due to their military service. At VA, caring for Veterans, day in and day out, is a noble cause.”

Previous VA grants included eligible nonprofits, Veterans’ groups, universities and municipalities, which plan, develop, manage and implement adaptive sports activities. Funding may be used for training, program development, coaching, sports equipment, supplies, program evaluation and other activities related to adaptive-sports program implementation and operation.

In fiscal 2016, VA awarded $7.8 million in adaptive-sports grants to 90 programs providing services nationwide.  The Grant Notice of Funding Availability is published on the Grants.gov website (www.grants.gov) under opportunity number VA-ASG-2018-01, linked through https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=adaptive%20sports.

For more information about VA’s Adaptive Sports Program, go to http://www.va.gov/adaptivesports/va_grant_program.asp.  

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