Contact: Daniella Robbins, (561) 966-7083
U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, officially recognized Paralympic Sport Club Palm Beach County, located in the CMAA Therapeutic Recreation Complex in Lake Worth, as a Bronze level club as part of the Paralympic Sport Club Excellence Program. Created in 2013, the excellence program is designed to support Paralympic sport clubs as they evolve their sport programming in areas such as athlete identification and coaching education, and recognize their contributions to growing the Paralympic movement in the United States.
“Paralympic sport clubs are critical not only for the development of athletes but also for the growth of the Paralympic movement in the United States,” said Rick Adams, chief of Paralympic sport and National Governing Body organizational development. “We are grateful for the investment these Paralympic sports clubs have made in their communities and we are proud to honor their commitment to excellence in supporting future Paralympic athletes.”
The multi-tier excellence program has benchmarks at the bronze, silver and gold levels to give participating clubs a blueprint for transitioning from a basic provider (bronze level) to an elite provider (gold level) of Paralympic programming. After a Paralympic sport club completes a level, the club will be eligible to receive recognition and an award designated for the bronze, silver or gold level. Clubs designated as gold or silver receive a stipend for programming, while bronze-level clubs receive recognition banners.
“For many years, our Therapeutic Recreation Section has been recognized as a national leader in providing programs for persons with disabilities,” said Parks and Recreation Director Eric Call. “Hosting a local level Paralympic Sports Club and being recognized for excellence at the bronze level is a tribute to our very talented and supportive staff that I am extremely proud of.”
Recognition levels are valid through the end of the quadrennial, but clubs have the option to move up the following year. Participation is open and voluntary to all Paralympic sport clubs. All participating clubs must start at the bronze level before moving to the silver and gold levels.
“Being recognized as a home for Paralympic sports in our community is rewarding in itself, but also achieving the Bronze level club status with the U.S. Paralympics sets our standards even higher to offer better quality sport programming for people with physical disabilities,” said Daniella Robbins, adapted sports coordinator and Recreation Specialist with Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department.
For more information about Paralympic Sport Club Palm Beach County, contact Daniella Robbins, Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department, at (561) 966-7083 or email drobbins@pbcgov.org. For information about U.S. Paralympics, contact Beth Bourgeois at (719) 866-2039.
The CMAA Therapeutic Recreation Complex is owned and operated by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department. For more information about more leisure opportunities available through Palm Beach County, visit
www.pbcparks.com.