Challenged Athletes Foundation
At a glance
- Category
- Recreational Sports & Activities
- How it's listed
- Found in our own research. Its site was confirmed live and serving the military community on . That is a check that it exists, not a judgement that it is good.
- Website
- www.challengedathletes.org
About Challenged Athletes Foundation
Published by Challenged Athletes Foundation on their own website. Quoted here in full as they wrote it.
More than a foundation: A movement
For over 30 years, the Challenged Athletes Foundation has supported athletes with physical disabilities—not just funding equipment, but fueling confidence, independence, and lifelong community. Here, a grant isn’t just money. It’s a first recumbent bike. A comeback race. A reminder of what’s possible.
Raised for Athletes
Grants Awarded
of athletes reported an improved quality of life
Why We Exist
To provide opportunity, access, and belonging for athletes with physical disabilities—because sport transforms lives.
The Future We’re Building
A world where every person with a physical disability can pursue athletic dreams—without financial, social, or systemic barriers.
30+ years of breaking barriers
1994
From One Came Many
After a devastating accident left athlete Jim MacLaren paralyzed, three friends rallied to support his comeback. What began as a single act of love became CAF—proving that no injury could outlast human spirit.
30+ years of breaking barriers
2005
Operation Rebound Takes Flight
Recognizing that veterans faced dual battles—physical wounds and invisible scars—CAF launched Operation Rebound. Today, it’s the gold standard in adaptive sports recovery for service members worldwide.
30+ years of breaking barriers
2012
A Community Shows Its Power
When CAF athletes and supporters raised $1M in one cycling event, it wasn’t just about money. It was a declaration: athletes with physical disabilities aren’t inspirations, they’re competitors.
30+ years of breaking barriers
2020
No Pandemic Could Stop Progress
As the world shut down, CAF pivoted—launching virtual programs that reached athletes in 50+ countries. Proof that community and innovation keep sport moving forward.
30+ years of breaking barriers
2026
The Future Is Unlimited
Surpassing $200M in funds raised, CAF became the largest global adaptive sports funder—but the real milestone? Every athlete who crossed a finish line they once thought impossible.
Impact Quick Links
The Challenged Athletes Foundation is committed to transparency and accountability. Explore our financials and impact:
Annual report
990 Form
Audited financials
Josh Sweeney
Idaho
Josh Sweeney is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Paralympic gold medalist, and multi-sport athlete whose journey through adversity has inspired thousands.
Roderick Sewell
Colorado
Roderick Sewell is a Paralympic swimmer, IRONMAN finisher, and proud CAF Ambassador whose path to sport began during some of the most difficult years of his life.
Liv Stone
Pennsylvania
Liv Stone is a three-time Para Surf World Champion, adaptive athlete, and digital creator who continues to inspire others with her talent and voice.
Travis Ricks
Idaho
Travis Ricks is a USA National Team sitting volleyball player, paratriathlete, cancer survivor, and lifelong coach who has turned personal challenge into a mission to inspire others.
Willie Stewart
Idaho
Our write-up
Challenged Athletes Foundation is in our directory because we went looking for resources in this category and confirmed theirs is real and serving this community. What you see above is their own description, quoted from their site. We have not yet added our own write-up — the programs, eligibility and military fit that we check ourselves — and we would rather leave that blank than guess at it.
In the meantime, their official site is the authority: www.challengedathletes.org
Was this useful?
Did Challenged Athletes Foundation help you?
Nobody has answered yet — be the first.
Are you Challenged Athletes Foundation?
This page was written about you, not by you. We built it because the people we serve were already looking for you and deserved a straight answer about what you do. If anything here is wrong, out of date, or puts it badly, we would rather hear it from you than leave it up.
Claiming it gives you an account here and a route to request changes — corrections, new programs, updated events. Those requests are handled by Meridian Tech, our partner, under their subscription service. You are not editing this page yourself, and we would rather say that plainly now than have you find out after you sign up.
“Claim this page” opens a checkout on milconnect.com, where you set up your organization's account. Being listed here is free, and staying listed is free. Meridian Tech — the company that also builds and runs MILCONNECT.AI — provides the account and the update service, and the AI Workspace is their paid product. We are telling you about a commercial relationship before you act on it rather than after, because you are a nonprofit being asked to spend money and you deserve to see the whole shape of it first. If anything on this page is simply wrong, email us and we will fix it for free; that never requires a subscription.
This page is maintained by MILCONNECT.AI and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authored by Challenged Athletes Foundation. It is a directory entry compiled from community recommendations. We do not rate, rank or endorse anything in this directory, and being listed here is not a recommendation — clinical or otherwise. We are not a medical provider and cannot tell you whether a program is right for you. Check eligibility, cost and current status with the organization directly before you rely on it.