P&G awards grants to Paralympian-supported charities through Athletes for Good fund

Five Paralympians set to compete at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games have been awarded grants courtesy of the ‘Athletes for Good’ programme, a joint initiative established by Worldwide Paralympic Partner P&G, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

USA’s Para snowboarder Arlene Cohen, Para Nordic skiers Dan Cnossen and Oksana Masters, Para Alpine skier Danelle Umstead; and Finland’s Para Nordic skier Sini Pyy have each received a share of USD 400,000 to be used to support charities close to their hearts.

Eleven Olympians have also been awarded this grant, with causes ranging from helping in the fight against climate, to raising awareness to the LGBTQ+ community and much more.

List of Paralympic recipients:

Arlene Cohen (Adaptive Action Sports): In searching for ways to reconnect with snowboarding after her leg amputation, Arlene found Adaptive Action Sports (AAS). This organisation provided her a safe community to get back to participating in her passion.  The Athletes for Good grant will go towards lessons for adaptive individuals who have never tried snowboarding and clinics for those at AAS who are working to improve their skills.

Dan Cnossen (Classroom Champions): Dan puts action behind his mission to empower children at a young age through social and emotional learning as a Classroom Champions mentor. . The Athletes for Good grant will enable 3,200 additional kids to participate in the program, helping Classroom Champions get closer to its goal of mentoring 1 million kids weekly by 2025.

Danelle Umstead (Sisters in Sports Foundation): In paying it forward, Danelle launched her own charity, the Sisters In Sports Foundation to provide women and girls with disabilities the same type of support and mentorship she received. The Athletes for Good grant will enable the Foundation to provide scholarship funding and athlete mentorship to women with disabilities.

Oksana Masters (Kindness Wins): In collaboration with fellow athletes, Oksana founded Kindness Wins to celebrate and recognize acts of good on and off the field of play with Medals of Kindness. The Athletes for Good grant funding will allow Kindness Wins to continue awarding Medals of Kindness and also grants to individuals spreading inclusivity and goodness throughout their communities.

Sini Pyy (Protect Our Winters Finland): In joining Protect Our Winters Finland as an ambassador this year, Sini is eager to be with like-minded people on her quest to learn and educate others on how to live an eco-friendlier life, especially as a Para sport athlete. The Athletes for Good grant will be instrumental in expanding Protect Our Winters education programming and teach a wider audience how to live more sustainably.

Full list of recipients of the Athletes for Good Programme are:

•    Cynthia Appiah (Bobsleigh) and Fast and Female
•    Justine Dufour-Lapointe (Freestyle skiing) and FitSpirit
•    Sini Pyy (Para Cross-Country Skiing) and Protect Our Winters Finland
•    Gus Kenworthy (Freestyle skiing) and Worthy Foundation
•    Brendan Doyle (Skeleton) and MyMind
•    Ella Cox (Luge) and Cystic Fibrosis Association of New Zealand
•    Simidele Adeagbo (Bobsleigh) and LeadMinds Africa
•    Sara Hurtado (Figure skating) and Fundación Ecomar
•    Brittney Arndt (Luge) and Protect Our Winters
•    Dan Cnossen (Para Biathlon) and Classroom Champions
•    Arlene Cohen (Para Snowboard) and Adaptive Action Sports
•    Kendalll Coyne Schofield (Ice hockey) and Schofield Family Foundation
•    Christopher Mazdzer (Luge) and Classroom Champions
•    Danielle Umstead (Para Alpine Skiing) and Sisters in Sports Foundation
•    Oksana Masters (Para Cross-Country Skiing) and Kindness Wins
•    Katie Tannenbaum (Skeleton) and My Brother’s Workshop, Inc.