Letter from the CEO
" If you fall behind, run faster. Never give up, never surrender and rise up against the odds."— Jesse Jackson
World TEAM Sports has faced many challenges over our 30 + years of operations, but our mission has remained the same: inclusion through sports.
Recently, our biggest challenge has been expanding our impact. While we continue to welcome new athletes every year, we recognized the growing need to serve even more individuals in our programs, regardless of ability.
In 2025, we made significant progress toward that goal. At Face of America alone, we welcomed 70 adaptive athletes, up from 45 the previous year. Of those, 35 adaptive athletes rode to Gettysburg for the very first time.
We also built upon the momentum of our inaugural World TEAM Challenge: Valley of the Sun in January. More than 30 athletes from across the country rode together from Scottsdale through the beautiful Sonoran Desert as our mission expanded into the Southwest.
In June, our 15th annual Adventure TEAM Challenge: New York returned to The Center for Discovery. This year, we worked with 11 medically complex adult athletes. Over two days, staff and volunteer coaches provided carefully planned support for these individuals across various adaptive sports. One of the most significant milestones was the introduction of swimming for the first time in the event’ s history. Using the therapeutic pool, assistive equipment, and the support of clinicians and volunteers, we witnessed pure joy and a profound sense of freedom among these athletes.
We are incredibly grateful for the many people in our community who made this remarkable year possible. Thank you for helping us meet these challenges head-on and for creating a place of acceptance for all of our athletes.
Jon Brideau President & CEO
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