Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1184562
46 / NOVEMBER.DECEMBER.2019 USICERINKS.COM And at the heart, that's the goal of the program; to introduce as many people as possible to the ice, no matter their age, size or ability. The grant enabled U.S. Figure Skating and Learn to Skate USA to reach disabled veterans and those with different mental and physical impairments, introduce them to ice skating, and help them take to the ice for the first time. The grant also covers ice time, coaching fees and other miscellaneous costs. To cap it all off, each host site received 10 pieces of adaptive skating equipment to continue adaptive skating lessons for their communities. In reaching a new audience and introducing hundreds of people to the ice, the program was able to spark an interest in those individuals and make them want to come back to the ice and continue lessons. Alejandro Munoz, who was diagnosed with PTSD and experiences frequent knee pain due to an ACL and MCL repair, signed up for the Colorado Springs SkateFest with his 11-year-old daughter, Ayla. After a day of exceeding his own expectations and skating laps around the rink with his daughter, he plans to return to the ice, and even enrolled Ayla in Learn to Skate USA lessons at their local rink. "It was truly incredible and inspiring to meet and skate with the attendees," U.S. Figure Skating's Senior Director of Membership, Susi Wehrli McLaughlin, said. "Many said that they never thought skating was an activity they could enjoy. To see the joy on their faces after their first few glides was the best experience for all involved." J PHOTOS: U.S. FIGURE SKATING THANKS TO A $52,000 GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, U.S. FIGURE SKATING AND LEARN TO SKATE USA HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LIKE SCHNELL TAKE TO THE ICE AND FIND A NEW, FUN AND SAFE ACTIVITY TO ENJOY THROUGH A SERIES OF FIVE ADAPTIVE SKATEFESTS. , The grant covers ice time, coaching fees and other miscellaneous costs. , Each host site recieved 10 pieces of adaptive equipment to continue adaptive skating lessons in their communities. REAL PROGRAMS Adaptive SkateFests welcoming all to the ice