A Look Back – the 2019 Gala “Opening Doors”

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by Dale Rose

The 2019 Ignite Adaptive Sports Gala was truly a door opener! Titling the event, “Opening Doors” was not just about presenting an architectural drawing of our new permanent home here at Eldora, aka World Head Quarters. It also highlighted the snowsports opportunity for people with disabilities, no matter their disability or financial status for the last 43 years.

This was my fourth year in a row serving on the Gala Committee, and each year it got better and better. The band The Samples appeared to get more people out on the dance floor than before. And we raised at least 20% more funds than our goal! The live and silent auctions combined with the paddle raising, Heads or Tails game, housewarming gift key tree, 250 sold out tickets and our sponsors netted the event close to $130,000.

Each event has featured a differently-abled condition and in 2019 it was Autism. What makes each of our gala’s so special and inspirational are the stories shared about how Ignite has opened a door that perhaps was thought as closed to the individual with a disability. That door being the ability to learn how to alpine ski, Nordic ski, snowboard or snowshoe with an instructor with or without adaptive equipment. In recent years we have expanded the snowsports to include ski biking. I feel very honored and privileged to have volunteered with Ignite Adaptive Sports for the last 12 years and am looking forward to as many more as I possibly can!           
~ Dale Rose


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