Atlanta, July 12, 2023 – Patrick Cusick, partner at Wits’ End Productions in Roswell, GA and former actor and writer will emcee the 5th Annual The American Association of AdaptED Sports Programs, Inc. (AAASP) ASPIRE Award Ceremony on October 22nd at Maggiano’s Little Italy (Buckhead). The Adapted Sports Programs in Recreation and Education (ASPIRE) Award honors individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions central to the mission of making adapted sports programming available to children and adolescents with physical disabilities and contributing to their physical, social, and intellectual well-being.
Cusick has worked both sides of the camera. Over the past 16 years, he has produced hundreds of videos and live events in the United States, Canada, Europe and Latin America with Wits’ End Productions. Cusick has also used his talents as a corporate spokesperson in the Atlanta area for several major companies including Home Depot, IBM and Kroger. Cusick was the lead actor in a film he made in India titled, “Bollywood Calling.” He has also worked on projects with Jim Caviezel, Renee Zellweger and Ewan MacGregor.
Cusick will help celebrate the 2023 Winners for the ASPIRE Award who have been chosen through an application process; AAASP will accept nominations now through August 1st this year. The ASPIRE Award Nominations and Recipients will be announced at the 2023 ASPIRE AWARD program on Sunday, October 22, 2023 at Maggiano’s Buckhead. Anyone can nominate a Coach, Organization, Recreation Program, School or Volunteer that has made a significant contribution in any of the categories listed below. There are several new categories this year as noted below. To nominate a program or person, or to learn more about the award, please visit: https://adaptedsports.org/aaasp-aspire-awards/.
- Founders’ Award
- Media “Hero” – Print or Broadcast – may include Podcasts and Bloggers
- Outstanding Coach – Varsity (1) Individual Participating in the Program
- Outstanding Coach – Jr. Varsity (1) Individual Participating in the Program (NEW)
- Outstanding Senior (Male and Female) – Individual Participating in the Program
- Outstanding Scholar Male Athlete – Individual Participating in the Program (NEW)
- Outstanding Scholar Female Athlete – Individual Participating in the Program (NEW)
- Outstanding Male Athlete – Individual Participating in the Program
- Outstanding Male Athlete – Power Chair – Individual Participating in the Program (NEW)
- Outstanding Female Athlete – Individual Participating in the Program
- Outstanding Female Athlete – Power Chair – Individual Participating in the Program (NEW)
- Most Improved Athlete Award – Individual Participating in the Program (NEW)
- Gail Henrick Volunteerism Award
- Advocacy Awards – Individual (1) and Organization (1)
- Outstanding School-based Program
- Outstanding Community Based Program – Recreation Department, YMCA, Club program or other
- Leslie Sweatman Official of the Year Award – Individual
In addition, AAASP will receive this year’s MVP / All Tournament Team winners:
- AAASP All-Star / All Tournament Teams recognized – in wheelchair handball, wheelchair basketball,
and wheelchair football) - League MVP Varsity – voted by other teams – (will be recognized at the event)
- League MVP Jr. Varsity – voted by other teams – (will be recognized at the event)
The ASPIRE Award program has grown from a simple acknowledgment of some of our early heroes during halftime each year, to a fully realized event in 2018. The ASPIRE Award recognizes those who support and advocate on behalf of adapted sports, showcase those who stand as role models; individuals; companies and organizations that have taken a proactive and innovative path in support of competitive sports programs for student athletes with physical disabilities. Through these programs, student athletes with physical disabilities across the nation reap the physical, social emotional and academic benefits of competitive athletics resulting in personal and social empowerment. Eight new categories have been added this year. AAASP will honor people in 18 categories — key people and organizations — this Fall for their outstanding contributions over the past year to support student athletes with physical disabilities to get “off the sidelines and into the game.”
Come celebrate the 2023 ASPIRE Award nominees with us on October 22nd!
Date/Time:
Sunday, October 22, 2023 – 5:30 -7:30 pm
Location:
Maggiano’s Little Italy Buckhead
3368 Peachtree Road, Atlanta GA 30326
Please visit: https://adaptedsports.org/2023-aaasp-aspire-awards/ to purchase tickets for this year’s event.
ABOUT AAASP
The American Association of AdaptED Sports Programs (AdaptED Sports/AAASP), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a not-for-profit association dedicated to developing interscholastic adapted sports programs in partnership with national, state, and local educational agencies. It represents a standardized approach to extracurricular adapted team sports and has developed one of the nation’s most comprehensive school-based athletic programs for students with physical disabilities attending elementary, middle, or high school. For more information, please visit our website at https://adaptedsports.org or join our conversations on Twitter at: @AdaptedSports
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Contacts:
Terri Grunduski, Grunduski Group – terri@grunduskigroup.com 404-226-7497
Donna Feazell, Grunduski Group – donna@grunduskigroup.com 404-290-1929