USWSF HISTORY

United States Wheelchair Sports Fund, Inc was established in 1960 by Benjamin Lipton, considered the father of wheelchair sports in the United States. He founded the National Wheelchair Athletic Association. He was also the director of the Joseph Bulova School from 1955-1979. The Bulova School named after the founder of the Bulova Watch Company, Joseph Bulova. The School originally trained disabled US war veterans then expanded the charter to disabled civilians and non disabled students in the watchmaking trade. It was a unique rehabilitation facility for the disabled and contributed to the emergence of the Bulova School Wheelchair Sports Club. The Bulova-Stetson Fund has been a valued supporter of our mission.

Richard “Dick” G. Traum, Ph.D

The school closed in 1993, but the funds mission lived on under the new leadership of our President Emeritus, Richard “Dick” Traum, dedicated to empowering disabled athletes and reshaping perceptions of disability in sports providing financial support for wheelchair basketball events. An above-the-knee amputee who made history in 1976 as the first amputee to complete the grueling New York City Marathon on a prosthetic leg. This event sparked a movement that changed the landscape of adaptive sports. With his commitment to inclusion and athletic excellence, Dick was the ideal leader to carry forward the mission of empowering disabled athletes to compete in mainstream sports.

USWSF past programs included - Wheelchair Basketball Program, The New York City Marathon Wheelchair Event and Gun Runners.

The Wheelchair Basketball Program- the team participated in an annual tournament and out of the 125 wheelchair athletes approximately 20 would play at a competitive level.

The NY City Marathon Wheelchair Event- involved approximately 25 wheelchair athletes to compete in the NY City Marathon.

The Gun Runners- were disabled athletes as a result of gunshot wounds that would participate in some the funds events and speak at schools, youth rehabilitation centers, and to parolees about the dangers of illegal guns.

Mary Bryant McCourt

President - USWSF

Today, under the leadership of the former VP, Mary Bryant McCourt, the organization has grown to focus on training for races and marathons using adaptive equipment such as wheelchairs and hand-cycles. It also features a flagship program, Patriots in Motion, dedicated to wounded Veterans and First Responders who have sustained injuries in the line of duty. Through adaptive sports and mainstream athletic competitions, these athletes overcome challenges, build strength, and rediscover purpose. By promoting physical fitness, mental well-being, and community engagement, we foster camaraderie and support, helping participants achieve their goals through marathon training.