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What is Outdoors Again?
Outdoors Again is a non-profit organization (501c3) created by Geoff and Mike Howe, owners of Howe & Howe Technologies. OA takes paralyzed/handicapped individuals camping, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, music concerts, sporting events and many other adventures with the help of volunteers and donations. We pride ourselves in alleviating some of the stresses of wheelchair users with planning, organizing and transporting as well as including other youth, veterans, ALS persons, paraplegics, quadriplegics within the wheelchair community to make connections with. All of our events are at no cost to our clients and their families. Planning and organizing is a huge part of what we do, but there are no words to describe the experience and bonds we create with each new event/adventure. To have the ability to be a part of and witness individuals regain a sense of hope, excitement and desire to get outdoors again and participate in activities they may never have imagined possible is an incredible experience within itself.
Outdoors Again provides wheelchair users opportunities they may have once enjoyed doing but haven't for years because of their disability/limitations. We create and organize events throughout the year that assist with re-integration into social settings and connections to those that may have some common areas with one another. For some, this may even be their first experience or first time leaving their home/program since their diagnosis, accident or injury. We have many individuals that find hope in our excursions as well as their means for social inclusion and look forward to each new adventure! Providing a second chance at enjoying the outdoors once again is our mission and we can and will continue to do so with the help of our volunteers, community donations and business/corporate sponsors. If you are a wheelchair user, please contact us to be included in our next adventure! If you wish to help us provide hope and the ability to continue offering events, please donate or sponsor our organization!
Outdoors Again provides wheelchair users opportunities they may have once enjoyed doing but haven't for years because of their disability/limitations. We create and organize events throughout the year that assist with re-integration into social settings and connections to those that may have some common areas with one another. For some, this may even be their first experience or first time leaving their home/program since their diagnosis, accident or injury. We have many individuals that find hope in our excursions as well as their means for social inclusion and look forward to each new adventure! Providing a second chance at enjoying the outdoors once again is our mission and we can and will continue to do so with the help of our volunteers, community donations and business/corporate sponsors. If you are a wheelchair user, please contact us to be included in our next adventure! If you wish to help us provide hope and the ability to continue offering events, please donate or sponsor our organization!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
2019
Congratulations to our fundraising raffle winner David Beane!! David is a Teacher at PATHS in Portland and is the grand prize winner of a ride in our famous Ripsaw!!! Thank you to all that supported our fundraising efforts at our Open House.
March 21
Harlem Globetrotters
Cross Insurance Arena
Portland, Maine
Game time is 6:00pm
We have purchased 40 tickets for this game with a guarantee of participating in half time events with the Globetrotters on the court! Email Holly is you would like to attend: hollym@outdoorsagain.org
May 17-19
Team Hoyt Weekend
The creators of Hoyt Running Chairs and their organization are hosting a weekend of inclusion. Legendary Dad and son team, Dick and Rick Hoyt will be present to participate in the Holland Elementary 5k race. On Sunday there is a Hoyt Running Chair Demo Day where you can visit the shop, test out models and see the evolution of the Hoyt Running Chair!
May 31
Nitro Circus Tour
Northeast Delta Dental Stadium
Manchester, New Hampshire
Showtime is 7:00pm
One of the craziest live shows ever! An adrenaline charged night of some of the top athletes and X Games Medalists in FMX, BMX, skateboard, scooter and more! We are planning cookout/luncheon pre-event.
July 14
Annual Bass Fishing Event
St. Joseph's College
278 Whitesbridge Road
Standish, ME
SAVE THE DATE!! More details to follow.
October 6
Maine Half Marathon
Portland Maine
We are teaming up with Hoyt Running Chairs so that 4 of our guests can participate in and experience the Maine Half Marathon. Mike DiDonato, owner of Hoyt Running Chairs, is donated 4 handicapped accessible marathon chairs for us to use! We are searching for marathon runners to make up a team of 3 with our guests being the athletes and the runners guiding their chairs as the wingmen. Bob Dunfey, the Director of the Maine Half Marathon, has graciously dropped the registration price for our teams of 3! We are also looking for volunteers to help during the race as well as supporters to come and cheer on Outdoors Again. This will be the first race we have ever been a part of! Reception and lunch will follow. For more details, email hollym@outdoorsagain.org
For more information, please feel free to email me: hollym@outdoorsagain.org
**as always...any event we create and plan is done at NO COST to our clients and their families**
FALL THEMED PAINTING EVENT/ICE CREAM SOCIAL IN KENNEBUNK 10/21/2018
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2018 ANNUAL BASS FISHING EVENT...was a huge success! Over 25 guests in attendance with their family members and 40+ volunteers! Again, thank you to our pontoon boat owners, Walmart Heart, Gorham Men's Group, Sysco, Poland Springs, Walmart Trucking, Richardson's Boat Yard and Lake Region Jeepers! Please enjoy the photos and we will have a video coming soon! Thank you WMTW Channel 8 for covering and supporting our event.
ROBERT KRAFT AND THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS FOUNDATION DONATE IN THE NAMES OF 2018 MYRA KRAFT COMMUNITY MVP AWARD WINNER
Tony Tulo of Milton, N.H. awarded a $10,000 grant for the nonprofit, Outdoors Again.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — On Tuesday, June 12, 26 volunteers were recognized for their contributions at an awards ceremony at Gillette Stadium. In years past, the Kraft family has provided $200,000 in grants to New England based nonprofit organizations in honor of their outstanding volunteers. As Robert Kraft begins his 25th season of ownership, he surprised the award winners by announcing that he would be increasing the grant amounts by a total of $75,000. As a result of this surprise announcement, 25 local volunteers received a $10,000 grant for the nonprofit organization for which they volunteer and one grand prize winner was presented with a $25,000 grant for their charity.
“I look forward to this program every year as it gives us an opportunity to celebrate community volunteers for their selfless acts of volunteerism,” said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. “We admire their commitment to serving others and through this program, we are excited to provide financial support to 26 different nonprofit organizations that are making a difference in their local communities. We thank this year’s winners for their incredible dedication.”
On hand to congratulate the award winners were Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, New England Patriots Foundation President Joshua Kraft and Patriots and Pro Football Hall of Famer and Patriots Executive Director of Community Affairs Andre Tippett.
Tony Tulo of Milton, N.H. was selected as one of this year’s $10,000 award winners.
Back in 2006, Tony was injured in a logging accident and is now a quadriplegic, confined to a wheel chair. As somebody who always enjoyed the outdoors, he vowed to never let his accident stop him from doing the things that he loves.
Six years ago, he learned about a new nonprofit organization called Outdoors Again, which provides outdoor activities and programs for handicapped and paralyzed individuals. Tony immediately began volunteering his time and has been on the board of directors since the nonprofit’s inception in 2012.
“I want to start by saying how grateful I am to be nominated and then selected as a Myra Kraft Community MVP Award winner,” said Tony. “I never thought anything like this could even happen because I don't consider what I do volunteering. I just want to help my fellow chair users get out of their daily grind and go do something they wouldn't normally be able to do.”
The nonprofit serves a wide range of clients including people with ALS, veterans and youth and gives them a chance to participate in outdoor activities including hunting and fishing.
Tony helps to share his story and develops relationships with clients who are experiencing similar situations as him. Tony has a tremendous ability to build trust with new clients and teaches them that they can still live a full and exciting life.
“Simple things that we all take for granted now can require serious planning, help and possibly funds depending on the activity,” Tony continued. “I'm extremely excited that the word is spreading about Outdoors Again and that we're getting more and more requests to attend our events. Where we live there's not a lot of options for things to do for someone in a wheelchair so when I see a new person attend an event and they start to open up and smile ear to ear, I know that everything we do is all worth it.”
Tony (Visionary Council) receives his very own Ripchair from his co-workers at Howe & Howe Tech
If you or someone you know is interested in taking part in an Outdoors Again event please contact us using the link below!
You can also donate to Outdoors Again by clicking the button below
Thank you to all of our sponsors!
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