Kevin Ollie Opens 5th Kevin's Kourt at Channel 3 Kids Camp

Coach Kevin Ollie, inspired by athletes with disabilities, opened his fifth Kevin’s Kourt at Channel 3 Kids Camp in Andover, Conn., a camp designed for children with and without special needs. The opening included a special ceremonial Net Raising with Coach Ollie, campers from Channel 3 Kids Camp, Ryan Martin Foundation & Hospital for Special Care Junior Wheelchair Basketball program, Denise Hornbecker, Channel 3 Kids Camp CEO, and Jillian Wood, Channel 3 Kids Camp Board President.
 
“Kevin’s Kourt” is a project of the Kevin Ollie Charity Classic and 21st Century Tolland Fund, which helps support programs throughout Connecticut serving more than 22,000 people with disabilities. “Connecticut is my home so I’m especially excited to be building Kevin’s Kourts throughout the state,” said Ollie. Kevin’s Kourts are now located in Hartford, West Hartford, South Windsor, Waterbury and now at Channel 3 Kids Camp.
 
“Kevin’s Kourt is about more than building a court. It’s about creating inclusive support programs because every child deserves a shot,” Ollie said. “So as part of this commitment we’ve teamed up with the Ryan Martin Foundation to host a series of “adaptive sports” clinics at all our Kevin’s Kourts.”
 
Coach Ollie also announced that the first Kevin's Kourt in Southeastern Connecticut will be built at the new Miracle Field recreation complex in East Lyme, Conn.
 
Kevin’s Kourt at Channel 3 Kids Camp features ten stations created by Bankshot™, which has pioneered inclusive basketball play structures based on total-mix diversity and universal design.
 
“As Channel 3 Kids Camp is designed for children both with and without special needs, we applaud Coach Ollie and his team of supporters who made this wonderful inclusive basketball court a reality,” said Wood.
 
“Working together with our sponsors including LAZ Parking, Trantolo & Trantolo law firm, Highland Park Market, Earth Dynamics and PMR Prime Materials Recovery and our other sponsors, 100% of the cost of building Kevin’s Kourt at Channel 3 Kids Camp was totally unwritten,” said John Staunton, President, Kevin Ollie Charity Classic and 21st Century Tolland Fund. “The building of ‘Kevin’s Kourt’ at Channel 3 Kids Camp shows that by working together we can level the playing field for everyone.”
 
“Kevin’s Kourt celebrates inclusivity and the power of sports to unite people with differences,” Martin said. “Every athlete has the right play and compete together despite perceived limitations. That is what ‘Kevin’s Kourt’ is all about.”
 
To support Kevin’s Kourts please visit KevinOllieGolf.org.

About Kevin Ollie Charity Classic:
Kevin’s Kourt is a project of 21st Century Tolland Fund and the Kevin Ollie Charity Classic. Now, in its 32nd year Tournament proceeds have underwritten many programs and athletic events for athletes with disabilities on the world stage and weekend warriors including Paralympic Gold Medalist Paul Nitz, Ivan Lendl’s Wheelchair Tennis Camp, Connecticut Sled Hockey, The Miracle Field in West Hartford and a special racing chair for Coach Ollie's former UCONN team mate Steve Emt—serving more than 22,000 people with disabilities in 22 state programs.
 
About Ryan Martin Foundation (RMF):
Founded by Ryan Martin, RMF, a 501 c3 Foundation, is much more than basketball. RMF offers four programs that prepare athletes with disabilities to succeed in life on and off the court. These programs include Wheelchair Basketball Junior Program (year round program with Hospital For Special Care), Wheelchair Basketball Youth Camp (which is held in Philadelphia, PA, Windsor, CT, Clark, NJ, Marshall, MN and Madrid, Spain; and Basketball Camp for Wounded, Active Soldiers—RMF is developing basketball camps with the U.S. Army for soldiers living with new disabilities
 
About Channel 3 Kids Camp:
Channel 3 Kids Camp believes that ALL children deserve a camp experience. Its mission is to provide fun year-round opportunities to children of all abilities, families, and communities through recreational and educational programs that promote diversity, acceptance, and environmental appreciation. The nonprofit organization offers traditional overnight and day camp summer programs, respite weekends, school vacation day camps, a teen leadership program, a year-round childcare center and weekend group rentals. The Camp is located in Andover and Coventry CT on 150 wooded acres alongside the Skungamaug River. Please visit www.channel3kidscamp.org to learn more about the camp