Celebrating Nine Years of Victories
Nine years ago, Victoria’s Victory Foundation was founded by a mother-daughter duo, with the mission to empower people with mobility disabilities to lead active, independent lives through community, financial and knowledge-based support. While our programs have evolved, this mission remains at the heart of the work VVF does every day.
Since 2017, Victoria’s Victory Foundation has welcomed 481 scholarship recipients into the VVF family, supporting individuals representing dozens of distinct mobility-related diagnoses from spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries to mobility-limiting rare diseases. We have awarded $1,910,865 in Victory Scholarships, providing 7,123 hours of activity-based training, 4,390 caregiver hours, 35 home and vehicle modifications, and 186 pieces of vital mobility equipment, including wheelchairs, adaptive sports equipment, and power assists.
These Scholarships are far more than numbers. For the people we serve, they represent the ability to leave home, participate in sports, and engage with the community. The following words from our recipients offer a powerful glimpse into the life-changing impact of our programs.
“We all face battles in life, and having a strong community by your side can make all the difference. Victoria's Victory Foundation offered me more than a scholarship, I found connection, encouragement, and support.” –Stephanie
“Victoria's Victory Foundation has given me my life back. I can go places on my own, visit friends, help tutor, enjoy the boardwalk, and even hope to get a part-time job. Most importantly, I'm no longer homebound or dependent on others for my independence. It's given me the freedom to live my life again." –Alma
“The scholarship from Victoria’s Victory Foundation means the world to me because it gives me the chance to stay active, healthy, and independent through handcycling. It’s more than equipment—it’s freedom, confidence, and the ability to keep pushing forward in my recovery and my life.” -Serjio
As our understanding of our community’s needs has grown, VVF has expanded its services. In Fall 2023, we added our free resource navigation program, which has helped connect 1,095 disabled individuals with organizations, government services, and community resources. Since then, we have expanded our Knowledge Center with a comprehensive Resource Library and a nationwide Medicaid Waiver Database, helping individuals and families identify funding opportunities, services, and programs in their own communities. Last month, we introduced our Community Map, providing our Recipients a platform to connect with each other and share experiences.
The work we have done is only the beginning. As we celebrate our nine year anniversary, our community’s need is only growing. In the past six months alone, VVF received 241 applications, nearly a quarter of the total number of applications we have received in our nine-year history, and 342 resource navigation requests. These numbers reflect a growing reality: people with mobility disabilities are actively seeking financial assistance, reliable information, and meaningful community. Together, our programs create a continuum of support that empowers individuals long after a single Victory Scholarship is awarded. Yet these numbers also remind us that there is still much more work to do.
While we are proud of what we have accomplished, we are even more excited to find new ways to live out our mission and support people with mobility disabilities nationwide. As we reflect on the past nine years and look to the future, we would love to hear from you, the ones who have gotten us here and those who drive our work forward: What impact have the VVF programs had on you?
