BlazeSports

What BlazeSports does

BlazeSports America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996 as the legacy of the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, the first Paralympics held in the United States. It delivers adaptive sports and recreation programs to individuals with physical disabilities across three primary audience tracks: youth, veterans/active-duty military, and adults. The youth portfolio spans the Jr. Hawks Wheelchair Basketball Program (NWBA-sanctioned), adaptive track and field, swimming, wheelchair tennis, the relaunched Adaptive Soccer Program with four divisions, Camp Phoenix (a residential summer camp), BlazeTOTS early-childhood inclusion programming, and the Youth Athlete Council leadership program. The veteran portfolio includes archery, cycling, water aerobics, adaptive CrossFit, rowing, yoga, tennis, bowling, indoor sports, air rifle, family camp, and the T.E.A.M. Ambassador Training internship. The adult portfolio includes the Lady Ballers wheelchair basketball team and the inaugural Wheelchair Football team in Georgia.

Underlying technology is a conventional nonprofit operating stack rather than a proprietary platform: CharityProud handles online membership signup, donations, and event registration; NeonCRM manages constituent accounts; Teachable hosts the virtual Certified Adaptive Sports Coach (CASC) certification; the website runs on Adobe Nitropack with The Events Calendar and iCal/Google/Outlook subscription feeds. The BlazeSports Institute for Adaptive Sports and Recreation serves as the central training and education backbone, layering CARSS applied training, the Adaptive Swim Certification, the CASC, and the annual National ParaSport Conference on top of direct program delivery.

Revenue is diversified across annual membership fees ($100/year youth; free for veterans funded through donations), tax-deductible donations, event sponsorship and registration fees, training and certification fees (CASC virtual and twice-yearly in-person; Adaptive Swim twice-yearly), and corporate and foundation grants from named supporters including the Atlanta Hawks Foundation, Delta Community Credit Union, GVRA, Shepherd Center, Top End, Per4Max, USTA Southern, and ALTA Foundation. Distribution is single-country (United States), primarily Metro Atlanta–centric for direct programming with national reach via the Big Peach Slam Jam (30+ teams from 15 states), the Training and Education division's capacity-building mission, and the CASC certification. BlazeSports reports serving 1,500+ athletes annually with ~8 full-time staff, 30+ coaches, and a 10-member board.

Name

BlazeSports

Legal name

BlazeSports America

Website

https://blazesports.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BlazeSports America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 as the legacy of the Atlanta Paralympic Games, delivering year-round adaptive sports, recreation, and coach certification programs to youth, adults, and veterans with physical disabilities across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports and Recreation Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

Keywords

• Adaptive sports programs
• Disability sports services
• Wheelchair basketball training
• Veteran adaptive recreation
• Coach certification courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Norcross

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Fees: Annual youth membership fee of $100 unlocks unlimited participation in BlazeSports America programs each year (wheelchair basketball, swimming, track & field, tennis, etc.). Veteran membership is free, funded through donations/grants.
2. Tax-Deductible Donations: Charitable contributions from individuals and supporters who believe in the power of adaptive sports for youth and veterans with physical disabilities; processed via CharityProud donation portal.
3. Event Sponsorship and Registration Fees: Revenue from signature events including Big Peach Slam Jam, Run Roll & Row 5K, Peachtree Paragames, and Triumph of the Human Spirit Awards Gala through tiered sponsorship packages and race/event registration fees.
4. Training & Certification Fees: Fee-based Certified Adaptive Sports Coach (CASC) virtual course and in-person CASC training (held twice yearly); Adaptive Swim Certification in-person course (held twice a year); ParaSport Conference attendance fees.
5. Corporate & Foundation Grants: Funding from corporate partners, foundations, and partners such as Atlanta Hawks Foundation, Delta Community Credit Union, Top End, Per4Max, Shepherd Center, GVRA, and other supporters/sponsors visible on event and program pages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

BlazeSports America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers year-round adaptive sports and recreation programs to youth, adults, veterans, and active military with physical disabilities across Metro Atlanta and Georgia. Its core offering is direct program delivery in more than 20 disciplines (wheelchair basketball, track and field, swimming, tennis, archery, cycling, rowing, water aerobics, yoga, bowling, air rifle, fitness, and soccer), supplemented by paid coaching certifications (CASC, Adaptive Swim) and signature competitive events such as the Big Peach Slam Jam and Peachtree Paragames.

Product overview

BlazeSports America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — the legacy of the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games — that delivers a portfolio of adaptive sports and recreation services rather than a single unified software product. Its offering is organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture in which the BlazeSports Institute for Adaptive Sports and Recreation forms the central training/education backbone, and around it sit three audience-specific program tracks: Youth Programs (Jr. Wheelchair Basketball Program, Adaptive Track and Field, Youth Swimming, Wheelchair Tennis, Adaptive Soccer, Camp Phoenix, BlazeTOTS, and the BlazeSports Youth Athlete Council), Veteran Programs (Archery, Cycling, Water Aerobics, Adaptive Fitness/CrossFit, Rowing, Yoga, Tennis, Bowling, Indoor Sports, Air Rifle, Veteran Camp, and the T.E.A.M. Ambassador Training), and Adult Programs (Lady Ballers Wheelchair Basketball and the inaugural Wheelchair Football team). Education/certification modules (CARSS, the Adaptive Swim Certification, the Certified Adaptive Sports Coach (CASC) certification, and the National ParaSport Conference) layer on top of those program tracks, while signature annual events — Big Peach Slam Jam, Peachtree Paragames, Run Roll & Row 5K, Triumph of the Human Spirit Awards Gala, and Blaze Days in the Community — anchor community engagement and fundraising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BlazeTOTS: BlazeSports initiative in partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health aimed at improving health outcomes for toddlers with disabilities through physical activity and nutrition education, including flagship sites, partner sites, and training for early childhood professionals and parents.
• Camp Phoenix
• Big Peach Slam Jam
• Peachtree Paragames
• National ParaSport Conference
• Triumph of the Human Spirit Awards Gala
• Run, Roll & Row 5K

Products and services

• Jr. Wheelchair Basketball Program (BlazeSports Atlanta Jr. Hawks) Seven-month competitive wheelchair basketball program for youth athletes ages 7 through high school seniors, competing on the BlazeSports Atlanta Jr. Hawks team (Prep or Varsity) under the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA).
• Adaptive Track and Field Program Recreational and competitive track and field training for athletes ages 6–22 with physical disabilities, including wheelchair racing, race running, ambulatory track, long jump, and seated/ambulatory field events such as discus, shot put, and javelin. Adaptive equipment including track wheelchairs is provided to athletes.
• Youth Swimming Program Swim instruction for youth ages 6–22 with physical disabilities, including a Learn to Swim program for beginners and a Competitive Swim Program for experienced swimmers preparing for competition.
• Wheelchair Tennis Program (Youth) Wheelchair tennis instruction covering chair maneuvering, swing technique, court positioning, and rules for youth athletes of all skill levels, with Northside and Southside Metro Atlanta practice locations on Thursday evenings and an annual BlazeSports Wheelchair Tennis event.
• Adaptive Soccer Program Adaptive soccer offering four divisions (Cerebral Palsy Soccer, Amputee Soccer, Power Soccer, and Blind Soccer) welcoming youth and adult athletes of all ages and abilities, including a CP Soccer Clinic coached by U.S. Women's CP National Team player Joey Martin.
• Camp Phoenix Residential summer camp at Camp Twin Lakes – Rutledge West for youth ages 6–18 with physical disabilities, offering adaptive sports, recreational activities, leadership and self-advocacy training, and air-conditioned accessible cabins with roll-in showers.
• BlazeTOTS Initiative in partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health that improves health outcomes for preschoolers with disabilities through physical activity and nutrition education, providing educational resources, early childhood educator trainings, hands-on pre-K programming, and the BlazeTOTS Moving Together YouTube video series.
• BlazeSports Youth Athlete Council Leadership, advocacy, and college-readiness program in which young athletes plan events, engage with the community, and develop career-transition skills.
• Lady Ballers Wheelchair Basketball Wheelchair basketball program for female athletes ages 5–99, including athletes with physical disabilities and able-bodied athletes, sanctioned by the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA).
• Wheelchair Football Program Inaugural Wheelchair Football team in Georgia, bringing the sport to the state for the first time as part of BlazeSports' adult adaptive sports lineup.
• Veteran Archery Program Nationally recognized veteran archery program with both beginner and advanced classes, allowing veterans to train recreationally or competitively at the Jason T Harper Event Center in McDonough, GA.
• Veteran Cycling Program Adaptive cycling program for veterans and active-duty service members, providing equipment as needed for training, competition, and social exercise.
• Veteran Water Aerobics Pool-based veteran fitness training led by BlazeSports America Water Aerobics coaches, held at Mountain Park Aquatic Center in Stone Mountain, GA for fitness and recreational purposes.
• Adaptive Fitness (CrossFit) for Veterans Adaptive CrossFit group-fitness program offering individualized veteran coaching at CrossFit Iconz in Lilburn, GA.
• Veteran Rowing Adaptive rowing classes and clinics offered in partnership with the Atlanta Rowing Club, with both recreational and competitive training tracks for veterans.
• Veteran Yoga Adaptive yoga sessions for veterans held at Vista Yoga, designed as a low-impact social and wellness activity.
• Veteran Tennis Adaptive tennis program for veterans that teaches the basics of the game and is open to all skill levels.
• Veteran Bowling Social bowling program for veterans held at Bowlero in Lawrenceville, GA.
• Indoor Sports (Badminton, Pickleball, Cornhole) for Veterans Weekly low-impact indoor sports program for veterans that teaches the basics of badminton, pickleball, and cornhole while building strength.
• Air Rifle Program for Veterans Veteran air rifle program held at J.P. Moseley Park that teaches the basics of air rifle in a supportive, low-impact environment.
• Veteran Camp Veteran wellness weekend at Camp Twin Lakes offering veterans and their families quality time, rest, and a focus on health.
• Veteran T.E.A.M. Ambassador Training Train, Employ, Adapt, and Move (T.E.A.M.) Ambassador Training program — a BlazeSports internship helping veterans apply existing skills or learn new ones through leadership opportunities.
• Certified Adaptive Sports Coach (CASC) Certification Adaptive sports coaching certification delivered through Teachable (virtually at the participant's pace, with in-person sessions twice a year), covering disability awareness, adaptive coaching techniques, injury prevention, adaptive equipment, and athlete abuse prevention.
• Adaptive Swim Certification In-person certification course combining a therapeutic approach to teaching swimming independence for children, youth, and adults with disabilities; held twice a year and includes Basics & Survival, Understanding Disability, Buoyancy & Equipment, Aquatic Assessment, Upper/Lower Body Mechanics, and Evaluation modules with CEU credits.
• National ParaSport Conference Three-day annual conference hosted by the BlazeSports Institute for Adaptive Sports and Recreation, bringing industry leaders together for educational sessions, hands-on applied training, immersive ParaSport programming, and CEU/CARSS credits.
• CARSS Applied Training BlazeSports Institute training program building the capacity of local service providers across the United States to deliver adaptive sports programs in their communities and schools; forms part of the BlazeSports Institute for Adaptive Sports and Recreation's training and certification portfolio.
• Big Peach Slam Jam Wheelchair Basketball Tournament Annual NWBA-sanctioned invitational wheelchair basketball tournament presented by the Atlanta Hawks and hosted at LakePoint Sports in Cartersville, GA, with 30+ teams from 15 states across Varsity, Prep, and Women's divisions — the largest tournament of its kind in the country.
• Peachtree Paragames Annual multi-sport adaptive competition held in Atlanta featuring archery, swim, and track and field; includes free sport clinics and Toddler Games for children ages 2–5.
• Run, Roll & Row 5K Annual inclusive 5K community event with adaptive Run, Roll & Row divisions and the Wally Bell One Mile Fun Run, raising awareness and funds for BlazeSports programs and Camp Phoenix.
• Triumph of the Human Spirit Awards Gala Bi-annual awards gala honoring individuals, groups, and organizations that have made a significant impact through adaptive sport across categories including Youth Athlete of the Year, Veteran Athlete of the Year, Coach of the Year, Outstanding Young Alumni, and Volunteer of the Year.
• Blaze Days in the Community Pop-up inclusive events hosted in schools, corporate offices, sporting events, and community settings that introduce participants of all abilities to Paralympic sports such as wheelchair basketball, tennis, lacrosse, and archery.
• Wheelchair Basketball Summer Camps Three-part Wheelchair Basketball Summer Camp series for athletes ages 6+, providing multiple opportunities throughout summer 2026 to learn the game, build skills, and stay active through inclusive experiences at venues such as St. James United Methodist Church.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sport participants with disabilities are more than 2x as likely to be employed than the general population
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Atlanta Hawks (NBA franchise)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresents and co-brands the annual Big Peach Slam Jam Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at LakePoint Sports in Cartersville, GA. The Atlanta Hawks Foundation and team have sponsored the 10th annual tournament featuring 500+ athletes from across the U.S., with the Jr. Hawks wheelchair basketball team playing under the Atlanta Hawks Jr. brand. Co-marketing includes Coach of the Year recognition and Hawks news coverage of BlazeSports programming.
• Camp Twin Lakes (Rutledge West)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts BlazeSports Camp Phoenix, the residential summer camp for kids and teens with physical disabilities (held June 14–19, 2026). Camp Twin Lakes provides fully accessible air-conditioned cabins with roll-in showers and is also referenced as the site of the veteran Family Camp.
• Nickelodeon (with Kids at Play and DICK'S Sporting Goods)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured BlazeSports America on the Play It Forward: Game On series (premiered November 26, 2025), delivering state-of-the-art sports wheelchairs, warm-up gear, and a scoreboard to the wheelchair basketball team. The show is produced by Kids at Play and DICK'S Sporting Goods' in-house studio, providing national TV exposure and equipment donations designed to remove financial barriers for adaptive athletes.
• Atlanta Rowing ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlazeSports has partnered with the Atlanta Rowing Club to offer Adaptive Rowing Classes & Clinics for Veterans, with both recreational and competitive training held on Saturdays.
• Georgia Department of Public HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with BlazeSports on the BlazeTOTS initiative to improve health outcomes for toddlers with disabilities through physical activity and nutrition education; co-produces the BlazeTOTS Moving Together Video Series on YouTube and supports flagship/partner sites and educator training programs.
• USOPA Georgia (United States Olympic & Paralympic Association – Georgia Chapter)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlazeSports championed Paralympic gold medalist Al Mead to become the first Paralympian ever to serve as president of a USOPA Georgia chapter, with USOPA Georgia members appearing at BlazeSports events such as the 6th Annual Peachtree Paragames.
• USTA SoutherncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured partner logo on BlazeSports Wheelchair Tennis program page; supports wheelchair tennis programming in partnership with ALTA Foundation.
• ALTA FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured partner logo on BlazeSports Wheelchair Tennis program page; co-supports wheelchair tennis programming alongside USTA Southern.
• Atlanta Track ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor/logo partner on the BlazeSports Track & Field youth program page.
• National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanctioning body for the BlazeSports Atlanta Jr. Hawks Wheelchair Basketball team (prep and varsity) and the Lady Ballers Wheelchair Basketball program; also sanctions the Big Peach Slam Jam Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.
• CPISRA (Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured as a "Thank You to Our Partners" logo on the BlazeSports.org homepage footer.
• Laureus Sport for GoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured as a "Thank You to Our Partners" logo on the BlazeSports.org homepage footer.
• GVRA (Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured sponsor logo on BlazeSports.org homepage footer and Big Peach Slam Jam event page; supports adaptive sports programming in Georgia.
• NYSS ChampionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured as a "Thank You to Our Partners" logo on the BlazeSports.org homepage footer.
• MultiSportOrgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured as a "Thank You to Our Partners" logo on the BlazeSports.org homepage footer.
• U.S. Center for SafeSportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlazeSports commits to a safe and supportive environment and references the U.S. Center for SafeSport as the resource for reporting concerns related to athlete safety, misconduct, abuse, or inappropriate behavior.
• LakePoint SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the annual Big Peach Slam Jam Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at the Champions Center in Cartersville, GA.
• Delta Community Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor logo on the Big Peach Slam Jam and Peachtree Paragames event pages.
• Top End (adaptive sports wheelchair manufacturer)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor logo on the Big Peach Slam Jam event page; supports adaptive sports equipment provision.
• Per4MaxcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured sponsor logo on the Big Peach Slam Jam event page; supports adaptive sports equipment provision.
• Shepherd CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured sponsor logo on the Big Peach Slam Jam event page; rehabilitation center supporting adaptive athletes in the Atlanta region.
• Move UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner logo on the BlazeSports Veteran Archery program page; national community-based adaptive sports organization affiliation.
• The Warrior AlliancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured Executive Director Dawn Churi on The Warrior Alliance's "How Adaptive Sports Save Lives" program, discussing the impact of adaptive sports for veterans with physical injuries and hidden wounds like PTSD.
• U.S. Women's CP National Team (Joey Martin)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerU.S. Women CP National Team player Joey Martin trains BlazeSports CP Soccer Clinic participants directly, bringing elite adaptive athlete expertise to youth and adult athletes.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Move United: Move United is the national community-based adaptive sports federation and a featured BlazeSports partner. It is a comparable incumbent operating at national scale across a much broader portfolio of adaptive sports, member organizations, and veteran programs (including VA-funded programs).
• Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF): CAF is a national 501(c)(3) that funds adaptive sports equipment, training grants, and program access for individuals with physical disabilities. It is comparable to BlazeSports as a fellow adaptive sports nonprofit, though it operates at materially larger national scale with a broader grants-based model.
• U.S. Paralympics (USOPC): U.S. Paralympics, part of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, governs high-performance Paralympic sport nationally and is the body that has awarded BlazeSports its two Ring of Gold awards. It is a comparable (but materially larger and broader) incumbent in the adaptive/Paralympic sport ecosystem.

Direct peers

• National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA): NWBA is the sanctioning body for wheelchair basketball in the U.S. and directly partners with BlazeSports (sanctioning the Jr. Hawks and Big Peach Slam Jam). It is a direct peer in the wheelchair basketball ecosystem that BlazeSports operates in.
• Achilles International: Achilles International is a nonprofit that enables people with disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics, including running, triathlon, and adaptive sports. It is a direct peer as another adaptive sports nonprofit serving athletes with physical disabilities, though its geographic footprint and sport mix differ.

Regional players

• Angel City Sports: Angel City Sports is a California-based adaptive sports nonprofit that hosts the Angel City Games, a multi-sport adaptive competition, and runs year-round training programs. It is a strong comparable as a peer adaptive sports nonprofit and event organizer, but operates primarily in the Los Angeles market rather than Atlanta.
• Dare2Tri: Dare2Tri is a Chicago-based adaptive sports nonprofit focused on paratriathlon, cycling, and endurance events for youth, adults, and veterans with disabilities. It is comparable to BlazeSports' veteran and youth adaptive sports programming, though it serves a different regional market and is more narrowly focused on triathlon.
• Sportable: Sportable is a Richmond, Virginia-based adaptive sports nonprofit serving athletes with physical disabilities and visual impairments through wheelchair basketball, rugby, tennis, and other sports. It is a comparable adaptive sports program-delivery nonprofit, though it operates in a different regional market.
• Adaptive Sports Center (Crested Butte, CO): The Adaptive Sports Center is a Colorado-based nonprofit that delivers year-round adaptive sports programming, primarily outdoor (skiing, cycling, rafting), for people with disabilities. It is a comparable adaptive sports program-delivery nonprofit but operates in a different regional market with a different sport mix.

Others

• VA Adaptive Sports Program (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs): The VA Adaptive Sports program funds adaptive sports and therapeutic recreation for disabled veterans, and is a major grantor and ecosystem participant that BlazeSports' veteran programming depends on. It is an enabling/funding counterpart rather than a direct competitor, but its funding priorities directly shape BlazeSports' veteran program scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blazesports
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfOuj82WfTJmLpFzZ35URZg
• Facebookfacebook.com/blazesports
• Instagraminstagram.com/blazesportsamerica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blazesports

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BlazeSports