OAH STRIDES
Making Moves Together
OAH Strides is a community impact program supported by Orthopedic Associates of Hartford (OAH), united by a simple but powerful belief: movement changes lives. We are on a mission to promote confidence, physical well-being, and a deep sense of belonging for everyone in Greater Hartford – not just those who have easy access to it. In partnership with Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, OAH Strides connects individuals and organizations across our community with the programs, resources, and opportunities they need to move, connect, and thrive. When our community moves together, everyone flourishes.
Our Work
Through the generous support of our donors and individuals and organizations who champion inclusion and movement, we are able to fund annual grant cycles that bring meaningful resources to Greater Hartford organizations doing extraordinary work. Each year’s grant cycle is anchored by a theme that reflects the evolving needs of our community, ensuring our giving is focused, purposeful, and impactful. Our donors are not just contributors; they are the architects of a more inclusive Greater Hartford.
Annual OAH Strides Race & Family Fun Day
Each October, we host our signature event, the OAH Strides Race and Family Fun Day, a full day of fun for the whole community. Lace up for a 10K, 5K run/walk, or kids fun run, then stay for live music, inflatable activities, food, and more. Whether you run, walk, or just come to cheer, there’s something for everyone!
Mark your calendar!
4th annual OAH Strides Race and Family Fun Day
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center
Register or Learn More
Donate Here
Grant Impact & Community Accomplishments
2023 Grants
Focus: Sports & adaptive equipment for under-resourced families and individuals with disabilities
Summit Adaptive Sports
Summit Adaptive Sports is a nonprofit organization that provides access and instruction in alpine skiing and snowboarding to individuals with acquired or developmental disabilities, offering over 400 adaptive lessons each winter to more than 150 athletes.
OAH Strides provided race equipment and team jackets for their ski program, giving athletes a shared identity, a sense of unity, and the confidence to embrace their full potential on the slopes.
Capitol Squash
Capitol Squash is a nonprofit that empowers Hartford youth through squash, offering intensive educational support, mentoring, and community service opportunities to help them reach their potential as athletes and engaged citizens.
OAH Strides funded the registration of 20 students to compete at the Squash + Education Alliance Team Nationals in Philadelphia, where the team earned multiple podium finishes, including a championship title in the Middle School Boys B Division.
Riverfront Recapture
Riverfront Recapture is a nonprofit founded in 1981 that manages four riverfront parks along the Connecticut River and connects people of all ages to the outdoors through one of New England’s most successful youth rowing programs.
OAH Strides funded the purchase of a coxed quad rowing shell used by middle and high school students, giving young rowers the equipment they need to develop teamwork, discipline, and a lifelong passion for the water.
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center is a nationally ranked, independent nonprofit pediatric acute care hospital dedicated to the health and well-being of children throughout the region.
OAH Strides provided exercise equipment, including yoga mats, treadmills, and therapy balls, for their inpatient mental health patients, supporting the vital connection between physical movement and emotional healing.
2024 Grants
Focus: Sports & adaptive equipment for under-resourced families and individuals with disabilities
Summit Adaptive Sports
Summit Adaptive Sports is a nonprofit that provides access and instruction in alpine skiing and snowboarding to individuals with acquired or developmental disabilities, empowering athletes to challenge their limits and build lasting confidence through sport.
OAH Strides supported its Get Out On The Trails program by providing adaptive equipment and support services that introduce individuals with disabilities and their families to outdoor experiences.
New Horizons Village
New Horizons Village is a nonprofit that provides housing and support services for people with physical disabilities, creating a community that maximizes opportunities for independent, self-directed living.
In partnership with the Gaylord Sports Association, OAH Strides provided Boccia Ball equipment, ramps, and head pointers, bringing an inclusive and accessible sport to residents of all abilities.
Riverfront Recapture
Riverfront Recapture operates one of the most successful youth rowing programs in New England, engaging young athletes in a sport that builds teamwork, discipline, and potential pathways to college scholarships.
OAH Strides supported their CT Adaptive Rowing Program by funding additional safety equipment, enhancing accessibility, and ensuring the program’s continued success for individuals with physical limitations.
Achilles International
Achilles International is a nonprofit that has empowered more than 150,000 people with disabilities to participate in athletic events since 1983, pairing athletes with disabilities with running partners to lower barriers and foster more active, fulfilling lives.
OAH Strides funded race registrations for 17 athletes at the Hartford Marathon, adaptive equipment tune-ups for handcycles, and a dedicated team tent with accessible restrooms on race day.
Hospital for Special Care
Hospital for Special Care is a nonprofit hospital providing long-term acute and chronic care, along with a broad range of outpatient rehabilitative services for children and adults with complex conditions.
OAH Strides provided tennis equipment for their Adaptive Sports Camp, giving participants an inclusive and engaging way to experience the joy of sport.
The Hartford Marathon Foundation
The Hartford Marathon Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting healthy living through fitness and physical activity for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, engaging more than 53,000 participants annually through their flagship Eversource Hartford Marathon.
OAH Strides funded the creation of an Adaptive Athlete Zone at the 2024 marathon, providing wheelchair athletes with an inclusive, private space for race preparation and community.
2025 Grants
Focus: Fitness and wellness programs for seniors seeking Connection
East Hartford Senior Center
The East Hartford Senior Center is a vibrant nonprofit hub for residents aged 55 and older, offering programs and services that promote well-being, social engagement, and lifelong learning – with no membership fee for East Hartford residents.
OAH Strides provided instructors for free weekly Core Yoga and Exercise and Energize classes, supporting seniors’ strength, flexibility, and meaningful connection each week.
New Horizons Village
New Horizons Village is a nonprofit that provides housing and support services for people with physical disabilities, fostering a community built on independence, inclusion, and self-directed living.
Building on their 2024 partnership, OAH Strides and the Gaylord Sports Association expanded the Boccia Ball program by providing additional equipment, referee kits, and scoring easels – deepening an adaptive sports community rooted in movement and joy.
Newington Senior and Disabled Center
The Newington Senior and Disabled Center is a nationally accredited nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the well-being of adults 55 and older and individuals 18 and older with disabilities, offering health, recreation, education, and social support programs at affordable or waived membership fees.
OAH Strides provided recumbent bicycles for their fitness room, helping hundreds of seniors stay active and heart-healthy in response to growing program demand.
Plainville Senior Center
The Plainville Senior Center is a key community resource for residents aged 60 and older and individuals with disabilities, offering fitness programs, meals-on-wheels, transportation services, and benefits counseling, with free membership for Plainville residents.
OAH Strides enhanced their PEAK Fitness Center with new resistance equipment and funded the addition of a tai chi class to promote strength, balance, and fall prevention.
Windsor Senior Center
The Windsor Senior Center is a welcoming nonprofit dedicated to fostering an active and engaged senior community through fitness classes, enrichment programs, health and wellness clinics, and social connection for individuals 55 and older.
OAH Strides expanded its Health & Wellness Scholarship Fund, helping seniors with limited income access vital programs, including yoga, fitness classes, and gym memberships – at 50% reduced cost.
YMCA of the Farmington Valley
The YMCA of the Farmington Valley is a nonprofit offering a wide range of programs and facilities that promote healthy living and community engagement for all ages, with a strong focus on senior fitness, including strength training, chair yoga, and aqua fitness.
OAH Strides provided equipment, chairs, and free weights to meet growing demand for its senior fitness programs, ensuring safe and inclusive classes for older adults.
2026 Grant Cycle: Honoring Those Who Served
Many veterans carry the lasting impacts of their service.
For the 2026 grant cycle, OAH Strides is focused on supporting veterans in the Greater Hartford community through adaptive physical activity, mental wellness initiatives, and opportunities for meaningful community connection and reintegration. Through this funding opportunity, OAH Strides seeks to partner with organizations that honor veterans’ experiences and are committed to empowering them through movement-based and wellness-centered programs – fostering resilience, restoring confidence, and promoting lifelong health and well-being for those who have served.
Grants will be announced in August 2026 and awarded in September 2026.
Stay updated at oahstrides.org
