Statewide Investments Support Education, Recreation, Health, and Community Connection
NDAD is proud to announce a new round of Gibbens Memorial Grant awards supporting a wide range of community-driven initiatives that expand accessibility, inclusion, and quality of life across North Dakota and the surrounding region. In total, NDAD awarded $59,450 to 14 organizations across North Dakota with this grant.

From early education and adaptive recreation to rural healthcare and performing arts access, these projects reflect NDAD’s continued commitment to removing barriers and creating opportunities for individuals of all abilities.

“Across every community, we see how access changes lives,” said DeAnn Burckhard, NDAD Marketing Director. “These grants support innovative, local solutions that remove barriers, strengthen inclusion, and ensure individuals of all abilities can participate fully—in school, in recreation, in the arts, and in everyday life.”
  Advancing Inclusive Education and Early Childhood Development
Several grant recipients are focused on creating more inclusive learning environments for children of all abilities:

• Grand Forks Head Start is enhancing its Growing Together program with sensory tools, adaptive seating, and social-emotional supports to improve school readiness and engagement.
• Berg Elementary (Dickinson) is implementing its Bulldog Balance initiative, providing sensory regulation tools and movement-based supports to help students improve focus and self-regulation.
• Valley-Edinburg School District (Crystal Elementary) is installing a Friendship adaptive swing, expanding inclusive playground opportunities and encouraging shared play.

Together, these projects help ensure children feel supported, confident, and ready to learn—building strong foundations for lifelong success. Expanding Access to Recreation, Arts, and Community Experiences
NDAD grants are also helping bring meaningful, inclusive experiences to individuals across the region:

• Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports (Minot) is delivering All Kids Swim, providing adaptive swim instruction and life-saving water safety skills for children with special healthcare needs.
• Hope, Inc. is expanding adaptive sports and recreation opportunities, including wheelchair basketball, adaptive cheer, and art programming.
• Empire Arts Center (Grand Forks) is offering sensory-friendly and ASL-accessible performances of The Wizard of Oz, ensuring more individuals can experience live theater.
• Pembina Gorge Foundation is coordinating inclusive access to Come From Away, removing transportation and financial barriers for individuals with disabilities.
• Spread Your Sunshine (Moorhead) is bringing inclusive programming directly into community spaces through its Sunshine Gatherings, serving more than 400 youth.

These initiatives promote confidence, connection, creativity, and a sense of belonging—demonstrating the transformative power of inclusive recreation and the arts. Strengthening Health, Independence, and Daily Living
Other funded projects focus on empowering individuals through technology, life skills, and supportive services:

• CCRI, Inc. is launching a Lending Library through its Independent by Design program, allowing individuals to trial adaptive equipment that supports independent living.
• Live Well Grand Cities is providing adaptive cooking education and developing visual recipes to help individuals build independence in the kitchen.
• Pembina County Memorial Hospital Foundation is introducing a Lucynt Interactive Table to enhance engagement and cognitive stimulation for nursing home residents.
• Lutheran Social Services – Senior Companion Program is supporting older adults through personalized volunteer-based services that promote independence and reduce isolation.
• Together in Motion is strengthening connection, independence, and access for individuals impacted by limb loss across North Dakota

These programs help individuals build practical skills, maintain independence, and improve overall well-being. Creating Comfort and Support During Challenging Times
NDAD funding is also helping organizations provide comfort and care in critical moments:

• Jessy’s Toy Box (Wyndmere) is expanding its Bringing Smiles initiative, supplying hospitals and treatment centers with toys, games, and resources that support emotional well-being for children undergoing medical care.

These efforts remind individuals and families that they are supported, valued, and not alone. Continuing a Legacy of Impact
NDAD’s Gibbens Memorial Grant supports projects that enhance health, well-being, and quality of life for individuals in at-risk populations. Established in 2015 in honor of NDAD founders Faye and Ron Gibbens, the grant carries forward their legacy of creating meaningful opportunities and improving lives across North Dakota.