The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Sports Program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago was established in 1982 as a result of a gift from the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz family. Since that time, the Wirtz family's gift (now Chicago Blackhawk Charities) along with increasing amounts of funding from RIC's Women's Board, RIC's Associate Board, Cubs Care Foundation, and various other philanthropic efforts, have provided the resources for a year round, cross disability sports and recreation program.

The Wirtz Sports Program restructured its programs in June of 1989, expanding sercises to a wide audience of participants. Growth in registered participants has been steady since that point, averaging between 100-120 new individuals each year. More than 2300 registered participants of RIC's Wirtz Sports Program include approximately 70% Chicago residents, the remaining 30% include individuals from over 130 Chicagoland communities.

RIC's Wirtz Sports Program currently offers 18 different sports and recreational activities: men's, women's and junior wheelchair basketball, quad rugby, swimming, tennis, wheelchair softball, aerobics, strength and conditioning, track and roadracing, field events, powerlifting, skiing, sitting volleyball, fencing, golf and outdoor education programs. Programs are free of charge to all participants.

Over the past twenty one years, a number of participants of the RIC's Wirtz Sports Program have accomplished extraordinary feats. In 1988, a member of the Wirtz Sports Program's track team was selected to participate at the Paralympics in Seoul, Korea. Four years later, eight athletes from the Wirtz Sports Program were selected to the U.S. Disabled Sports Team that participated in the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics. One of the eight athletes placed with the medal contenders, winning one silver and two bronze medals. In 1996, fourteen athletes represented RIC as members of the U.S. Paralympic Team at the Atlanta Paralympic Games. Five athletes won a total of seven medals, including 2 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze. In 1997 and 1998, ten RIC athletes participated in six different international competitions, winning more than 15 medals and setting 6 world and 14 national records. The RIC Wirtz Sports Program's powerlifting team has had athletes selected to every U.S. Wheelchair Weightlifting Team since 1990. One RIC athlete has made six consecutive U.S. Boccia Teams. RIC athletes have set over 20 national and six international disabled sports records. RIC athletes have also been appointed to several key positions including: the International Paralympic Committee, the Athlete Advisory Committee for the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics and the U.S. Track and Field Association. Two RIC athletes have been selected as the March of Dimes "Inspirational Athlete of the Year." Linda Mastandrea received the 1994 International Olympic Committee President's Disabled Athlete Award, was named one of the 1995 YWCA "Outstanding Women Leaders of DuPage County," and was one of ten finalists for the 1997 AAU James E. Sullivan Award.

RIC's Wirtz Sports Program moved its office to RIC's Helen M. Galvin Center for Health and Fitness in 1996. Supported by a major private gift and a three year federal grant, RIC's Helen M. Galvin Center for Health and Fitness became fully operational in November, 1996. Since that time, referrals and program attendance have skyrocketed and RIC's Wirtz Sports Program gained more than 1500 new members and experienced over 100,000 program visits.

For more information, contact RIC's Wirtz Sports Program at RIC's Helen M. Galvin Center for Health and Fitness at 312-238-5002.

Last Updated: Feb 22, 2005.