About
Our History
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Downriver Panthers was originally founded in 1981 in Taylor, MI by an occupational therapist, Jon Call, whose goal was to involve people with disabilities in sports and recreational activities. The group was then known as Truman P.O.H.I.(Physically or Otherwise Health Impaired) Panthers. With Jon as a coach, the Truman P.O.H.I. athletes competed at local and state levels. Two of the Panthers, with Jon's support in coaching, and running, completed the 1987 New York Marathon.
Coach Patrick Manick took over the leadership of the group in the late 1990s and successfully continued its mission, often times funding the group's activities of his own pocket.
In August 2023, the Panthers became incorporated under the State of Michigan as a non-profit corporation receiving exemption from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3). It's mission of providing sports and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities hasn't changed. The current leadership includes a volunteer board of directors.
"Believe you can, and you're half way there."
Theodore Roosevelt
Who We Serve?
We are committed to providing adaptive sports and recreational activities for people with all disabilities, those that may be homeschooled, not old enough to participate in school-based sports, deficient in skills or abilities to participate in the Special Olympics programs, or educated in non-center based schools that may lack accommodations for people with disabilities in their sports programs.
Our Goals
Our goals include providing adaptive sports and recreational opportunities where people of all ages and disabilities may develop confidence, self-esteem, and social skills to be successful in the sporting environment and in the larger community.
© 2024 Downriver Panthers