Our 2025 Grant Recipients
Hudson Smidt
Hudson was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), a condition that affects his left leg. After being adopted from China at two years old, he’s already been through 12 surgeries, with another big one coming up next spring. High-impact sports aren’t safe for Hudson, so for a long time, that meant that he couldn’t join in with his friends and family.
That all changed the first time Hudson tried adaptive skiing.
Sitting in a mono-ski for the first time, Hudson found independence, an ability to keep up with his siblings, and the chance to feel just like every other kid on the mountain. The challenge? Adaptive equipment and lessons are expensive, which limits Hudson to only a couple of ski days each winter.
Thanks to your support in 2025, we were able to change that. I had the honor of calling Hudson yesterday to let him know that we were granting him his own mono-ski, giving him the chance to ski regularly with his family, build confidence, and even work toward his goal of joining an adaptive ski team. This is what Hudson’s parents had to say about what this piece of equipment means for them 👇🏻
“Our family loves to be active together in the winters: sledding, skating, and skiing! When it was discovered how bad Hudson’s hip was, it was a devastating blow. We were determined he would be a part of this with us somehow. That’s when we learned about the adaptive program. He quickly mastered the bi ski but to truly get the independence that he was longing for, the mono-ski was the answer. His dad will be trained to take him so we will no longer be tied to time constraints or waiting to see if they have a volunteer for the day; plus additional costs of equipment rentals and lessons. Now if we get that fresh snow our entire family can load up and go, together! Hudson is now being given the opportunity to build confidence and skills with his family, boldly reminding him that differences do not define us. This monoski gives our child the ability to feel the freedom we often take for granted. He has endured so much, so many surgeries, so many months of immobility. What a gift to feel the wind on his face, beaming with joy as he soars down the hills with his family, not highlighting the pain he has been through or focusing on another roadblock that says you can’t but instead celebrating the amazing person he is. This is a gift we could not give him, so thank you truly!”
Brenda Fritz
Hudson was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), a condition that affects his left leg. After being adopted from China at two years old, he’s already been through 12 surgeries, with another big one coming up next spring. High-impact sports aren’t safe for Hudson, so for a long time, that meant that he couldn’t join in with his friends and family.
That all changed the first time Hudson tried adaptive skiing.
Sitting in a mono-ski for the first time, Hudson found independence, an ability to keep up with his siblings, and the chance to feel just like every other kid on the mountain. The challenge? Adaptive equipment and lessons are expensive, which limits Hudson to only a couple of ski days each winter.
Thanks to your support in 2025, we were able to change that. I had the honor of calling Hudson yesterday to let him know that we were granting him his own mono-ski, giving him the chance to ski regularly with his family, build confidence, and even work toward his goal of joining an adaptive ski team. This is what Hudson’s parents had to say about what this piece of equipment means for them 👇🏻
“Our family loves to be active together in the winters: sledding, skating, and skiing! When it was discovered how bad Hudson’s hip was, it was a devastating blow. We were determined he would be a part of this with us somehow. That’s when we learned about the adaptive program. He quickly mastered the bi ski but to truly get the independence that he was longing for, the mono-ski was the answer. His dad will be trained to take him so we will no longer be tied to time constraints or waiting to see if they have a volunteer for the day; plus additional costs of equipment rentals and lessons. Now if we get that fresh snow our entire family can load up and go, together! Hudson is now being given the opportunity to build confidence and skills with his family, boldly reminding him that differences do not define us. This monoski gives our child the ability to feel the freedom we often take for granted. He has endured so much, so many surgeries, so many months of immobility. What a gift to feel the wind on his face, beaming with joy as he soars down the hills with his family, not highlighting the pain he has been through or focusing on another roadblock that says you can’t but instead celebrating the amazing person he is. This is a gift we could not give him, so thank you truly!”
Daria Dragicevic
Hudson was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), a condition that affects his left leg. After being adopted from China at two years old, he’s already been through 12 surgeries, with another big one coming up next spring. High-impact sports aren’t safe for Hudson, so for a long time, that meant that he couldn’t join in with his friends and family.
That all changed the first time Hudson tried adaptive skiing.
Sitting in a mono-ski for the first time, Hudson found independence, an ability to keep up with his siblings, and the chance to feel just like every other kid on the mountain. The challenge? Adaptive equipment and lessons are expensive, which limits Hudson to only a couple of ski days each winter.
Thanks to your support in 2025, we were able to change that. I had the honor of calling Hudson yesterday to let him know that we were granting him his own mono-ski, giving him the chance to ski regularly with his family, build confidence, and even work toward his goal of joining an adaptive ski team. This is what Hudson’s parents had to say about what this piece of equipment means for them 👇🏻
“Our family loves to be active together in the winters: sledding, skating, and skiing! When it was discovered how bad Hudson’s hip was, it was a devastating blow. We were determined he would be a part of this with us somehow. That’s when we learned about the adaptive program. He quickly mastered the bi ski but to truly get the independence that he was longing for, the mono-ski was the answer. His dad will be trained to take him so we will no longer be tied to time constraints or waiting to see if they have a volunteer for the day; plus additional costs of equipment rentals and lessons. Now if we get that fresh snow our entire family can load up and go, together! Hudson is now being given the opportunity to build confidence and skills with his family, boldly reminding him that differences do not define us. This monoski gives our child the ability to feel the freedom we often take for granted. He has endured so much, so many surgeries, so many months of immobility. What a gift to feel the wind on his face, beaming with joy as he soars down the hills with his family, not highlighting the pain he has been through or focusing on another roadblock that says you can’t but instead celebrating the amazing person he is. This is a gift we could not give him, so thank you truly!”
Hudson was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), a condition that affects his left leg. After being adopted from China at two years old, he’s already been through 12 surgeries, with another big one coming up next spring. High-impact sports aren’t safe for Hudson, so for a long time, that meant that he couldn’t join in with his friends and family.
That all changed the first time Hudson tried adaptive skiing.
Sitting in a mono-ski for the first time, Hudson found independence, an ability to keep up with his siblings, and the chance to feel just like every other kid on the mountain. The challenge? Adaptive equipment and lessons are expensive, which limits Hudson to only a couple of ski days each winter.
Thanks to your support in 2025, we were able to change that. I had the honor of calling Hudson yesterday to let him know that we were granting him his own mono-ski, giving him the chance to ski regularly with his family, build confidence, and even work toward his goal of joining an adaptive ski team. This is what Hudson’s parents had to say about what this piece of equipment means for them 👇🏻
“Our family loves to be active together in the winters: sledding, skating, and skiing! When it was discovered how bad Hudson’s hip was, it was a devastating blow. We were determined he would be a part of this with us somehow. That’s when we learned about the adaptive program. He quickly mastered the bi ski but to truly get the independence that he was longing for, the mono-ski was the answer. His dad will be trained to take him so we will no longer be tied to time constraints or waiting to see if they have a volunteer for the day; plus additional costs of equipment rentals and lessons. Now if we get that fresh snow our entire family can load up and go, together! Hudson is now being given the opportunity to build confidence and skills with his family, boldly reminding him that differences do not define us. This monoski gives our child the ability to feel the freedom we often take for granted. He has endured so much, so many surgeries, so many months of immobility. What a gift to feel the wind on his face, beaming with joy as he soars down the hills with his family, not highlighting the pain he has been through or focusing on another roadblock that says you can’t but instead celebrating the amazing person he is. This is a gift we could not give him, so thank you truly!”
Jess Cusimano
James Humphreys
Hudson was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), a condition that affects his left leg. After being adopted from China at two years old, he’s already been through 12 surgeries, with another big one coming up next spring. High-impact sports aren’t safe for Hudson, so for a long time, that meant that he couldn’t join in with his friends and family.
That all changed the first time Hudson tried adaptive skiing.
Sitting in a mono-ski for the first time, Hudson found independence, an ability to keep up with his siblings, and the chance to feel just like every other kid on the mountain. The challenge? Adaptive equipment and lessons are expensive, which limits Hudson to only a couple of ski days each winter.
Thanks to your support in 2025, we were able to change that. I had the honor of calling Hudson yesterday to let him know that we were granting him his own mono-ski, giving him the chance to ski regularly with his family, build confidence, and even work toward his goal of joining an adaptive ski team. This is what Hudson’s parents had to say about what this piece of equipment means for them 👇🏻
“Our family loves to be active together in the winters: sledding, skating, and skiing! When it was discovered how bad Hudson’s hip was, it was a devastating blow. We were determined he would be a part of this with us somehow. That’s when we learned about the adaptive program. He quickly mastered the bi ski but to truly get the independence that he was longing for, the mono-ski was the answer. His dad will be trained to take him so we will no longer be tied to time constraints or waiting to see if they have a volunteer for the day; plus additional costs of equipment rentals and lessons. Now if we get that fresh snow our entire family can load up and go, together! Hudson is now being given the opportunity to build confidence and skills with his family, boldly reminding him that differences do not define us. This monoski gives our child the ability to feel the freedom we often take for granted. He has endured so much, so many surgeries, so many months of immobility. What a gift to feel the wind on his face, beaming with joy as he soars down the hills with his family, not highlighting the pain he has been through or focusing on another roadblock that says you can’t but instead celebrating the amazing person he is. This is a gift we could not give him, so thank you truly!”