Meet the Team Behind: The High Fives Foundation

High Fives is an adaptive sports foundation that supports athletes from all walks of life, helping them face disabilities and pursue their activity of choice. From snowboarding, to surfing, to mountain biking, and so much more, High Fives Foundation is empowering athletes to follow their passions regardless of physical limitations. Learn more here!

Can you tell me about your mission?

Our goal is to create a universal shift in adventure sports that expands what is possible for those who have faced life-changing injuries. We aim to be the leader of education and recovery of injuries in outdoor action sports, and have helped countless injured athletes and veterans get back to doing what they love. The High Fives Foundation has become a beacon of hope, offering financial support, emotional encouragement, and a positive outlook to those facing physical and emotional challenges. The foundation thrives on the simple yet powerful act of a "High Five," symbolizing not just a physical gesture but a commitment to support athletes through their recovery journey.

How did the High Fives Foundation start? 

As a promising skier with dreams of conquering the world's slopes, Roy Tuscany's aspirations were abruptly shattered when a daring jump went awry, resulting in a devastating spinal cord injury in 2006, rendering his lower body paralyzed. Battling against the odds, Roy embarked on a remarkable journey of recovery, fueled by strong personalities, relentless positivity, and an abundance of high fives. In 2008, Roy donned his skis and ascended the lift for the first time since his injury. The cheers of encouragement and the camaraderie he experienced during his recovery became the seeds of inspiration for something greater. Fueled by a desire to extend a helping hand to others facing similar obstacles, Roy founded the High Fives Foundation in 2009.

What programs do you offer?

Through our grant programs, we help athletes pay for adaptive sports equipment, supply financial support for rehabilitation, and more. We also help young people think about safety first to avoid accidents in the first place through our snow safety awareness program. The Military to the Mountains program introduces veterans and first responders to the healing effects of skiing and snowboarding. Our healing center is a training facility that provides resources for athletes recovering from injuries. Return to Dirt is our newest program, which uses adaptive vehicles to give backcountry access to athletes. Our athletes are faced with the biggest challenges of their lives, and our programs exist to make it just a little bit easier. 

Who are your athletes? 

With the help of our rehabilitation services and adaptive sports programs, our athletes have returned to active lives, with some even going on to participate in the Paralympic Games and Special Olympics. So far, we’ve served over 939 athletes in 47 states. Each of our adaptive athletes has a story. They come from all over the world and all walks of life, but everyone has a positive attitude. Physical disabilities resulting from a life-altering accident and cognitive disabilities resulting from a traumatic brain injury are challenging circumstances to face, but our community helps make it possible.