OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE BY FUSE MARKETING: FUSE ANNOUNCES 2012 SERVICE GRANT RECIPIENT: ADAPTIVE ACTION SPORTS TO RECEIVE $25,000 IN AGENCY SERVICES

FUSE TO PROVIDE MARKETING SERVICES TO NON-PROFIT COMMITTED TO AIDING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS LIVING WITH PERMANENT PHYSICAL DISABILITIES THROUGH ACTION SPORTS 

BURLINGTON, VT, Nov. 18, 2011 - Fuse is pleased to announce Adaptive Action Sports (AAS), Inc., as the non-profit recipient of its 2012 Service Grant Program, which includes $25,000 in agency services.

“This grant project is a new addition to Fuse’s community engagement program that fosters charitable giving, advocacy, volunteerism and leadership,” said Brett Smith, Partner at Fuse. “It was both impressive and humbling to review the 25 applications we received this year.  A large group of our staff has been involved in the selection process and we can’t be more excited to have chosen Adaptive Action Sports to work with in the coming year.”

AAS was co-founded by competitive snowboarders Amy Purdy and Daniel Gale in 2005.  Its mission is to create and promote action sports camps, events and programs for youth, young adults, military personnel and veterans living with permanent physical disabilities.

“Amy’s personal story, passion and work are truly impressive,” said Smith.  “She not only changes the lives of hundreds of young people with whom AAS directly works, but she also inspires the broader community – showing us that amazing things can be accomplished even under challenging circumstances.”

At age 19, Purdy – an avid snowboarder – lost her legs to bacterial meningitis.  As she struggled to get back to her sport, she met repeated disappointment and frustration.  At that time, snowboarding and other action sports were not considered suitable sports for individuals with disabilities. Eventually, with Gale’s encouragement, Purdy regained her snowboarding ability and today is the world’s top-ranked adaptive female snowboarder. With Purdy as inspiration, AAS shares her success story to help others find their own abilities through action sports. AAS continues to foster an attitudinal change in both the adaptive and able-bodied communities, where they raise the level of expectation and respect for the abilities and potential of adaptive individuals.

Purdy and Gale’s passion and commitment to AAS is evident. Fuse’s experience with action sports and youth marketing will assist AAS to broaden awareness and further its mission. 

“We are hoping that our work with Fuse will help us popularize action sports for the permanently disabled,” said Amy Purdy. “We want both the disabled and able-bodied communities to recognize that action sports are not out-of-bounds for individuals with disabilities. We are confident that Fuse’s services will help us broaden our market reach.  We look forward to telling the world about our organization.”

About Adaptive Action Sports (AAS)

Adaptive Action Sports (AAS) creates skate- and snowboarding opportunities, events and programs for veterans, youth, and young adults living with permanent physical disabilities. AAS believes that these sports encourage individuality and creativity while building independence and self-confidence within the disabled community.   AAS has provided nearly 50 action sports events to more than 200 adaptive teens, young adults, and injured military personnel and veterans. The public face of AAS is represented by a group of successful adaptive athletes. They include Evan Strong and Amy Purdy, the world’s top‐ranked male and female adaptive snowboarders and Oscar Loreto and Evan Strong, top-performing adaptive skateboarders. AAS additionally draws on X Games, World Cup events and Olympic athletes. To learn more about AAS visit our website at www.adacs.org. To learn more about our Co-Founder Amy Purdy visit: www.amypurdy.com.

About Fuse
 

Fuse is a youth culture marketing agency founded in 1995. The agency connects brands with teens and young adults through sports, music, fashion, gaming and other relevant cultural interests. Fuse services include brand strategy, public relations, event marketing, design, social media and digital services. The Fuse staff, led by Partners Bill Carter, Issa Sawabini and Brett Smith, is comprised of marketing professionals and cultural experts who have worked for some of the most prominent brands and agencies in the country. Fuse was named one of Outside magazine’s “Best Places to Work” in the US, in 2011.  As part of the agency’s community engagement program Fuse launched its annual Service Grant Program in 2011 which includes a donation of $25,000 in marketing services to a selected charity.  The program aims to give back to young people by supporting a worthy cause that involves action sports, music, fashion, gaming, or other teen and young adult cultural interests. For more information, visit: www.fusemarketing.com, http://www.facebook.com/FuseLLC or http://twitter.com/fuse_marketing.