BORP News and Resources | December 2025 | | |
Image: BORP logo in blue and orange, a stylized drawing of person in a moving wheelchair plus the words BORP adaptive sports and recreation. | | Note from the Executive Director | | |
As we wrap up another hugely successful year at BORP, this month’s newsletter reflects many of the moments that make this community what it is.
You will read about youth heading out together for a full day of adventure, complete with a hike, a visit to the science center, and accessible transportation that makes these outings possible. You will see our teams battling it out on the court, learn about an upcoming goalball clinics designed to welcome new athletes, and find details about our Annual Poker Slam, an event that brings our community together while honoring the memory of Chris Finn, a true pillar of our power soccer community.
As we look ahead to 2026, BORP is entering an exciting chapter: our fiftieth year of adaptive sports and recreation. Throughout 2026, we'll be celebrating that history, and you can kick things off by purchasing our fiftieth anniversary commemorative calendars. The calendars feature photos from across the decades and celebrate the people and moments that built BORP. It was a joy to dig into the archives and bring these images together, and I hope they bring you joy throughout 2026.
Thank you for being part of BORP this year and for helping us move forward into the next. We are excited to continue building access, opportunity, and belonging together in the year ahead.
| | Don't Miss the Chris Finn Memorial Poker Slam! | |
Join us on February 7th at the Ed Roberts Campus at 5:30pm for the 4th Annual Chris Finn Memorial Poker Slam! Dedicated to the memory of Chris Finn, beloved power soccer coach and player, the Slam has been transformed from a fundraiser into a community event, bringing folks together for a night of poker and bonding.
The Poker Slam is a tournament-style evening of Texas Hold'em, approachable to newcomers and seasoned players alike. The night begins with a tutorial on how to play, and brand new players have won in the past!
Dinner will be pot-luck, with wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages provided by BORP. Please indicate what dish you can bring at the link here.
Buy-in is $60, with a first prize of $400 and, second prize of $100. Anyone who wishes to attend, but not play, may purchase a $25 spectator ticket.
| Image: Poster for the Chris Finn Memorial Poker Slam, featuring a photo of Chris in a red, white and blue athletic jacket. Poker chips, playing cards, and green casino felt surround the text and images on the poster. Date is indicated as February 7th, 2026, location as 3075 Adeline St, Berkeley CA, and time as 5:30-10:30pm | Get Your BORP 50th Anniversary Calendars Now! | |
Celebrate BORP All Year in 2026!
BORP was founded in 1976 and is the nation’s longest-running community-based adaptive sports and recreation organization. For all of 2026, we'll be marking five decades of power, play, and progress. To celebrate, we’ve created a special anniversary calendar filled with historic photos from across the years.
BORP does not receive any funds from the sale of these calendars. All production costs go directly to Shutterfly. You can support BORP with a year-end gift at the link here.
Special thanks to Scot Goodman who captured so many of these incredible shots!
| Image: Three BORP 50th anniversary calendars fanned out on a table, open to the months of September, March and January. | |
BORP Youth Explore the Beautiful East Bay hills!
This past weekend, BORP youth took the bus together for a chilly hike, and roll through the Reinhart Regional Redwood Park trail in search of wintering lady bugs. Late on, they visited the Chabot Space and Science Center to see a rocket up close and experiment with telescopes. They are able to have the experience of traveling together on the BORP bus whether it's for a hike, museum visit, to the Cycling center or on a BORP Kayaking adventure. Throughout the year, they are able to get to know each other outside of the classroom, create friendships and build community.
“It’s good that we can ride the same bus. Some of us have wheelchairs or some of us have low vision. We can go on field trips with BORP instead of school because our schools don’t have buses for kids with disabilities. This makes me feel included and like the rest of the students.”
– BORP Oakland youth, age 17
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BORP’s accessible group trip transportation service is made possible by funding from the Alameda County Transportation Commission through the Special TransportationProgram for Seniors and People with Disabilities (Measure B funds). This service is aimed at improving the mobility of people with disabilities and increasing access to sports and recreation activities by supplementing conventional fixed route service and addressing the current gap in accessible group trip options for youth and adults with disabilities in Alameda County. More information about this project can be found at:
http://www.borp.org/programs/current-projects/ or at http://www.alamedactc.org/.
In addition to providing transportation for BORP participants, we also offer a fee-for-service Group Trip Service option with a low community rate for disability groups and nonprofits. If you are planning a group trip and want information on how a BORP bus could help with your accessible transportation needs, contact BORP Transportation Coordinator, Sarah-Dawn Smith, at transpo...@borp.org
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Image 1 : A BORP youth participant poses for a photo in front of a photo of a galaxy at the Chabot Space and Science center, wearing a black hoodie, blue jeans, and with her arms stretched out wide.
Image 2: The Alameda County Transportation Commission logo
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BORP Ballerz Start Season Strong at First Tournament!
The BORP Ballerz Division III wheelchair basketball team had a hard-fought tournament weekend on December 6th and 7th.
Bringing a more cohesive team than last year, they put up a strong showing against all their opponents. Facing off against Rancho, the 13th-ranked team in the nation, they held the lead at halftime. The Ballerz ultimately lost, but were proud of how they played well against such a highly ranked team. In a close game against Gem State from Idaho, the Ballerz tied the game with one minute on the clock, and took the best team at the tournament to overtime, resulting in a narrow loss. The Ballerz commandingly beat Central Valley by 40 points, adding a win to their record. The team is feeling positive about this season so far, and is excited for the next set of games.
| Image: Six players on the BORP Ballerz pose for a photo in a gymnasium wearing their black jerseys. | |
BORP Meteorites Find Success on the Road in Portland!
The BORP Meteorites competed in their first tournament of the season on December 6th and 7th in Beaverton, Oregon.
Bringing a roster of 10 athletes and led by former Meteorite and longtime BORPie Ruth Nuñez, the team put together a strong opening weekend. On Saturday, the Meteorites went 2–1, earning wins against teams from Spokane and Portland while losing to the Arizona Storm, the top-ranked team in the nation. On Sunday, the Meteorites faced the Arizona Storm once again and came up short, but their overall performance secured them a second-place finish in the tournament. The team is encouraged by their strong start and proud of their showing to begin the season.
| Image: Ten players of the BORP Meteroites, and their coach, pose for a photo in their blue jerseys. They are in a gymnasium in front of a green backdrop. | | Register for BORP's Free Goalball Clinic | |
CAF and BORP are hosting a free goalball clinic for blind and low-vision athletes on January 24 from 12:00 to 3:30pm at the James Kenney Community Center in Berkeley.
Open to adults and youth ages 12 and up, the clinic offers an excellent opportunity to learn and grow in the sport of goalball!
Designed with beginners in mind, the clinic welcomes athletes of all experience levels, including brand new players. All necessary equipment will be provided. Participants will learn the fundamentals of the game from an experienced coaching staff that includes Paralympians and highly experienced coaches, Brandon Young and Joseph Hamilton, as well as Jonathan Newman, an international goalball referee and the founder of BORP’s goalball program.
| | Image: a young goalball player holds the ball before making a shot, standing on a gymnasium floor with a large BORP logo behind him | |
Two New BORP Fitness Classes Launching in December! | |
We are thrilled to expand our fitness offerings with two brand-new classes designed specifically for our community, starting now!
Adaptive Yoga with Julia:
Wednesdays at 1pm
Adapt & Strengthen with Nikki:
8-week series starting January 6th, Tuesdays at 1PM
Class Information and Registration is on the BORP calendar, and reach out to fit...@borp.org with any questions.
| Image: a graphic of a woman sitting in a wheelchair, stretching a fitness band behind her head with arms outstretched | | |
BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to empower youth and adults with mobility and vision disabilities through sports, fitness, and recreational programs that foster independence, health, community, and belonging. www.borp.org
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