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KEEN is modeled on an innovative program established in Oxford, England by Elliott Portnoy, who brought KEEN to the Washington, DC area in 1992. With help from a handful of parents and volunteers, KEEN started as a single program. Now, because of our careful attention to the needs of our athletes and their families, and our volunteers, KEEN Greater DC serves hundreds of young people with disabilities and offers a wide range of programs and activities. From that single, gym-based program, KEEN now offers sports, swim, tennis, music, bowling and other programs, divided into sessions serving kids, teens and young adults. KEEN programs are located in Montgomery County, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia.

KEEN is expanding into select cities across the United States, opening its doors to new athletes and volunteers. KEEN Kansas City now falls under the umbrella of KEEN USA, along with affiliates in Greater DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and St. Louis. As KEEN grows, it is committed to maintaining its basic ideals: providing free recreational opportunities to children and young adults with disabilities by pairing them with trained volunteers for fun, noncompetitive activities. KEEN seeks to develop each athlete's self-esteem and confidence, as well as recreational skills and talents, and to increase each athlete's ability to participate in a broader range of recreational activities and environments.

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