KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now)

KEEN is a volunteer-run, nonprofit -- 501(c)(3) --organization headquartered in the Washington, DC area. A Board of Directors comprised of parents, volunteers, and members of the community oversees the operation of KEEN’s affiliates, insuring that they remain true to KEEN’s mission: providing free recreational opportunities to children and young adults with disabilities by pairing them with trained volunteers for fun, noncompetitive activities.

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 serves hundreds of young people in the Greater DC area with disabilities and offers a wide range of programs and activities.

Expanding into select cities across the United States, KEEN affiliates are opening doors to new athletes and volunteers. KEEN affiliates will develop and run their own programs, meeting the needs of athletes and volunteers in their own communities under the direction of their own parents, volunteers and community members. As KEEN grows into new locations, KEEN USA is committed to providing the guidance and support necessary to bring the same quality of service to all new KEEN programs.