Sabrina Cohen Foundation - Volunteer Work

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Fumbling, unsure, and afraid, I lifted Sue-Ellen and headed into the sea. Thrashing and laughing, my insecurities washed away. Ironically, Sue-Ellen, who suffers from Downs Syndrome, was rescuing me. 

During 9th grade, I met the ever-smiling and enthusiastically contagious Sabrina Cohen. I was immediately moved by her magnetism; Sabrina embodies the values that I cherish and believe are essential for success–perseverance, resilience, compassion, charisma, and leadership. When Sabrina was my age, a car accident left her paralyzed. Instead of allowing the injury to define her, Sabrina sought to reshape society’s perception of ‘handicap’ by establishing the Sabrina Cohen Foundation, dedicated to adapting recreational programs for the physically challenged.

Sabrina noticed I struggled with my weight, so she invited me to attend a beach activity. The thought of donning a bathing suit in front of strangers was grossly intimidating. However, as soon as I met Sue-Ellen I exchanged fear for courage. Within weeks, I was honored to become an SCF Ambassador. Since then, I have worked to raise awareness, develop aerobic activities, and design funding initiatives that facilitate innovative therapies. From the brainstorming collaborations in the executive conference room to assisting participants into the ocean for the many engineered exercises, I have learned that recreation unifies people irrespective of how capable they are physical. Admittedly, I often forget Sabrina uses a wheelchair or Sue-Ellen is afraid of the water; their motivational spirit liberates them to stand stronger than most–truly inspirational.

Together, we are a motley crew of courageous, passionate, and ambitious athletes that value collaboration over competition. Our silly inside jokes, the ridiculous mixture of hair and ocean that promises to ‘go viral’ on social media, and the prevalent laughter are all immortalized in my memory. The encouragement and solidarity that grows between us reminds me of my most coveted relationship–family.