Reviewed by: Lacey Muenstermann
A story of hope + healing 100 years in the making at Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham
Reading time: 7 minutes
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Twenty years ago, soon after a Birmingham couple welcomed their twin boys into the world, doctors informed them one had cerebral palsy. Fast forward to 2024, when the family celebrated the son’s second national championship playing for the Lakeshore Lakers varsity wheelchair basketball team.
Stories like this have been 100 years in the making at Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham—known globally for pioneering work in creating opportunities for people with disabilities to live healthy and active lives.
To celebrate the organization’s first century as of this year, we invite you to take a look back at some of its many visionaries and milestones.
A vision for comprehensive healing
Lakeshore Foundation’s story begins with the 1925 opening of the Jefferson Tuberculosis Sanatorium on the beautiful, wooded Homewood property where today’s campus stands. By the 1970s, the facility needed a new purpose.
In 1973, the sanatorium transitioned into Lakeshore Hospital. By mid-1974, Lakeshore Rehabilitation Facility began offering vocational rehabilitation services such as job retraining and placement, eventually becoming referred to as Lakeshore Rehabilitation Complex.
Enter Michael E. Stephens + Lakeshore sports
Selma-born and Birmingham-raised, Michael E. Stephens was in his early 30s and had just earned his master’s degree from UAB when he became executive director of Lakeshore Hospital in 1975.
Over the next decade, the words “Mike Stephens,” “sports” and “Lakeshore” became intrinsic. After his rehabilitation experience following a near-fatal spinal cord injury in 1970, Stephens returned to school with a deep conviction to pursue health care administration. He learned firsthand the power of playing and coaching adapted sports during this time.
Here’s a timeline of highlights during Stephens’ time as Lakeshore’s executive director:
- 1975: Stephens set his sights on empowering Lakeshore patients to do more than heal but to thrive. He dreamed of a dedicated facility for adapted sports and recreation.
- 1979: Stephens pitched the idea directly to Gov. George Wallace in 1979, who lent his support.
- 1981: With support from the state and many more organizations that followed, Lakeshore opened its first inclusive recreation center.
- 1984: Lakeshore’s board restructured the organization, forming Lakeshore Foundation as a separate, not-for-profit organization to raise funds for adapted sports and recreation programs.
Also in 1984, Stephens founded and began serving as chairman and CEO of the rehabilitation company ReLife while continuing his work with Lakeshore’s board of trustees.
📚 Recommendation: Learn more about Stephens’s incredible personal story and the people who shaped his path + drove his passion in Anita Smith’s 2013 book, “Sports Rehabilitation and the Human Spirit,” a primary resource for this story.
A Birmingham beacon becomes an international leader
Incredible growth continued over the decade that followed:
- In 1991, Lakeshore Foundation hired its first executive director, Jeff Underwood, who would lead the organization into a new era.
- In 1994, the board sold the hospital, with the foundation retaining the land and other valuable assets.
- In 2001, Lakeshore Foundation opened its two-story, 126,000-square-foot facility.
As Lakeshore’s physical footprint grew at its Alabama home, so did its impact nationally and internationally. A few examples:
⭐️ U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site: In 2003, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee awarded Lakeshore the long-awaited designation. It is now home to USA Wheelchair Rugby, Boccia United States and U.S. Paralympics Powerlifting
🇺🇸 Serving Veterans: In 2006, Lakeshore launched its Lima Foxtrot programs for veterans, serving over 2,800 injured servicemen and women and their families from 46 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
⌚️Apple Watch Push Tracking: In 2016, Lakeshore partnered to enhance Apple Watch technology for wheelchair users to include a push tracker equivalent to its step counter. (For context, over 95 million people wear Apple Watches worldwide!)
Tremendous community impact
Beyond its global reach, Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham directly impacts its local community and serves approximately 11,000 people monthly.
One example is the young NWBA player, Daniel Pittman, whom we referenced at the beginning of our story. His mother, Ann Taylor Pittman, says she and her husband were thankful for the opportunity to enroll both of their boys in Lakeshore programs starting at age 3.
Over the years, the brothers took classes together, regardless of one having a disability. They learned archery, track and field, adapted water skiing, sled hockey, air rifle marksmanship and more.
Daniel moved into Lakeshore Athletics and joined the prep wheelchair basketball team at age 7, which was a major turning point. He continued to become a starting player for the last two varsity championship teams.
“We always loved that the successful athlete in our family was the one with the disability. Lakeshore Foundation gave him the opportunity to be a part of a larger community of skilled athletes, boosting his confidence and helping him to grow as a person. Most of all, though, the staff of Lakeshore Foundation has become—and always will be—family.”
Ann Taylor Pittman
By the numbers + how to help
With 115 staff members, Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham continues to grow and expand its reach. Here’s a snapshot:
- 12 competitive sports programs
- 92 fitness and recreation programs
- 20 active research projects
- 14 advocacy initiatives
- 52 Paralympic athletes trained, earning over 30 medals
Want to get involved + help right away? Register your team for the annual Spring Swing Golf Tournament on April 7 at Greystone.
Leadership + visionary evolution
Lakeshore’s current CEO is renowned disability rights advocate John D. Kemp, who co-founded the American Association of People with Disabilities. His leadership continues Lakeshore’s mission and reputation for excellence.
In 2021, Jeff Underwood retired after 30 years. In May, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame will honor him as its 2025 Distinguished American Sportsman, an award Stephens also received in 2006.
When Stephens died on July 1, 2017, his widow, Allison, accepted the invitation to join the Board of Directors and has served ever since. She brought not only the perspectives from her marriage but her own distinct experiences having come to Lakeshore Foundation before that in the 1990s, first as an intern and then as coordinator of fitness programs.
“Continuing this work is not only a tribute to Mike; it’s a responsibility to the future. Lakeshore’s impact has grown in ways we once only dreamed of—serving thousands annually through fitness programs, aquatic therapy, competitive sports and groundbreaking research.
“I am consistently inspired by the unwavering dedication and commitment each board member exhibits toward the foundation’s success. … Looking ahead, I’m excited about expanding Lakeshore’s reach—leveraging technology, enhancing equipment and investing in our dedicated staff. Celebrating Lakeshore’s centennial, I’m proud of our global reach and advancements in sports science research.”
Allison Stephens
As Lakeshore Foundation enters its second century, its impact is undeniable. Here’s to another century of breaking barriers, empowering individuals and saving lives.
“For 100 years, Lakeshore’s campus and Lakeshore Foundation have been a place of resilience, innovation, and inclusion. What started as a small initiative has grown into a global leader in adapted sports, rehabilitation and advocacy.
“More than just a facility, Lakeshore is a community that empowers people of all abilities to live active, independent lives. Our history is meaningful, but what excites us most is the future and the impact still to come.”
John D. Kemp
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