Ribbon cutting ceremony for anniversary celebration. — Staff of the Lakeshore Foundation and community stakeholders cut the ribbon on the organization’s new history wall Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Trey Huie / Bham Now)

The Lakeshore Foundation closed the door on their first 100 years in operation and are looking forward to the next 100.

At a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, Dec. 2, community members and Lakeshore staff gathered to reflect on the impact the foundation has had since 1925.

A brief history

Today, the organization works to help individuals with disabilities to live healthy lifestyles through physical activity, research, advocacy and health promotion. Lakeshore’s legacy began, however, with the Jefferson Tuberculosis Sanatorium, created in response to how Birmingham was affected by the rise in TB within the United States in the 1920s.

The foundation itself was formed in 1984 after the Birmingham Chariots wheelchair basketball team was established, which was developed out of the Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital.

More and more, adapted sports teams were popping up around the country and at the Lakeshore hospital, so the decision was made to put those community-based sport, fitness and recreation programs under one umbrella called the Lakeshore Foundation.

Today’s impact

Birmingham, Alabama, Lakeshore Foundation — Members of Lakeshore Foundation’s basketball team. (Lakeshore Foundation)

Lakeshore now serves more than 4,000 people through physical activity, sports, recreation, advocacy, policy and research.

Now, their impact in not only Birmingham but the entire world is one to be reckoned with. Their largest achievements include:

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 (More than 95 million people wear Apple Watches worldwide).

With 115 staff members, Lakeshore continues to grow and expand its reach:

12 competitive sports programs
92 fitness and recreation programs
20 active research projects
14 advocacy initiatives
52 Paralympic athletes trained, earning over 30 medals

The new history wall + looking forward

In the lobby of the Lakeshore Foundation, visitors can now learn about the nonprofit’s history from 1925 to 2025, which displays landmarks such as those described above.

As the foundation looks toward its next 100 years, there are some potential projects up its sleeve, but first and foremost is continuing to bolster their existing programs, which includes the Lakeshore athletes.

“The ones that are here, we want to do better for them and help them achieve their goals. We always have new athletes coming in.”
Terry Schrimscher, Lakeshore Foundation Associate Director of Communications

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