Ask Matt Scott about Fly Without Limits, the foundation he created, and he will tell you, “We're a global social impact organization, and we are disability empowerment, full stop.” That involves adaptive sports, leadership development, employment and education.
Photo courtesy of Matt Scott
As a five-time Paralympian in the sport of Wheelchair Basketball with multiple medals including two golds, Matt is focused on the next generation now. “Providing resources is one of the things that I'm super proud of because I was an underfunded kid. If this organization existed when I was a kid, I would have had a much cooler childhood. I created Fly Without Limits for that kid.”
In Matt’s case, “that kid” was a youngster who kept showing up to watch the older kids play pickup games on outdoor basketball courts in Detroit. He got his first basketball as a gift from his father, and from that day on, Matt was at the courts day after day prepping for his chance to get in the game. That day came and it never stopped. It didn’t matter that those other kids didn’t use a wheelchair and Matt did.
Matt was born with spina bifida, and wanted to play basketball — the two are not mutually exclusive. His Paralympic career spanned from 2004 to 2021. That’s staying power. Today, Matt looks back on his athletic career to mine for the lessons:
“I think what I learned about myself throughout that entire journey is that everything isn't just going to be these golden moments. The time that you're most defined is when it's not so golden. What do you do when you're not celebrating with the gold around your neck and cutting down nets? Who are you and what does that do? Does that make you separate and get divisive, or does that make you come together to ultimately do great things?” Matt says he and his teammates, coaches and staff chose the latter. “We are stronger together.”
He carries that perspective and knowledge forward to impart wisdom, guidance, resources and love into future generations. Through Fly Without Limits, Matt and his supporters can change lives. “I know how important one donation can be, because that one donation can be the difference between someone being a Paralympian and not.” Tune into the Voreen Podcast episode featuring Matt Scott to hear the story about the one donation that changed his life. And check out Fly Without Limits to see how you can get involved.