GREEN BAY, Wis. — When the Monday morning class of Grit 920 rolled off the bus and into the Bode Central gym, everyone was excited to get working.
"This gym is theirs when they’re in here."“The primary focus of Grit 920 is health and wellness to individuals with disabilities. It’s not an afterthought or an add on. It’s truly what we do and focus our full attention on whether it’s getting adaptive equipment, getting our trainers adaptive certified," explained Grit 920 Executive Director Hollie Linder. "This gym is theirs when they’re in here."
The nonprofit offers inclusive, adaptive fitness for all ages and disabilities.
“Most of the time they’re not getting this fitness at home or in the facility that are in or if they do have access to this at the facility they’re in, they don’t want to do it there,” said Linder. “We find a way to connect with each individual, find what motivates them, whether that’s a certain song on our music system or just a certain movement, and we get to bring out the best in them in that regard.”
Grit 920 grew from its first class in 2016 into a nonprofit organization in 2022. It works with three school districts and various adult programs.
Adaptive Trainer Nichelle Dacunha has been with Grit for eight months and said she tries to make her workouts accessible to the wide range of abilities that come to her class.
“They are the reason I come to the gym on Mondays. It would be pretty easy for me to not want to come to the gym but I show up for them,” said Dacunha. “It keeps me on my toes because some of the classes, we don’t know the range of abilities that’s going to walk through the door.”
Linder said participants build self-confidence just as much as they are building muscle. The gains made in the gym affect other parts of their lives, like success at work.
“They are able to be employed a longer period of time because they have come in here, built some strength, built some stamina to be on their feet or to lift more. This commitment level helps them make that commitment level at work as well,” explained Linder.
Grit 920 was chosen as one of 50 nonprofits to take part in the Give Big Green Bay 2025 campaign. The 24-hour donation blitz begins at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Linder said the campaign puts a big spotlight on Grit 920 and should also help their bottom line.
“Whatever money we raise during that period, a percent will be matched by the Green Bay Packers, so we’re very excited,” said Linder.
The Packers put up $250,000 in matching grants, spread across all 50 nonprofits. Other donors stepped up and added an additional $250,000 in matching funds.
Dacunha said the classes, and the people who show up for the workouts, have made a huge impact on her.
“Outside of me training them, I join them for their Tuesday afternoon bowling. I’ve grown to love these people,” said Dacunha.
It’s a passion project for those running Grit 920 as they build muscle, and so much more for the participants
