Our Mission

The One Step Ahead Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to giving children with physical disabilities positive experiences through sports to build confidence, courage, and friendship, increase self-esteem, and create a better sense of self-worth all while giving them a positive experience they will use throughout the rest of their lives. This foundation will especially focus on children with limb loss and provide them with the means to participate in various athletics.

The foundation was started by Amy Palmiero-Winters, a world-class athlete and mother of two who lost her left leg below the knee in a motorcycle in 1994. Since the accident, Amy has compiled a tremendous portfolio of world records and firsts for a female amputee in marathons, triathlons, and ultra-marathons. As she attained more and more achievements, she found herself in the position of being a role model, especially for young people with physical disabilities of their own. She soon found herself working extensively with children, introducing them to sports and athletics as a way of helping them overcome their physical limitations. After several years, Amy founded the One Step Ahead Foundation in order to provide even more opportunities for children with physical disabilities.

Children who have physical disabilities tend to avoid physical challenges, which creates anxiety, frustration and a sense of low self-esteem. Children with low self-esteem, in turn, often have self-critical thoughts of “I can’t” or “I am not good enough.” These thoughts can lead to passive, withdrawn, or depressed behavior. A positive self-image is the foundation of a child’s well being and the key to future success. Having high self-esteem has a tremendous impact on how children feel about themselves, which affects how they feel as adults. The success and failures in a person’s life are affected by the presence of positive intervention during childhood. This foundation intends to help children with disabilities build a better sense of self-confidence through sports. At the end of the day, the children will not allow themselves to be defined by their disabilities.

The foundation relies on donations to create healthy experiences in sports. Participating children will have the opportunity to take part in a yearly calendar of sporting events and team trips. The children will learn independence, responsibility, how to handle challenges, and how to work as a team through different events such as (but not limited to): skiing, running, rock climbing, camping, triathlons, road races, dancing, and swimming, among others. The children will also be required to volunteer and help other athletes as well as mentor other children who have physical disabilities. Having success in athletics encourages children to feel good about themselves.

Our Foundation is entirely run by volunteers, which ensures that 100% of all donations goes towards providing athletic events for children with limb loss and, in certain cases, helping them obtain prosthetic care.

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Please click the Donate button below to make a donation to the One Step Ahead Foundation. If you would like to make your donation in Aviva Drescher’s name, please click the second donate button.

Click the button below to make a donation in Aviva Drescher’s name: