The Stephen J. Wampler Foundation today announced that its founder, Steve Wampler, was named the winner in the Sports Illustrated Gillette® Odor Shield “Sweat for Greatness” Contest. The Wampler Foundation will receive $25,000 as the Grand Prize, and Steve attended the Sports Illustrated and Gillette “Sportsman of the Year” event, held last night in New York City. The funds from the grand prize will be used support outdoor recreation programs for children with physical disabilities. Steve will also be featured in an upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated magazine, as well as future advertisements for Gillette. Legendary college basketball coaches Mike Krzyzewski and Pat Summitt were named as the SI Sportsman, Sportswoman of Year respectively.
Steve, who has cerebral palsy, was nominated in the “Greatness” contest for his history-making climb of Yosemite’s El Capitan. Widely considered one of the greatest challenges in rock climbing, Steve’s climb of El Capitan took place over a six-day period. With limited use of his arms and no use of his legs, Steve utilized a specialized chair, which he designed himself, and used his arms to pull on a small bar attached to a pulley system. With each pull, he lifted himself four to six inches. A total of approximately 20,000 pull-ups brought him to the summit. Steve was carried back down the mountain in victory by a group of U.S. Marines. Steve’s motivation to do this climb was to raise money for the Wampler Foundation, which offers wilderness programs for children with physical disabilities. These programs are provided at no cost to the campers and their families through sponsorships and donations.
“Reflecting on the first time I stared at El Cap and hashed out this plan to climb it, I can’t believe how far it has taken me and the Wampler Foundation. Winning the ‘Greatness’ contest and participating in the Sportsman of the Year event is beyond a dream come true,” said Stephen J. Wampler, CEO and co-founder of the Wampler Foundation. “Thank you to Gillette, Sports Illustrated and everyone who voted, along with all of my supporters, fans and sponsors—including our community partner ESET—for continuing to recognize the contributions and impact disabled people can have in this world.”
The Gillette Odor Shield “Sweat for Greatness” contest celebrates ordinary men achieving extraordinary things. Fans can vote once per day. To find out more, please visit http://www.si.com/greatness.
To learn more about the Stephen. J. Wampler Foundation, Steve’s climb, or for additional information on how to support the Foundation through financial donations, please visit http://www.wamplerfoundation.org/. The Wampler Foundation is proudly sponsored by ESET.
Steve, who has cerebral palsy, was nominated in the “Greatness” contest for his history-making climb of Yosemite’s El Capitan. Widely considered one of the greatest challenges in rock climbing, Steve’s climb of El Capitan took place over a six-day period. With limited use of his arms and no use of his legs, Steve utilized a specialized chair, which he designed himself, and used his arms to pull on a small bar attached to a pulley system. With each pull, he lifted himself four to six inches. A total of approximately 20,000 pull-ups brought him to the summit. Steve was carried back down the mountain in victory by a group of U.S. Marines. Steve’s motivation to do this climb was to raise money for the Wampler Foundation, which offers wilderness programs for children with physical disabilities. These programs are provided at no cost to the campers and their families through sponsorships and donations.
“Reflecting on the first time I stared at El Cap and hashed out this plan to climb it, I can’t believe how far it has taken me and the Wampler Foundation. Winning the ‘Greatness’ contest and participating in the Sportsman of the Year event is beyond a dream come true,” said Stephen J. Wampler, CEO and co-founder of the Wampler Foundation. “Thank you to Gillette, Sports Illustrated and everyone who voted, along with all of my supporters, fans and sponsors—including our community partner ESET—for continuing to recognize the contributions and impact disabled people can have in this world.”
The Gillette Odor Shield “Sweat for Greatness” contest celebrates ordinary men achieving extraordinary things. Fans can vote once per day. To find out more, please visit http://www.si.com/greatness.
To learn more about the Stephen. J. Wampler Foundation, Steve’s climb, or for additional information on how to support the Foundation through financial donations, please visit http://www.wamplerfoundation.org/. The Wampler Foundation is proudly sponsored by ESET.
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