Meeche White
Recreation/Development | 2010
Hometown: Park City, Utah
School Name: National Ability Center
In 1985, working out of her home, Co-founder of the Park City Handicapped Sports Association (PCHSA), Meeche White secured a grant from the Disabled American Veterans of Utah to begin providing ski lessons for veterans with disabilities at the Park City Mountain Ski Area. In 1987, PCHSA moved into a 300 square foot facility at the base of the mountain. In the process, the organization became the National Ability Center (NAC) and continued to provide expanded lessons and outdoor experiential adventures.
Over the course of her career, Meeche was a coach for, and served as technical delegate to multiple national and international Special Olympic competitions. In addition, she was the ADA Manager for the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee in preparation for the 2002 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Meeche also wrote grants to the U.S. State Department Sports Diplomacy Agency, funding educational exchange programs between the NAC and sports programs in Cancun and Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico, working with young Mexican teachers and therapists to provide sports and recreation programming to youngsters with disabilities.
Meeche spent 23 years as the Executive Director of the National Ability Center, growing the organization into one that is recognized both nationally and internationally for excellence in programming
