Harmarville Outreach Programs and Education Network (dba HOPE Network) was incorporated on April 25, 1997, and has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to be a non-profit organization under 501 (c) (3) guidelines. HOPE Network's mission is to promote community integration and healthy lifestyles of persons with physical disabilities living in Southwestern Pennsylvania through education and sports/recreation programs and services that support return to healthy and productive lifestyles. HOPE Network is supported through community fundraising activities, private donations, and grants.
HOPE Network is comprised of special services and programs organized into the Healthsports Programs.
The Healthsports Program offers fitness outlets and competitive and recreation sport opportunities for persons with physical disabilities to be active in life. Pediatric and adult populations are served in a manner that uniquely integrates the able-bodied family and friends into the activities. Services provided include fitness and activity assessment, conditioning and training, and adapted sports/recreation programs including snow-ski, water-ski, wheelchair basketball, tennis, quad rugby, fitness and conditioning, adapted rock climbing, cycling, golf, air rifle, boccia, pickleball and much more. Healthsports has positively touched the lives of over 2,000 disabled participants, and their families and friends, through its competitive sports and recreational programs over the past two decades.
HOPE Network's Healthsports Program is one of only a couple comprehensive adapted sports/recreation programs in the Commonwealth of PA, and to the same extent in the eastern United States. There does exist assorted singular adapted sports programs for one disabled sport or another, but there are few other businesses that fulfill the broad spectrum of interests for the diverse disabled population and their families and peers.
Participation in the Healthsports activities provide invaluable benefits for many participants and families.
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Healthsports programs provide physical activity for participants that enable them to gain increased independence in life by improving strength and advancing their wheelchair mobility skills.
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Participants enhance their self-esteem through interaction with peers and role models.
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Participants gain increased knowledge of their disability that helps them become better able to care for themselves. This knowledge helps many of them maintain a healthier lifestyle through exercise, proper nutrition, skin care, bladder management, spasticity control, and reduction of potential need for costly pharmaceuticals.
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Healthsports activities in the general community are a positive reflection on the nature of life for persons with a disability. These activities provide an invaluable education to the public about the abilities of persons with physical disabilities.
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Participants have fun being active with peers!!!
FAST FACTS
NON-PROFIT 501c3 ORGANIZATION
STAFF - ADMINISTRATIVE (1), PROGRAM (1) VOLUNTEERS (>100 ANNUALLY)
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
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PROVIDE HEALTH, FITNESS, RECREATION, AND COMPETITIVE SPORTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
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ENCOURAGE INTEGRATION OF ABLE BODIED AND DISABLED POPULATIONS
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INCREASE SELF ESTEEM
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IMPROVE SOCIAL INTERACTION
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IMPROVE HEALTH. PREVENT SECONDARY COMPLICATIONS
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PROMOTE COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND ACCESSIBILTY THROUGH
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
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COMPLETE PROCESS OF SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION TO ACTIVE LIFESTYLE IN
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HOME AND COMMUNITY FOR PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
PROGRAMS
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HEALTHSPORTS - CONDUCT OVER 30 COMPETITIVE SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ANNUALLY
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EDUCATION - CONDUCT AWARENESS PROGRAMS IN ALL EDUCATIONAL
LEVELS (ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY, COLLEGE) AND COMMUNITY GROUPS
TARGET AUDIENCE
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4-95 YEARS OF AGE
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PHYSICALLY DISABLED/MENTALLY ALERT
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PRIMARILY SOUTHWESTERN PA AND TRI-STATE AREA
METHOD
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"LEARN TO" PROGRAMS/CLINICS
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COMPETITIVE TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
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RECREATIONAL/LEISURE ACTIVITIES
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EDUCATE ABOUT ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT
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LOAN ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT
Founded from the Heart
Mr. John Sikora has dedicated his career toward caring and improving the lifestyles of persons with physical disabilities and educating the public about them.
John graduated from Elizabeth-Forward High School in 1971. Two weeks before graduation he was involved in a motor vehicle accident that left him with a spinal cord injury and paralyzed from the waist down. Following a year of hospitalization at the Harmarville Rehabilitation Center, John enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh where he earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology in 1976. While at Pitt, John became a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and earned a varsity letter while working as a manager for the Pitt men's basketball team. He also dedicated time to helping the Pitt women' basketball team and the Pitt track and field team as the PA announcer for games and meets.
John is currently the executive director of HOPE Network, a non-profit business incorporated in 1997. HOPE Network's mission is to promote community integration of individuals with physical disabilities through a variety of programs, services, and activities that support the return to a healthy and productive lifestyle. It is designed to meet the needs of the disabled children and adults, as well as their families and friends, through the provision of sports, fitness, recreation, and education programs. Prior to HOPE Network, John joined the staff at Harmarville Rehabilitation Center in 1976 as a social worker. In 1981, he moved into a management position as director of the Spinal Cord Program, a post he held until 1993 when he left to create the Healthsports programs under the Harmarville Foundation.
John has been committed to the community in many ways. He has served as a Founder and member of the board of directors for the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers, Inc., as director of the popular Harmarville Hoops Classic 3-on-3 basketball tournament, as commissioner of the Keystone Conference of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA), and as a board member on the Nick Buoniconti Fund for the Miami Project - Western PA chapter. He holds memberships in the Paralyzed Veterans of America, National Spinal Cord Injury Association, Wheelchair Sports/USA, and the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. He also serves on the advisory board for the School of Physical Therapy at Duquesne University and was an assistant basketball coach for the men's varsity team at Freeport High School from 1993 - 2001 and again in 2009 - 2010.
John's list of recognitions for his life achievements include inductions into the City of Pittsburgh - Sports by Ability Hall of Fame, Elizabeth-Forward High School Alumni and Friends Hall of Fame, as well as receiving the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Community Hero Award and being recognized as a University of Pittsburgh Varsity Letter Club 2002 Awardee of Distinction. He has also been inducted into the Allegheny-Valley Sports Hall of Fame, the Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame, and the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Hall of Fame.
John has made hundreds of presentations on such topics as trauma awareness/prevention, wheelchair sports, and disability awareness at schools, hospitals, church, and community groups.
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He has made numerous radio and television appearances including three episodes of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.
John is an accomplished wheelchair athlete. He was a member of four (and co-captain of three) USA Wheelchair Basketball teams that played in the World Championships and Pan-Am Games in England, Venezuela, and Brazil in the 1990's. He has also won numerous awards in track and field both locally and nationally highlighted by several years as a national champion in the pentathlon event. One of his most rewarding accomplishments were realized through his position as assistant coach for the USA Women's National Wheelchair Basketball Team from 2004 - 2008 that culminated with the team winning the gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. Also, John realized more rewards as assistant coach for the USA Men's National Wheelchair Basketball team from 2012-2016 and 2016-2021 with both teams winning gold at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (2016) and Tokyo (2021).
John enjoys his work with HOPE Network and striving to assure its continual growth. He loves spending time with the pediatric (Juniors Sports) program and offering sports instruction, as well as, life skills lessons to the many children. His favorite recreational activities include water skiing, golf, and warm weather vacations.
John and his wife, Susan Garrett-Sikora, a retired physical therapist at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, have been married 42 years and reside in Freeport, PA.