Steven Freeman has been involved with Ability360 for the past six years, participating in volunteer projects ranging from goalball, dragon boat, and the Phoenix Summit Challenge. Since 2021, he has been on every 360Outdoors Mainstream Experience trip.
Freeman has given over 30 days of volunteer service in the past five years. Volunteering with the Mainstream Experience, rafting through the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River with 360Outdoors, he has become instrumental in helping the trips run as smooth as possible as an extension of the Ability360 staff.
Freeman explained that his favorite part of any 360Outdoors trip is seeing the reactions of his peers traveling through nature.
“It’s not every day you get to go on the Colorado River and see rapids and then sleep under the stars with an amazing group of people,” Freeman said. “I can't thank Ability360 enough for involving me in this stuff because it's an amazing experience just being able to witness it.”
One of these peers includes Gus LaZear, the Vice President of Operations and Sports & Fitness Center at Ability360. LaZear and Freeman have grown closer over the many events they have participated in together.
"Steve is just an all-around great guy; it's not just his strength, it's his personality, his willingness to help, and his giving spirit,” LaZear said.
Freeman gives his strength and talent into making the trips as accessible as they can be in a wilderness setting. Supporting a variety of people with various disabilities in transferring on and off boats, buses, helicopters, and small aircraft.
“They jokingly refer to me as the ‘muscles’ of the group, and I do a lot of carrying,” Freeman said. “So I do a lot of helping individuals on and off the boats, the buses, the aircrafts, whatever.”
Freeman said that, after his time in the Air Force, he tried to seek out organizations that help veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder and individuals with disabilities, when he found Ability360. For Freeman, helping and volunteering in his local community has become a “no-brainer,” and he strives to continue his service as long as possible.
“Being able to help out individuals in this community who have disabilities and then also just learn about Ability360’s mission and hear what they do, it's an amazing thing that they do for people,” Freeman said.
Freeman believes that the key to a successful nonprofit is the power of its volunteers.
He also adds that volunteering creates a community in itself, emphasizing how supporting these organizations not only helps others but also helps yourself.
“We should take advantage of this as much as humanly possible and support our local organizations like that,” Freeman said.
On behalf of Ability360, we thank Steven Freeman for his dedication to volunteering with our organization.
“When people volunteer for a program like ours, it kind of helps fill your soul a little bit,” LaZear said. “It kind of gives back; you get a lot out of it too.”
For more volunteer opportunities and information, visit our volunteering page to learn more.