Keen Chicago

KEEN Chicago empowers youth with disabilities by providing free, non-competitive one-to-one programs of exercise, fitness and fun, led by volunteer coaches.

Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) Chicago is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and is an affiliate of KEEN USA headquartered in Washington, DC. Their vision is to foster confidence, self-esteem and community inclusion for youth with disabilities, strengthen communities through education of volunteers, and provide families with respite and a supportive network. KEEN is modeled on an innovative program established in Oxford, England by Elliott Portnoy, who brought KEEN to the Washington, DC area in 1992. With help from a handful of parents and volunteers, KEEN started as a single program. Now, because of their careful attention to the needs of their athletes and their families, and their volunteers, KEEN serves hundreds of young people with disabilities and offers a wide range of programs and activities.