Posted on June 6, 2022
Local Paralympian Honored at Mary Free Bed Golf Outing
During a break in play at the annual Mary Free Bed Open golf outing, long-time coach and athlete Lee Montgomery was surprised and honored with the announcement of a sponsorship fund in his name.
The Lee Montgomery Athlete Assistance Fund was established thanks to the generosity of The Meijer Foundation. Montgomery is a former employee of Meijer, having retired after a 37-year-long career with the Grand Rapids-based business.
The fund will support and empower athletes with physical disabilities who train competitively in adaptive sports. Awards from this fund will help athletes reach their next level – both on and off the field of play.
“Coach Lee,” as he is most commonly known in and around Grand Rapids, has been supporting wheelchair sports athletes since 1980. Lee medaled in the Paralympics, traveled the world playing sit volleyball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis. In 2006, he was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame.
Learn more about Lee and the new assistance fund in the video below:
The annual Mary Free Bed Open is held at Thousand Oaks Golf Club in Grand Rapids. The golf outing sells out every year, hosting more than 200 golfers and representing 50 local businesses and organizations from across Michigan.
The Mary Free Bed Foundation host the event to benefit the hospital’s Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports program. Proceeds provide access to adaptive sports equipment, coaching and competitions. This program is celebrating 10 years at Mary Free Bed helping kids and adults with physical disabilities play and enjoy sports.
