Wasatch County Council pledges $2,000 to help local wheelchair basketball player compete internationally

Wasatch County Council voted 6-0 Wednesday to pledge $2,000 from the council’s discretionary fund to support Gavin Peterson, a Wasatch High School senior and member of the U23 U.S. national wheelchair basketball team.

The council action followed a presentation by Peterson and his mother, Karen Peterson, detailing the costs of competitive wheelchair basketball and the community benefits of increased awareness and participation. Councilmember Colleen moved to provide $2,000 and asked staff to work with county staffer Joan and tourism/economic-development partners to launch a fundraising challenge to encourage local business support; Luke seconded the motion. The council voted unanimously to approve the pledge and directed staff to return the item for ratification at the council’s first February meeting.

Why it matters: Peterson’s team travel and specialized equipment are expensive, and the family told the council that competitive chairs and travel can be a barrier for athletes in adaptive sports. The council framed the sponsorship as both a direct financial contribution and an opportunity to promote local businesses’ community support through a coordinated fundraiser.

During about a 20-minute public presentation, Karen Peterson described Gavin’s background—born with spina bifida, active in Utah’s only wheelchair basketball program based at NeuroWorks in Sandy, and a 3.8 GPA Wasatch High School senior—and outlined expenses for equipment and travel. She said a competition-ready wheelchair can cost about $7,000, annual team travel can run $7,000–$8,000, and replacement wheels for travel can be about $1,500. Gavin said he was recently at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and that selection to the U23 national squad reduces to a final 12-player roster; he said he expects an international trip in June.

Council members suggested a coordinated local fundraising push. Councilmember Mark proposed using the county’s communications and tourism staff to issue a “challenge” asking local businesses and other entities to match the council’s initial pledge; Dustin, acting for county staff, confirmed funds for the pledge would come from the council’s discretionary account, which staff estimated had roughly $10,000 remaining after previously committed items. Several council members said they wanted the family to return after the competition to report on results.

The motion: “We give Gavin $2,000 and get with Joan and put it out like Mark suggested as a fundraiser and as kind of a way to encourage other businesses and entities in the community to be a part of this,” moved by Colleen, seconded by Luke. Voting record recorded on the meeting transcript: Mark — yes; Eric — yes; Colleen — yes; Luke — yes; Spencer — yes; Pauline — yes. Kendall was noted absent/excused. The council asked staff to present the ratification at the first February meeting.

Council members and members of the public described the sport as highly competitive and praised Peterson’s academic record and community outreach; a teacher in the audience described Gavin as an outstanding student. Several council members noted the sponsorship was consistent with prior small discretionary grants the council has made for local teams and programs.

The county did not identify a formal grant program or ongoing funding commitment for the wheelchair basketball program; council members described this as a one-time discretionary contribution plus a seed for a community fundraising campaign. The council also discussed logistical follow-up: confirming water/sewer/utilities are not affected because the award is a cash sponsorship, and identifying county staff (Joan and tourism/economic-development staff) to coordinate outreach and the fundraising challenge.

Council staff and the family emphasized that final travel arrangements and the amount covered by the national program or other sponsors were still being determined. The council instructed staff to return the item in February for formal ratification of the $2,000 contribution and to report on any matching or supplemental funds raised by the community.