Meet Grace
Hi! My name is Grace, and I was born with a limb difference. I know what it's like to feel different, to wonder how others see you, and to question what your future might look like because of your limb difference. But I also know the strength that comes from embracing your difference—not as a limitation, but as a source of power.
Whether you're a little kid just starting to notice you’re different, a teen discovering your identity, a parent learning how to support your child, or a loved one walking alongside someone with a limb difference, you have the power to shape your story. You have the strength to stand with confidence. And most importantly, you have a voice—and it deserves to be heard.
That’s why I created Grip: to show you what’s possible, to remind you that your story matters, and to offer the tools and community to help you grow not in spite of your difference, but because of it.
My Mission
GRIP stands for Growth, Resilience, Identity, and Power—the four pillars at the core of the Grip Foundation’s mission. We are committed to raising awareness, fostering inclusion, and providing unwavering support to individuals and families impacted by limb difference.
The Grip Foundation empowers youth with limb differences and their families through early intervention, personalized mentorship, and age-appropriate educational and inspirational programs that nurture confidence, independence, and personal development.
We offer vital emotional support, connect children and teens with mentors who understand their journey, and cultivate a vibrant community that embraces and celebrates uniqueness.
What We Do
Early Outreach
We believe the way limb difference is framed from day one can shape a child’s self-image for life. Our Early Outreach program supports families of kids who were either born with or have acquired a limb difference through in-person and virtual visits, emotional guidance, and through our Grip Kits which are filled with tools to provide for comfort, confidence, and connection.
→ Learn more about our Early Outreach program
Grip Kits
Grip Kits are thoughtfully curated care packages for new parents and caregivers of children with limb differences—whether congenital or acquired. Each kit includes heartfelt messages from our founder, Grace, and other limb-different heroes, along with empowering tools, uplifting keepsakes, and comforting resources designed to guide families through the early days. You are not alone—Grip is here to support you with strength, encouragement, and a community.
→ Learn more about our grip kits [click here]
The Confidence Collective
The Confidence Collective is a growing series of programs designed to help limb different youth build confidence through mentorship, peer connection, and empowering experiences. From our Confidence Camps, creative workshops, and mentor matching, each program is crafted to nurture, self-confidence, resilience, and empowerment.
Our Confidence Collective programs offer continuous, age-leveled engagement, accompanied by quarterly kits to support children as they grow in self-confidence and ultimately step into roles as leaders and advocates with our Ambassador Program.
→ Learn more about the Confidence Collective [click here]
Speaker Series: Born Different, Made Strong
In the Born Different, Built Strong series, Grace travels the globe speaking at school assemblies, sports teams, community organizations, and global corporations—sharing her story and empowering others through it. From being born with a limb difference to becoming a Division I athlete and founding The Grip Foundation, Grace inspires audiences with a powerful message of resilience, perseverance, and the belief that adversity can fuel our greatest successes. Her talks ignite confidence, celebrate inclusion, and emphasize the importance of acceptance, reminding us all that being different is something to be proud of.
→ Book a speaking engagement [click here]
Collaboration
Real change happens together. We partner with hospitals, schools, sports programs and brands to ensure limb-different individuals are seen, supported, and celebrated.
→ Learn more about our collaborations and partnerships [click here]
Grip Hub
Grip Hub is our digital home for uplifting content—featuring videos, stories, podcasts, and resources created for kids, teens, parents, and anyone living with or supporting someone with a limb difference. From inspiring interviews with limb-different heroes to links to inclusive brands that celebrate difference, the Grip Hub is where community meets confidence. It’s a space to learn, connect, and feel seen—a place where every voice is celebrated, and inclusion is always at the center.
→ Visit Grip Hub [click here]
Advocacy & Research
It’s not enough to empower—we must amplify limb-different voices through media, education, advocacy, and action, reshaping how the world sees difference. That means promoting authentic representation of limb-different individuals in sports, entertainment, and media, and partnering with brands, advertisers, and storytellers to normalize difference and reflect all kinds of bodies and forms. We support advancements in medical research and prosthetic technology, push for inclusive policies, and work with institutions to create spaces where everyone feels seen and valued. Because it’s not enough to simply acknowledge those with limb differences—we must champion true inclusion, drive innovation, and lead the movement toward a world where difference is not just accepted, but celebrated.
→ For more information on Advocacy and Research in the limb different community,
What is Limb Difference
Limb difference refers to any condition in which a person has a limb that is missing, underdeveloped, or formed differently than typical. Limb differences are generally classified as either congenital (present at birth) or acquired (developed later in life).
According to the CDC, each year in the United States approximately 1,500 babies are born with an upper limb difference and about 750 with a lower limb difference. That translates to around 4 out of every 10,000 babies born with an upper limb difference and 2 out of every 10,000 with a lower limb difference—some of whom are affected in both areas.
In addition to those born with limb differences, millions of individuals acquire a limb difference due to trauma, illness, or surgical amputation. According to the Amputee Coalition, more than 2.7 million people in the U.S. are currently living with limb loss, and approximately 185,000 amputations occur each year. The leading causes of limb loss include vascular disease (primarily diabetes and peripheral artery disease), trauma, and cancer.
Globally, it’s estimated that over 35 to 40 million people live with a limb difference, including both congenital and acquired cases. The causes vary widely—ranging from genetic conditions and complications during pregnancy to trauma, illness, infection, and disease. While congenital limb differences occur at similar rates around the world—approximately 6 to 8 per 10,000 live births—many go unreported in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure.
Together, both congenital and acquired limb differences make up a large and diverse community around the world—one that deserves visibility, representation, and inclusive support in every aspect of society.
Support our Mission
Thank you for considering a contribution to the Grip Foundation! Your generosity powers our programs, partnerships, and advocacy efforts—ensuring that limb different youth and their families feel seen, supported, and truly empowered.
Whether you choose to sponsor a Grip Care Kit for a new family navigating the early days of a limb difference diagnosis, or help fund The Confidence Collective, our peer connection programs, or support our advocacy efforts, you’re helping to build confidence, connection, and lasting change for kids living with a limb difference.
Thank you again for believing in my mission—that every child deserves to grow up knowing they are strong, capable, and never alone.
XO - Grace
The Grip Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.