ABOUT US
A SHARED VISION FOR A CAUSE WHERE ALL CAN MOVE, COMPETE, AND BELONG.
The Five Strong Foundation was created in 2015 by five individuals who saw the need to bring the thrill and camaraderie of athletics to the developmentally disabled community in Columbus, Ohio and surrounding areas.
Today, Five Strong has become a beacon of opportunity for individuals who don’t always get to participate in sport and recreation. Through more than 30 sponsored camps and activities, we’ve raised over $500,000 and helped more than 2,000 athletes experience the joy of competition.
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WHAT WE DO
EXPANDING ACCESS TO MOVEMENT, TEAMWORK, AND FUN.
Five Strong Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities in sports and recreation for individuals with developmental disabilities. Since our founding in 2015, we’ve worked to bring athletics, camaraderie, and inclusion to individuals who don’t always have access to organized sporting experiences. We believe deeply in the power of play and the way exercise and teamwork can build confidence, connection, and joy.
Five Strong conducts camps and activities at no cost to participants, demonstrating that when people are given the chance to participate, the impact can be enormous. Our camps blend fun and challenge, combining popular sports with supportive environments where every athlete can feel seen, valued, and included.
With each event and every camp, we aim to expand access, unify community members, and strengthen the belief that everyone should have the chance to play, compete, and belong.
THE RECREATION UNLIMITED FACILITY
A CAMPUS TRULY DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE.
With a 195-acre accessible campus that sits just northeast of Columbus, Ohio, Recreation Unlimited has designed a space to make sport, recreation, and learning accessible to all. The campus features a wide range of facilities — from residential lodges and creative centers to accessible sports courts, aquatic areas, challenge courses, nature trails, and more.
Five Strong and Recreation Unlimited are proud to partner in hosting full-day sports camps on this campus, combining the passion and energy of Five Strong’s mission with the deep expertise and facilities of Recreation Unlimited to create unforgettable experiences for campers and families.
Together we share a commitment to breaking down barriers and ensuring that people with disabilities have access to enriching, meaningful recreational opportunities.
MEET OUR FIVE FOUNDERS
Brett Hatcher
Hometown: Bellefontaine, Ohio
College: The Ohio State University
Major: Marketing & Logistics
Family: 3 children
Why Five Strong? When the five of us first met, we were on a committee through Goodwill. That committee was involved specifically with the Special Olympics. We all had athletic backgrounds and we saw the need that existed. Many children and adults with development disabilities don’t have the same opportunities we have. They can’t just go outside the house and be active, so we wanted to give them the opportunity to interact, exercise and have fun playing sports they all love.
Does this impact you personally? I have a nephew who has Down’s Syndrome. He was really young when we started Five Strong. He is going to start coming to the Special Skills Sports Camps. I’m really excited to see how he is impacted by what we are doing.
Do you recall the moment when you said to yourself, “This is why we are doing this?” I still remember our first Skills Camp and seeing the smiles on their faces. I will never forget that. We’ve had some incredible opportunities, like having Urban Meyer come speak to the campers. But it’s always their smiles and them telling us that it’s their favorite day of the year. That’s why we do it.
Columbus Derby Days is your big fundraiser that continues to grow. How did that come about? We started off hosting a big volleyball tournament, but not everyone can play volleyball. Then we started thinking about something that everyone could be involved in. We looked around and nothing was really happening on the week of the Kentucky Derby. This is our sixth year and it just continues to grow. We go all out with the clothes people wear, the hats and we even serve mint julips. Ohio Stadium is also the perfect venue.
Where is Five Strong five years from now? We have been expanding throughout the state of Ohio, so we want to continue that, but we also have a great relationship with Recreation Unlimited who runs the camps. We want to get to the point where we can donate brick and mortar and help with new facilities.
Clayton Davis
Hometown: Rockford, Ohio
College: Bowling Green State University
Major: Marketing & Finance
Family: 1 child
Why Five Strong? Growing up, both of my parent’s careers revolved around working with individuals with disabilities. Subsequently, when my sister moved to Columbus, she followed that same path with Franklin County Board of Development Disabilities. When looking at different local organizations to give back, I was unable to find a younger charity that supported this very special community. When the five of us got together, we clearly identified a need not only for support but also a need to bring awareness. Given our backgrounds and love for athletics, it was easy to figure out what we needed to do.
Do you recall the moment when you said to yourself, “This is why we are doing this?” This was during one of our initial camps. Just sitting back and seeing how excited all the participants were to be there was a bit overwhelming. Something that I would have just chalked up to another day. It showed me how extremely important it was to them and the importance that we continue to grow this support. Trust me in saying, it only took the first smile to make me all in. It would do the same to you as well!
Columbus Derby Days is your big fundraiser that continues to grow. How did that come about? Initially we started putting together different athletic events, which started with an annual volleyball tournament. We received feedback that people really loved our overall cause and would like to contribute, but didn’t necessarily want to play in what we were hosting. When we noticed there was a gap in community events around the Kentucky Derby, we thought this could be a great fit. Fortunately, it continues to grow year after year and we have no intent on slowing that down!
Where is Five Strong five years from now? We had always wanted to find a suitable brick and mortar facility for hosting events on a year-round basis. But that can be a costly and complex process. That said, we were fortunate enough to find a great organization that had an already amazing campus facility. By partnering with Recreation Unlimited and utilizing their established facilities, this allowed both organizations to leverage our similar mission statements to enhance growth and support each other. By sharing resources and collaborating, we can provide a stronger and more comprehensive offering to our target audiences.
Zach Bertke
Hometown: Beavercreek, Ohio
Education: The Ohio State University &
Georgetown Law
Family: Married with 2 children
Why Five Strong? When my friends approached me with an idea to start a nonprofit centered on providing developmentally disabled individuals with access to lifestyle and wellness facilities and programs, I was honored to be a part of the team.
Does this impact you personally? This has become a passion of mine. By raising money to offer camps at no cost, I am proud to be a part of such a great organization that is helping individuals with developmental disabilities live more active and healthy lifestyles, as well as helping them build self-confidence and interpersonal skills.
Matthew Meyers
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
College: Ohio State University
Family: Married with two children
How did you get involved in Five Strong? I’ve known Brett for about 15 years or so. Over the years he introduced me to some of the other guys on the board, first introducing me to the cause in 2018. Although not a founding member, I have always been active in volunteering for causes that focus on helping children. From an early age I have been involved with St. Jude Children’s research hospital, but I also volunteered many times with the Special Olympics. This was such an easy “yes” when asked to be a board member, it seemingly fit in completely with how I wanted to give back.
Do you have any special needs children or adults in your family? I don’t have any immediate family members with special needs. I first volunteered with Special Olympics in high school, and I couldn’t believe the impact it had. I saw so many individuals that didn’t let any disability hold them back, it was inspiring to say the least.
Tell me about a moment where you said to yourself, “This is exactly why we started this foundation?” The first camp I attended in 2019. We were playing baseball and seeing how happy all these athletes were really moved me. I called my wife on the way home and couldn’t stop talking about how great things turned out. The happiness you saw from a single person making a catch or hitting a ball off a tee is hard to describe. It clearly was the highlight of their week, and it was mine as well.
John Underman
Hometown: Westerville, Ohio
Education: University of Cincinnati
Family: 2 children
Why Five Strong? Being involved in these camps, it has become evident that they stand out as the highlight of the year for many campers. That’s why I am committed to doing everything within my power to ensure that our campers experience more of these moments of joy and good days.
What is your personal motivating factor in being involved in this type of philanthropy? My passion for Five Strong (and philanthropy in general) comes from the fact that the demographic age of the charitable community is aging out. Most millennials are willing to volunteer their time, but few are raising money to impact causes. My partners and I feel it is imperative to lead our generation in the efforts of leaving Columbus better than we found it.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges for Five Strong? We are working hard to raise more money by adding other charitable events, but we all have hectic schedules and are limited by all our commitments. We would like to hire a full-time executive director to help coordinate our efforts so we can make the most impact on the community.
MEET OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Timothy Bajorek
Current Residence: Columbus, Ohio
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
College or Trade: Ohio University
Current Job: Business Development, Turner Construction Company
Family: Girlfriend
Hobbies: Golf, Outdoors, Backpacking, Traveling, Cleveland & Ohio University Sports, DIY projects, Woodworking, 3D Printing
Why did you want to get involved with Five Strong?
I was introduced to some of the original board members several years ago at the Derby Day fundraising event. Their passion for raising funds for such an amazing cause was truly infectious. Growing up as one of five kids in a small suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, I was always involved in year-round sports and had the opportunity to participate in whatever activities I wanted. Knowing that I could help provide similar opportunities for others inspired me to get involved with Five Strong.
Does this impact you personally?
While I don’t have any immediate family members with special needs, my involvement with Five Strong has ignited a passion for raising philanthropic support. It’s incredibly meaningful to help create experiences for individuals who might not otherwise have the chance to enjoy events many of us take for granted.
Do you recall the moment when you said to yourself, “This is why I want to be involved with this group?”
Yes, I remember it clearly. Attending my first camp at Recreation Unlimited was a transformative experience. Seeing the excitement, eagerness, and smiles of the campers was the moment I knew I wanted to be part of this group. Simple activities like canoeing, archery, fishing, and swimming had the power to brighten someone’s entire day — and knowing Five Strong made that happen was incredibly fulfilling.
How do you wish to see Five Strong grow in the future?
Five Strong’s core mission — providing campers with unique opportunities to engage in activities they rarely get to experience — will always remain at the heart of what we do. Moving forward, my goal is to help the organization grow so it can provide these transformative experiences to even more campers year after year. A key focus will be securing the necessary fundraising support to ensure we can continue expanding our reach and impact.
Ohm Patel
Current Residence: Upper Arlington
Hometown: New Philadelphia, OH
College or Trade: The Ohio State University
Current Job: Founder and Principal at Moment Development
Family: Married with two children
Hobbies: Travel, Being a Brownie and a Buckeye, Photography, Interior Design
Why did you want to get involved with Five Strong? To enrich and impact the lives of kids and families.
Does this impact you personally? Without question, seeing the smiles on kids’ faces and the satisfaction and joy of parents seeing their kids develop and thrive is personal to me. Success is not driven by material object. Moreover, its defined by where we choose to spend our time paying it forward and setting the example for the next generation.
Do you recall the moment when you said to yourself, “This is why I want to be involved with this group?”
When helping to raise funds at our very first event this year, I had the chance to educate friends, family, and my business network about this cause and the overwhelming response that I got was simply awesome. We not only met our goals but I also saw how meaningful it was for people once they knew more about the organization.
How do you wish to see Five Strong grow in the future? Five Strong should become a household name when it comes to paying it forward and impacting the lives of children and their families. Specifically, a greater emphasis on community outreach, education, and involving the greater youth in assisting fellow youth in overcoming their challenges.
Ali Bertke
Current Residence: Columbus, Ohio
Hometown: Beavercreek, Ohio
College or Trade: The Ohio State University
Major: Marketing with a minor in Fine Arts
Current Job: Abercrombie & Fitch, Sourcing & Production
Family: Dog Mama to a 2-year-old Havanese
Hobbies: Salt Water Fishing
Why did you want to get involved with Five Strong?
My brother, Zach Bertke, who was a founding member, first introduced me to Five Strong. As a former swim coach and athlete, I too am passionate about providing opportunities to individuals with developmental disabilities to enjoy sports of all kinds. Sports are a great way to connect us and making us feel part of a team or an adventure.
Does this impact you personally?
I am proud to be a member of the Five Strong Foundation and raise money to offer camps at no cost. These camps provide inclusion as well as help individuals grow their confidence, build relationships and live a more active and healthy life.
Do you recall the moment when you said to yourself, “This is why I want to be involved with this group?”
The moment I heard the founding board members talk about their love for the Five Strong Foundation and the joy the camps brought to individuals, I knew I wanted to help.
How do you wish to see Five Strong grow in the future?
I would love to see Five Strong grow through educating the Columbus Community on the purpose of the foundation and in return, gain more support to offer additional camps in the Columbus area.
Caleb Struewing
Current Residence: Columbus, OH (German Village)
Hometown: Worthington, OH
College or Trade: Denison University, where I played college baseball (RHP)
Current Job: Commercial Real Estate Broker at JLL
Family: Girlfriend and 2 cats
Hobbies: Golf, Baseball, Basketball, Snowboarding, Biking, Gym, Sand Volleyball, Softball, Cincinnati Sports, Ohio State Football
Why did you want to get involved with Five Strong?
Ever since I joined JLL, my managing director, Clayton Davis a former board member, was adamant about how impactful the Five Strong Organization has been in supporting a community of individuals who were underserved locally through sports and recreation. My entire childhood was surrounded by sports which helped shape me into the person I am today. All it took was to see the overpowering excitement and smiles from everyone who participated in the camp to seal the deal for me. Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the camaraderie and excitement of sports, and I can’t wait to further support as many underserved individuals as possible.
Do you recall the moment when you said to yourself, “This is why I want to be involved with this group?”
The exact moment I knew this was something I had to help lead the charge on was at one of our most recent camps where I had the opportunity to take individuals around in kayaks. While this is a relatively simple task for most people, I had never grasped the reality that there are individuals who have never been given the chance to experience gliding across the water. Throughout the day I had the opportunity to accompany about 5 individuals who told me it was the first time they had ever been able to ride in a kayak. Of those 5 individuals, there were two in particular that I will never forget. They were brothers who were bantering similar to how my brother and I do, and I asked them “What was your favorite part of the day?” to which they both replied, as they laughed and smiled ear to ear, “This is for sure the best part of the day, we’ve never ridden in one of these before .. Let’s see how fast we can go!” We of course paddled until we couldn’t anymore. Having a younger brother and knowing some of my core memories are doing something similar to what I was able to share with them solidified my desire to be a part of this group.
How do you wish to see Five Strong grow in the future?
My hope is we can continue to educate our local community as to how impactful these camps are with these individuals. Through this education, I feel we can gain even more support than what we have today which would allow us to continue to grow our support of this underserved community.
CJ Jackson
Current Residence: Columbus, OH
Hometown: Columbus, OH
College or Trade: University of Dayton
Current Job: McDonald’s Corporate, Real Estate Development
Family: Married with two children and three cats
Hobbies: All racquet/paddle sports, curling, house projects, jigsaw puzzles, trying new restaurants
Why did you want to get involved with Five Strong?
I become involved very early on at the suggestion of Brett Hatcher, one of the founders. I went to a meeting and saw the tangible positive impact being made and knew I wanted to be part of this.
Does this impact you personally?
I had the privilege of coaching two Special Olympic teams (soccer and tennis) for a number of years, so I have seen firsthand the benefit that participation in sports/activities has on this community. Many members of these teams have attended Five Strong events and it is so wonderful seeing them enjoy and experience these events.
Do you recall the moment when you said to yourself, “This is why I want to be involved with this group?”
It was not just one moment, rather witnessing the growth of the organization from the early discussions/dreams to seeing the first camp come into fruition. The attendee turnout was incredible and inspired us to continue the growth.
How do you wish to see Five Strong grow in the future?
Five Strong has an opportunity to continue its growth and provide these camp experiences multiple times a year. I would love to see us expand to other geographies and help local groups start similar camps in those markets.