Donor Spotlight: Donna and Perry Golkin

Achilles International is embarking on the public phase of The Campaign for Achilles: Fueling Growth, Redefining Possible. We have an ambitious $25 million goal. Meet one our treasured donors whose support bring us one step and one push closer to expanding our resources and reach, deepening our impact and breaking down barriers to the start line for athletes with disabilities.

The widespread impact of Achilles International would not be possible without the continued support of The Perry & Donna Golkin Family Foundation. The family’s roots with Achilles run deep, with a meaningful connection that has lasted over 15 years.

For Perry, his passion for running and a close friend’s connection to the National Disability Center led to his desire to help break down barriers to sport for the disability community. For Donna, Co-Chair of Achilles Board of Directors, she saw first hand the organization’s impact after her son David started volunteering as a guide in 2007. 

“The first athlete he ran with is still one of our most accomplished members.  Despite the obstacles presented by being blind, this individual was persistent not just in his athletic goals but also goals in every aspect of life, something that impressed David and, eventually, our family.  Although I was aware of Achilles, this personal experience led me to call Achilles to offer support,” says Donna. 

What made her proud and stood out to her the most was the strength of the community. Donna saw firsthand how despite the challenges of the pandemic and a pivot to the virtual world, the dynamism of this group and program persisted.

“There is no better manifestation of the word diverse than Achilles.  We have a large tent and welcome anyone regardless of disability.  What has always impressed me is that we have best in class programming and continue to work to make it even better, coupling professionalism with warmth and a human touch. The objective here is not running per se, it is about opening up opportunities for Achilles members to participate in mainstream activities at a level that works for them,” Donna says.

In 2023, Donna and Perry made a seven figure gift to help launch adaptive workouts in Staten Island, NY.

“Each and every Achilles member has a story of difficulty and determination that is inspirational.  We want to open up the door to becoming part of our community by supporting more athletes [with disabilities] in more locations throughout the U.S. and around the world.  The limiting factor is funding for programming and staff, but the impact of Achilles has been proven. Investing in Achilles is money well spent,” she says.

While funding is important, there are many ways to get involved.

“We also hope that people will consider guiding, advocating, or just cheering our athletes on.  Come watch a race or training, talk to our members and learn more,” adds Donna.

Learn more how you can make an impact in the lives of youth, adults and military veterans with disabilities.