Meet Dean Tartaro

When USMC Veteran and FDNY firefighter Dean Tartaro arrived in Park City for Hyperformance Foundation’s Winter Multi-Sport Adventure, he carried with him the same courage, humility, and devotion to service that define his work with FDNY Marine One—one of the city’s most elite emergency response units.

But he also brought something else: the heart of a grandfather and the kind of playful, youthful energy that instantly disarms kids, sparks laughter, and brings even the shyest little ones out of their shells.

Dean is a longtime adaptive ski and snowboard instructor, a trusted member of Hyperformance’s Advisory Board representing First Responders, and a coach who has guided athletes all the way to Invictus Team US. But in Park City, his most powerful impact wasn’t just technical—it was personal.

Helping Families of the Fallen Heal Through Joy

Our Winter Multi-Sport Adventure supports Families of the Fallen, many of whom also have children with disabilities like autism and Down syndrome. These trips are powerful but vulnerable spaces—places where trust is fragile, emotions run deep, and new environments can feel overwhelming.

That’s where Dean shines.

On the first morning, a young girl with Down syndrome stood off to the side, unsure about skiing. Dean didn’t rush. He crouched down, smiled, made a joke and got the kids laughing. Within minutes, they were talking, laughing, tossing snowballs, and trying on ski boots.

That’s the grandfather in him—warm, patient, goofy, and full of life.

By lunchtime, that same hesitant kid was cruising down the hill, grinning ear to ear, waving at her family each time she passed.

For her parents, it was more than a fun moment.
It was a glimpse of the joy that sports can bring, and the independence it offers.

A Leader Who Serves on Every Front

Prior to hitting the slopes with the families, Dean joined our Train the Trainer program—bringing quiet leadership, deep technical knowledge, and a huge capacity for fun. Participants gravitated toward him instantly.

So when Invictus Team US prepared for the winter games, Dean was a natural fit for our coaching crew. He brought the same energy with adult athletes that he brings with kids—encouraging, leveling up their confidence, and reminding them that joy matters as much as discipline.

Meet Tyler Jeffries

Tyler first learned of adaptive sports while recovering at Walter Reed. What began as a simple fishing trip quickly became something much deeper—a lifeline, a renewed sense of purpose, and the spark that ignited his passion for serving others.

Inspired by the healing and camaraderie he experienced on the water, Tyler made a commitment to pay it forward. Today, he leads Hookin Veterans our peer-to-peer fishing trips, hosting events throughout the year for veterans from every generation.

These aren’t just fishing trips—they’re community-building experiences. Camaraderie comes first; the fishing is just a bonus. Each event includes skills-based instruction designed to empower veterans to return home with the confidence to keep engaging with their families, friends, and local communities through outdoor recreation.

As Tyler continued giving back, he discovered a new path through our Serve Program—one that would take him from the deck of a fishing boat to the bobsled tracks of the world.

Through our Para Sliding Program, Tyler was introduced to the sport of Para Bobsled and quickly identified for a fast-track training regimen. Thanks to his dedication and the support of fellow veterans and coaches, Tyler—and several others from our community—earned spots on the U.S. National Team for Para Bobsled.

Now competing internationally on the IBSF Para World Cup circuit, Tyler once again wears the American flag on his uniform as he represents our nation across Europe and North America.

But he’s not done yet. Tyler’s goals are clear and deeply rooted in service:

• Continue mentoring and guiding veterans through offshore fishing

• Introduce more veterans to the sport of Para Bobsled

• Advance Para Sliding toward full inclusion in the Winter Paralympics

• Bring home a gold medal for the United States

Your support helps make journeys like Tyler’s possible. Because of donors like you, veterans can find belonging, purpose, and the opportunity to thrive—on the water, on the track, and in every part of their lives.

Meet Jason Tabansky

From last-minute call-up… to Paralympic gold. Jason Tabansky didn’t come to Paris to take pictures.

When he joined Hyperformance Foundation’s Serve Program through our Sports Ambassador initiative, he made one thing clear: if he ever earned a shot at representing the United States, he would show up ready—not just to compete, but to win.

Hyperformance believed in him from the start. We supported his journey with training and competition grants, invested in his development, and walked alongside him as he climbed the global rankings in Para Archery.

But even with all the training, all the preparation, and all the heart—Jason still wasn’t selected for the initial Paris 2024 roster.

For most athletes, that would’ve been the end of the story.

For Jason, it was fuel.

The Last-Minute Call That Changed Everything

Shortly before the Games, a last-minute slot opened. Team USA made the call.
Jason got the tap.

And from the moment he hung up the phone, he made a promise—to himself, to his family, to Team USA, and to the team who had believed in him:

“I always told myself if he sacrificed his spot, I’m going to make it count …
I didn’t just want to take a picture to show I was here.”

That mindset would become the defining force of his Paralympic debut.

A Bracket No One Expected Him to Survive

Jason entered one of the toughest brackets of the entire Games. Opponents who had beaten him before. Matches that demanded absolute precision. Conditions that tested every archer on the line.

But something was different about Jason in Paris.

He shot with purpose.
With calm.
With conviction.
With an unmistakable, unshakeable why.

And as the rounds went on, the archery world began to realize:

Jason was not here as a replacement.
He was here as a threat.

By the time he reached the gold medal match, the arena had shifted.

Whispers — Momentum — A sense that something extraordinary was happening.

The Shot Heard Around Paris

Members of the Hyperformance Foundation team collectively held their breath as he drew his final arrow.

The air was still.
The crowd silent.
The moment frozen.

Jason released.

Dead. Center.

Gold.

Shockwaves rolled through the arena. A last-minute alternate had just taken the top of the podium—one of the most improbable, electrifying runs of Paris 2024.

Jason doesn’t even recall releasing his final shot. 

 “I don’t remember the shot. All I could think of was put the pin in the gold and punch this thing.”

He does remember the shout of joy as he turned his head to the sky, closed his eyes, and breathed. Mission accomplished. Promise fulfilled.

“After that it was just a fountain of emotions that I’ve had going through me for the last seven years.”

Medal of Ikkos – Honoring the One Who Helped Him Get There

After the podium ceremony, the Hyperformance team reunited with Jason at the Team USA House for the Medal of Ikkos presentation—one of the Olympic and Paralympic movement’s most revered traditions.

Jason placed the medal around the neck of his wife, Courtney—a competitive archer herself and his constant training partner. “I practiced at home four matches every day. That’s all I kept practicing,” said Jason, and Courtney was right there alongside him.  Courtney didn’t just support Jason’s journey- she helped build it.

Building a Legacy in San Antonio

Since returning home, Jason has done something equally remarkable:
He founded Enduring Freedom Co., an archery academy in San Antonio dedicated to teaching everyone from first-time archers to elite competitors.

Now, in partnership with Hyperformance Foundation, Jason is building intro-to-elite training pathways for veterans, first responders, Families of the Fallen, and Warrior Games and Invictus Team US athletes.

He wants more people in the sport.
More people discovering their talent.
More people finding the confidence archery gave him.

In his own words:

“I want to help bring the next generation of archers into the sport.”

And that’s exactly the kind of leader Hyperformance is proud to stand behind.

Jason’s story isn’t just a story about winning gold. It’s a story about grit, belief, opportunity, and what happens when an athlete decides that the moment won’t define them—they’ll define the moment.

Your support helps make journeys like Jason’s possible. Because of donors like you, veterans can find belonging, purpose, and the opportunity to thrive—on the water, behind the bow, and in every part of their lives.