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Triangle Serves

Triangle Serves – Our Mission in Action

Triangle Serves is the umbrella for the numerous service projects Triangle undertakes each year. The primary objective of these efforts is to improve accessibility to sport.

Triangle’s service to individuals with physical disability began in 2011 when Triangle established a partnership with Bridge II Sports, a Paralympic sport club located in Durham, NC. This partnership led to the creation and ongoing operation of Triangle’s sitting volleyball open play program [dates/times are listed below] available at Triangle’s facility.

Volleyball for All, Triangle’s former service umbrella, was introduced at MAPL Raleigh 2012 to create awareness of the need for sport opportunities for those with physical disability. At MAPL Raleigh, a large indoor juniors’ volleyball tournament, Triangle highlighted Paralympic volleyball [sitting] by hosting Paralympic exhibition matches between the women’s sitting teams from Team USA and Team Netherlands prior to the 2012 London Paralympic games.

Triangle Serves was introduced in the Spring of 2014 with the announcement of our first Courts for Kids mission trip to Costa Rica. 

If you are an adult or youth who is interested in serving as a volunteer in any of our regularly scheduled outreach programs [Sitting Volleyball or Gigi’s Playhouse] click HERE to sign up.

Triangle Serves accomplishments, events, and ongoing projects:

  • Adult Sitting Volleyball Open Play – This program targets adults with physical disability [although all are welcome to come and experience sitting volleyball]. This program is held in partnership with the Durham VA’s [Veteran’s Affairs] Outpatient Recreational Therapy Group.  Sessions are held September through May on the first & third Tuesday of the month [10am-1230pm].  Adults with physical disability join adult coaches, adult volunteers, and first-responders [law enforcement and firefighters who volunteer] at Triangle.  Volleyball playing experience is a plus for volunteers; youth players are welcome to volunteer with prior approval.  In 2018, we established our first competitive, veteran sitting volleyball team.  Members of our sitting volleyball team attend regular practices and compete in 2-3 events per season.
  • Youth Sitting Volleyball Open Play – This program targets youth with physical disability [although all are welcome to come and experience sitting volleyball].  Sessions are held September through May on the second of the month [230-4pm].  Youth athletes with physical disability join staff, athletes, and family members for an afternoon of fun at Triangle.
  • Durham VA [Veteran’s Affair] Outpatient Recreational Therapy –  every first and third Tuesday of the month the veterans from the Durham VA Recreational Therapy group come in to train and play sitting volleyball. In 2018, we expect to host our first competitive, veteran sitting volleyball team.
  • Durham VA [Veteran’s Affairs] Golden Ages Recreational Therapy – Triangle is the home for area senior citizens from the Durham VA Recreational Therapy group come in and play adaptive versions of Boccia, Shuffle Board and other adaptive sports. 
  • Valor Games Southeast-Triangle is the official sport chair for sitting volleyball at the annual ‘Valor Games’ held each May in the Triangle area. The Valor Games is a southeast regional event much like the ‘Invictus Games’. Triangle is responsible for providing the coaching and instruction for 6 teams and over 80 competitive athletes. The athletes themselves include Amputees, individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD], and individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI]. The ‘Games’ are part of their physical and mental recovery.
  • Gigi’s Playhouse – This community partner offers direct educational, therapeutic and career building programs to individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community.  In 2018, Triangle established our partnership and began providing volleyball and fitness training to both adults and youth with Down’s Syndrome.  In the fall of 2018, Triangle will participate in a pilot intern program with Gigi’s Playhouse and sponsor our first special-needs adult intern.
  • MAPL Raleigh Sitting Volleyball tournament and exhibition – every year Red Hat sponsors a sitting volleyball tournament and adaptive sport exhibition at our premier convention center event.
  • Courts for Kids Mission Trip-every other year a team comprised of Triangle staff and student-athletes participate in a mission trip with our Courts for Kids partner. Courts for Kids seeks to transform lives through building courts and cultural exchange. Teams fully immerse themselves in the culture for 8-10 days to build a durable multi-sport court and interact with the people in the community. 2014 | Ciudad Neily, Costa Rica – a team of 23 staff and athletes to assist the community of Ciudad Neily, Costa Rica with building an outdoor court. 2016 | Guayajayuco, Dominican Republic – a team of 27 staff and athletes went to Guayajayuco on the border of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
  • Triangle Cup – Originally introduced in the 2017 season, the “Triangle Cup” is an in-house, club-wide, team-based service and support competition for Triangle student-athletes and their coaching staff. The goal is to create team bonding opportunities through service and support in a friendly competitive environment. Teams will compete in four (4) categories – Triangle SUPPORTS Triangle, SERVICE (both inside and outside of Triangle), LEADERSHIP, and CHARITABLE DONATIONS. The Triangle Cup season typically kicks off at Retreat Day. Athletes are welcomed and encouraged to bring ideas and leadership to Triangle Cup initiatives.
  • Special Olympics North Carolina | Wake County–since 2010 Triangle staff and families have been instrumental in establishing and supporting the Wake County Special Olympics volleyball program, including hosting the 2018 Special Olympics Summer Games volleyball events at Triangle’s facility. 
  • Speaking Engagements-Triangle’s Assistant Director, Jenna Hinton, was invited by the U.S. Olympic Committee to speak at the 2013 Paralympic Leadership Conference on the benefits of a collaborative approach on a local and national level to addressing adaptive sports. Jenna was also a panelist and exhibitor at the 2013 NC Rehabilitation Association & NC Assistive Technology Program ‘Discovering our Treasures’ conference.
  • AND MORE! Triangle supports the following area organizations by providing gym access and staff support
    • The “Striker”-Triangle, along with Bridge II Sports, submitted a project proposal to Duke University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering to design, produce, and put into service a chair to assist physically disabled with support and movement on the floor. The ‘Striker’ was unveiled in December 2012 and is still used today in our gym to help athletes participate in sitting volleyball.
    • Numerous fundraising tournament events are held at Triangle
      • ​Rally-4-Ryley – a benefit for former Triangle player, Ryley Hopper, who suffered a paralyzing spinal cord injury
      • Heels for Healing – a benefit for UNC Children’s Hospital
      • Puerto Rico 4v4 – a benefit to bring Borinquen Coqui 16F to the City of Oaks Challenge tournament after the devasting hurricanes in Fall 2017