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Artie Guerrero - Education and Outreach
Artie Guerrero is a Colorado Native, a dedicated leader, and an athlete who is committed to helping individuals with disabilities. Artie is a decorated hero not only for his service to our country but also for all his continuous efforts in our community.
In 1987, Artie became the President and national director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America Mountain States Chapter, in which he brought issues of disabled veterans to the nation's attention. He became involved with various accessibility projects and served on the accessible advisory committees for RTD, Jefferson County Government, Coors Field and Invesco Field at Mile High. In 1996, Artie was the cofounder of the Colorado Avalanche Sled Hockey Team and the Colorado Rockies Wheelchair Softball program. He served on the Board of Directors for the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) and still promotes their adaptive ski program on a regular basis.
Artie has accomplished many athletic endeavors. In 1998, he used a handcycle to tour 1,200 miles across Vietnam. In 1999, he went from San Francisco to St. Louis on the same bike. For these achievements, he was featured in USA Today, CNN and Sports Illustrated again creating awareness for individuals with disabilities.
Artie’s greatest goal is to inspire kids, especially those in wheelchairs. For the past 10 years he has helped to coordinate the Colorado Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp and has conducted speaking engagements about his disability to various colleges and schools across the country. This year alone, he has raised over $150,000 for the ongoing local disabled sports programs in which he is involved.
In 1998, Foley’s Department Store and the Rocky Mountain News presented Artie with their prestigious SAVVY Award in recognition of his exemplary efforts to help veterans and the disabled community throughout Colorado. In September 2001, The Colorado Rockies Charity Fund presented him with the Hal O’Leary Award. He was honored to be the Grand Marshall of the 2001 Downtown Denver Veterans Day Parade. Denver Channel 7 also named him an “Everyday Hero” for Veterans Day week. In June 2006, Artie received the award for Veteran of the Year (out of 460,000 veterans in Colorado), by the United Veterans Committee of Colorado.
Artie was born in Denver in 1944. He is the father of three daughters, Kim, Janel and Melissa and grandfather to two grandchildren. He and his wife Cathie reside in Golden, Colorado.
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