American Portfolios Financial Services Returns as Adventure Team Challenge Sponsor

By Richard Rhinehart

Holbrook, New York, September 16, 2016 – New York’s American Portfolios Financial Services, an independent broker/dealer that serves affiliated financial advisors nationwide, returns as a leading financial sponsor for national non-profit World T.E.A.M. Sports’ September 23-25 Adventure Team Challenge near Grand Junction in western Colorado.

Rappelling into the Colorado River — Athletes at World T.E.A.M. Sports’ annual Adventure Team Challenge Colorado engage in a variety of sporting activities, including rappelling. Photograph by Victor Henderson.

A sponsor for the inaugural Adventure Team Challenge from World T.E.A.M. Sports in June, 2007, hosted at the Rancho del Rio Resort north of Eagle, Colorado, American Portfolios has offered support for the Challenge in many years since. The firm also has supported other inclusive sporting events from the organization.

“American Portfolios is one of our most supportive partners,” said World T.E.A.M. Sports CEO and President Van Brinson. “They are annual sponsors of our Face of America ride in addition to the Adventure Team Challenge. We welcome their participation and look forward to partnering with them on future Challenges.”

American Portfolios’ CEO, CIO and President Lon Dolber became involved with World T.E.A.M. Sports with the organization’s January 2007 Return to Kilimanjaro expedition to Africa. As a member of the team that successfully summited the 19,341-foot peak, Dolber was encouraged to participate as an athlete in the Real Deal Inclusive Sports Adventure, the predecessor to the Challenge.

“For the last ten years, American Portfolios has been a proud participant and sponsor of several World T.E.A.M. Sports events,” said Dolber. “An unfathomable idea that became a reality was Adventure Team Challenge, which I had the privilege of doing in 2007 alongside some incredible and inspiring athletes. It was a humbling experience, whereas teammates out in the elements competed under extreme physical conditions – it equalized us.”

Since the beginning Challenge in 2007, the Colorado event has featured teams of five athletes, two being adaptive. In each team, one of the adaptive athletes is a wheelchair user, which requires exceptional teamwork and cooperation between the athletes for the team to successfully complete each stage in the wild and unpredictable back country.

Helene Mattison Instructs the Athletes — Participating athletes at the Adventure Team Challenge Colorado undergo a daily briefing, and also attend short instructional classes on particular skills prior to the first stage. Here, co-race director Helene Mattison explains the day’s schedule. Photograph by Brian Gliba.

Surviving a harrowing experience in a series of challenging whitewater rapids on the Colorado River in rugged Gore Canyon, Dolber is supportive of the Challenge and the power shared adventure and risk has in bringing together athletes of all abilities.

“Nine years later, Adventure Team Challenge has been going strong, bringing together teams each year with a diverse mix of physical capabilities and disabilities, to be united as one in achieving a rigorous outdoor wilderness challenge,” he said.

The 2016 Adventure Team Challenge from World T.E.A.M. Sports is supported through partnerships from American Portfolios Financial Services, Audubon Orthotic & Prosthetic Services, Devens Recycling Center, Ernst & Young, James Benson, LIM Innovations, Napier Park Global Capital, Pearl Meyer, Penske Truck Rental, Presidential Worldwide Transportation, Rutgers University – Department of Athletics, Sila Solutions Group, and Timberline Tours.

About American Portfolios

Headquartered in Holbrook, N.Y., APFS is a full-service, independent broker/dealer and member firm of FINRA and SIPC, offering a complete range of financial services, including personal financial and retirement planning, securities trading, mutual funds, access to investment research, long-term care planning, insurance products and tax-free investing. Fee-based asset management is offered through its sister subsidiary, American Portfolios Advisors, Inc., (APA), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Both entities, along with technology division American Outsources, LLC (AO,) collectively reside under the legal entity American Portfolios Holdings, Inc. (APH). Full-service securities brokerage is available through a clearing firm relationship with Pershing, LLC, a BNY Mellon firm, the securities of which are held on a fully disclosed basis. The company currently serves 807 independent investment professionals located in 366 branch locations throughout the nation. It was named Broker-Dealer of the Year (Division III) by Investment Advisor magazine in 2015 and 2016, as well as the No. 1 Best Small/Mid-Size Company to Work for in the state of New York for 2016 by the New York State Society for Human Resources Management (NYS-SHRM) and the Best Companies Group (BCG).

The 2015 Girls on the Move Team — At the 2015 Adventure Team Challenge Colorado, the all-women Girls on the Move Team was sponsored by American Portfolios Financial Services. Photograph by Richard Rhinehart.

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