Joe Salome is co-founder of the Georgia Hemp Company, and a resident of the Buckhead Peachtree Park neighborhood. He's been involved with the Kyle Pease Foundation for almost five years through his company. Their mission is to empower athletes with disabilities by providing access to sports, adaptive equipment, scholarships and community programs.
What makes it so powerful is the experience it creates for in-chair athletes and their families. "When an athlete crosses the finish line with their push-assist partner, they get to say, 'I did that!'," says Joe. "For that moment, they get the same rush, the same cheers and the same sense of belonging as everyone else. For the athletes and their families, those moments of inclusion are truly life-changing."
"The Georgia Hemp Company's longstanding partnership with The Kyle Pease Foundation, a non-profit supporting individuals with disabilities through sports, is a vital collaboration involving their products into our athletes' training and recovery routines, as well as through events such as the Green Hat Classic golf tournament and the 'For the Love of Inclusion' tennis tournament, which raises funds for the foundation's mission," says The Kyle Pease Foundation Executive Director, Brent Pease. "The Georgia Hemp Company's co-branded CBD relief roll-on, contributes 20 percent of the proceeds from this product to The Kyle Pease Foundation, which goes a long way towards our goal to empower more athletes with disabilities and to create inclusion for The Kyle Pease Foundation and those it serves."
The Green Hat Classic is held every April 20, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to the Kyle Pease Foundation. "Between these initiatives and providing products to support athletes with recovery and everyday wellness, we're proud to help fuel their mission year after year," says Joe.
"Simply walking into their office, several employees with disabilities are thriving in roles they were often overlooked for elsewhere. KPF doesn't just create athletes; it creates opportunities for meaningful employment and inclusion in everyday life," notes Joe. Another powerful moment comes each year at the grant celebration. Families receive life-changing support — from accessible vans to home renovations that make daily life easier for their athlete. "Seeing the relief, the joy and the possibilities open up for those families is unforgettable. It always resets my own goals for how I want to give back in the year ahead."
And of course, nothing compares to race day — the smiles of the athletes, the cheers from their families and the way inclusion comes alive on the course. "As a parent myself, I know what it feels like to cheer for your child. Watching those families celebrate their athlete in the same way is what makes this work so meaningful," says Joe.
Race day is where the magic really happens. Volunteering behind the scenes is impactful, but the ultimate experience is getting behind a wheelchair and racing alongside a push-assist athlete. Whether it's the Publix Half Marathon, Walt Disney Marathon Weekend, or the Peachtree Road Race, sharing those miles is a gift you'll never forget — for both you and the athlete.
If golf or tennis is more your style, you can offer support through the annual fundraisers: The Jake Golf Tournament and the For the Love of Inclusion Tennis & Pickleball Tournament. Both events fuel life-changing grants awarded annually to athletes with disabilities.
Joe has been inspired by his parents. His mother was a nurse and his dad served in the Air Force. "They both lived with compassion and empathy, always giving their time, energy and resources to help others," says Joe, thankfully.
"One of the most powerful examples came when my mom was caring for a young girl with cerebral palsy who was close to my age at the time. The family dreamed of taking her to Disneyland, but medical expenses and her condition made it feel impossible. When my dad heard that, he rallied his Air Force squadron to organize a fundraiser to send the family on that trip."
That experience stuck with Joe. It showed him the power of inclusion, the joy of leveling the playing field and the impact of giving people opportunities they otherwise wouldn't have.
Today, he sees that same spirit continuing in his daughter Olive, who is developing her own nonprofit, Olive's Branch, to help underserved kids access sports and equipment. "Watching her step into this kind of service shows me that the compassion my parents passed on is now being carried forward to the next generation," he says.
KylePeaseFoundation.org