Our Founding

The Neuro-Adaptive Athletes Foundation was founded in late 2025 by a small group of athletes, and advocates, who saw a persistent gap in adaptive sport: the cost of participation often outpaces available support.

At the center of the Foundation is Ben Jones, a neuro-adaptive golfer whose personal experience navigating equipment costs, competition access, and community inspired the organization’s creation. Rather than focusing on his own achievements, Ben chose to build something that would open doors for others facing similar challenges.

Ben is joined by two fellow founding board members who bring complementary professional and organizational experience to the Foundation. Together, the board is committed to building a transparent, athlete-centered nonprofit that delivers tangible support and measurable impact.

A longtime friend of founder Ben Jones, Miles brings a unique blend of financial stewardship and a passion for community. Based in Lansing with his wife, he spends his professional hours at Consumers Energy leading energy efficient product innovation. He applies that same forward-thinking mindset to help neuro-adaptive athletes overcome the high costs of specialized equipment and competition fees. Miles is dedicated to ensuring that financial hurdles never stand in the way of an athlete’s potential or their access to a supportive community.

Miles Biel

Treasurer

John Prokes

Secretary

John Prokes is a veteran science teacher with 20 years of experience and a former environmental consultant with 24 years in the field. He’s coached football and baseball for over 20 years, emphasizing leadership and resilience. His commitment to adaptive sports is deeply personal, shaped by caring for his brother, Mark, who has cerebral palsy and has lived with his family since 1999.

Ben Jones

President

Ben "Jonezy" Jones was born with spina bifida, a neurological condition that has progressively affected strength and coordination in his lower extremities.

Early in life, spina bifida fueled a determined work ethic that pushed Ben to prove the condition wouldn't define him. This quiet drive propelled him to build a career as an architect while competing at high levels as an adaptive golfer—where he's had some of the most inspiring experiences of his life.

Through adaptive golf tournaments across the country, Ben discovered a glaring problem: the cost of participation creates a barrier that many cannot overcome. Between mobility devices customized to individual needs and funds required to travel across multiple states for competitions, the price of admission is staggering.

Ben founded the Neuro Adaptive Athletes Foundation to address this challenge. What once drove him quietly now drives him loudly—spina bifida is the engine behind his pursuit to support the community that has inspired him and so many others.

Board of Directors