BY BRANDON WOLAK
The Wolves are recognizing Dwarfism Awareness Month by supporting the Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA) as part of the team’s “Season of Giving” charitable initiative, during which the Wolves are donating $3 million to Chicagoland organizations throughout the 2026-27 season.
During an in-game presentation on Saturday, Oct. 17, the Wolves will present a check for $25,000 to Zach Roloff, DAAA President and star of TLC’s “Little People, Big World” TV program, that will support the DAAA’s efforts to provide competitive and inclusive athletic opportunities while helping athletes build confidence and community through sport.
The DAAA was founded in 1984 to address the limited opportunities available to athletes with dwarfism and has spent more than four decades creating spaces where athletes can compete alongside others with similar physical experiences.
The impact of those opportunities can be measured in more than medals and competition.
Wolves equipment assistant Justin Sata, who has dwarfism, has experienced that impact firsthand.
Sports played an important role in Sata’s childhood, helping him build friendships and find opportunities, but his experience competing through DAAA gave him a different perspective on what sports could provide.
“I never expected to be playing sports with people my size or people who have the same disadvantages as me,” said Sata, who will participate in the Oct. 17 check presentation. “And now it’s more competitive because you could make plays that you couldn’t make when you’re playing with average-height people.”
That opportunity to compete on more equal terms can have a lasting effect on an athlete’s confidence.
“When you walk on the court or the field and whatever sport it is that day, your confidence shifts for sure,” Sata said. “You feel like you’re even with everyone else.
“You might not realize how athletic some dwarfs are when you’re playing against average-height people,” he continued. “Just playing with a lot of friends and winning, it means the world to me.”
The significance of those opportunities is especially personal for Justin’s father, Jon Sata, President of Business Operations for the Wolves.
“As a dad, it’s exceptional to see the joy that it brings to the athletes,” Jon Sata said. “It’s the one time of year that they get to participate and compete together as a community.”
For Roloff, creating those experiences is at the heart of the organization’s mission.
“DAAA provides something that can be incredibly difficult for an athlete with dwarfism to find in their own community: The opportunity to compete against athletes of similar stature in an environment designed for them,” Roloff said.
That sense of belonging can be just as important as the competition itself.
The DAAA regularly sees young athletes arrive at the National Games who may be hesitant to participate or who have spent much of their lives as the only person with dwarfism on a team. Being surrounded by athletes who share their experiences can change how they see themselves.
“We often say DAAA is about much more than medals,” Roloff said. “Sports are the vehicle, but confidence, independence, friendships, leadership and belonging are some of the lasting outcomes.”
Making those opportunities possible requires more than athletes simply showing up. Because dwarfism is relatively rare, athletes and their families may have to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to find meaningful competition against other athletes with dwarfism. The cost of travel, facilities, equipment and event operations can create additional barriers.
The Wolves’ donation will help the DAAA offset some of those costs and continue providing high-quality athletic opportunities for athletes and their families. The timing also carries added significance with the 2028 DAAA National Games scheduled to take place in Chicago.
“Our donation is going to have a huge impact,” Jon Sata said. “Their organization is, from a funding standpoint, going to go a very long way to impacting a lot of people, especially at their National Games.”
With the National Games bringing athletes and families from across North America together, the support will help create the kind of environment that makes those opportunities possible.
“Ultimately, the Chicago Wolves aren’t simply helping fund a sporting event,” Roloff said. “They’re helping create a place where an athlete with dwarfism can walk onto a court or field and know that the opportunity in front of them was built for them.”
To donate to the Dwarf Athletic Association of America, go here.
For information on Wolves tickets for the 2026-27 American Hockey League season, call 1-800-THE-WOLVES or visit www.chicagowolves.com.
