About SOVAHow to DonateVolunteerBe
an AthleteSponsors
2008
CalendarLocal
Events Contact
SOVASports
OfferedCoaches
InformationUrban
Programs Home |
"Let
me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
Created by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation
|
Do you think you have what it takes to pull a 157,000-pound cargo jet? If so, gather 19 of your closest friends and join us for the 16th Annual Dulles Day Family Festival and Plane Pull. If not, we still want you to join us for this day-long fundraiser benefiting Special Olympics Virginia! During the event, set for Sept. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dulles International Airport, teams of 20 will play tug-of-war with a 157,000-pound cargo jet to see who can pull the aircraft 12 feet the fastest. Anyone can compete and teams of 20 still are invited to register. |
||||||||||||||||
|
Grab your tennis shoes and join Special Olympics Virginia for the 8th Annual Richmond Walk-A-Thon from 8:30 a.m. until noon Sept. 13 at the Byrd Park Vita course. Walk or run with dozens of Special Olympics athletes and volunteers on the 1, 2, or 3-mile course. Proceeds from the event benefit Special Olympics Virginia’s Urban Programs, which reach out to more than 1,500 City of Richmond adults and children with intellectual disabilities. All teams and individuals are welcome; you must raise a minimum of $25 to participate. All participants will receive a Walk-a-Thon T-shirt. For more information, contact Floyd Miller at 804-726-3035 or fmiller@specialolympicsva.org. For the contribution and entry form, click here. To view the Walk-a-Thon photo slideshow on YouTube, click here. |
||||||||||||||||
|
Help referee an epic corporate battle at Innsbrook to benefit Special Olympics Virginia
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Fairfax County Board recognizes Special Olympics athlete Karen Dickerson
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Use GoodSearch.com and earn money for Special Olympics Virginia! What if Special Olympics Virginia earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support our ? Well, now it can! GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. By bookmarking and using GoodSearch.com each time you search the Internet, you'll be helping by raising funds for Special Olympics Virginia. Just type in "Special Olympics Virginia" when prompted for "Who do you GoodSearch.com for?” and watch the donations add up! Additionally, GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 37 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause. Hundreds of stores have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting your favorite cause. |
||||||||||||||||
|
Special Olympics Virginia hits YouTube!
|
||||||||||||||||
|
500 Compete in 4th Annual Virginia Run Triathlon & Raise More Than $10,000 In addition to the “fans,” eight Special Olympics Virginia Athletes competed in the triathlon, all completing the course with speed and skill, while opening the hearts and minds of those around them to the value of people with intellectual disabilities. “The Special Olympics athletes were absolutely amazing,” said LJ White of Fins, Wheels, Feet Racing, the event’s presenting partner. "They did it all and they did it with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts." Tri-DC magazine published a fantastic article on the run; click here for the article. |
||||||||||||||||
|
Summer Games – Something to Cheer About!
Special Olympics Virginia’s Summer Games event in Richmond has long held many superlatives. It’s the largest state competition. It attracts the most athletes, the most sponsors and the most community volunteers. And usually, it’s held on what seems like the hottest weekend of the year.
2008 did not disappoint in any of these categories. The delegation of athletes, coaches and chaperones from all corners of the Commonwealth topped 1,600. The number of sponsors and event partners has never been higher. Volunteer groups of all sizes banded together to create an efficient 48-hour network of helping hands that stretched from University of Richmond’s Robins Center all the way to the Glen Allen Softball Complex and several competition venues in between. The dizzying number of medals and ribbons adorning Special Olympians at Saturday evening’s Victory Dance was eclipsed only by the huge smiles and audacious moves on the dance floor.
While glorious and inspiring, none of these details made this year’s Summer Games more outstanding than any other year. Yet 2008’s edition was better than any other Summer Games in recent memory. Thanks to the fans.
On Friday and Saturday, more than one-thousand “fan-atics” showed their enthusiasm by making posters, waving cheer sticks and creating an atmosphere of excitement with their applause. The onslaught of fan support was in response to a very simple public invitation to help make Summer Games a little more special by filling the stands. Richmonders heeded the call and in doing so, helped an already amazing event earn yet another superlative: the loudest Summer Games ever.
Now that’s something to cheer about!
Thank you again to all the fans, volunteers, athletes, families and sponsors for your support. Click here for several photo highlights from the weekend.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
You Shoot! You Win!
Many thanks to everyone who submitted photos for the Special Olympics Virginia Summer Games Photo Contest, sponsored by Glory Days Grill and Style Weekly. In the end, however, we had to choose one fantastic image – and this year’s winning photo (to the left) truly captures the spirit of Special Olympics. Special thanks and congratulations to Scott Brown of Richmond for shooting this terrific photo, which will be posted in both Richmond-area Glory Days Grill locations.
We always welcome you to share photos from Special Olympics events – please send your best shots to info@specialolympicsva.org anytime!
|
||||||||||||||||
|
If you’re a fan of Special Olympics, you’re no fan of the "R" word, retard. Help change local mindsets and vocabularies by pledging to eliminate the "R" word. Follow the lead of state and local businesses like Macy's, Kroger and American Family Fitness by supporting any of these initiatives:
For more information on the "R" word campaign, contact:
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Athletes under age 8 have traditionally had to wait to become an official Special Olympian athlete, but thanks to efforts of Regional Directors Tina Andes and Danielle Pokusa, many youngsters aged 2 to 7 years have participated in pilot programs across the state. Pilot programs rely on generous partners like American Family Fitness and The Little Gym in Richmond who have provided enthusiastic instructors and safe spaces for our athletes to showcase their skills and interact with their parents. To learn more about starting a Young Athletes program in a school or community near you, please contact Val Reinford or download this brochure.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
2010 National Games Seeks Technical Delegates
Special Olympics North America is seeking qualified individuals to serve in the role of volunteer technical delegate for the following sports at the 2010 Special Olympics U.S. National Games in Omaha/Lincoln, Nebraska July 17 – July 23:
The technical delegate interest form can be downloaded by clicking here and the detailed job description can be downloaded by clicking here. If you know of any individuals who may be interested, please distribute this information to them. All interest forms must submitted by July 11, 2008 via e-mail, fax or mail. A resume to include Special Olympics and Sport Federation experience, certifications and other applicable experience is acceptable. Return interest form to: Greg Epperson/Special Olympics North America /4004 Barrett Dr., Suite 206/Raleigh, NC 27609/Phone : 919-785-0700/Fax: 919-782-3311/e-mail: gepperson@specialolympics.org.
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Sheetz District Manager, Don Singer, was joined by Sheetz Store Managers from across the state in presenting Special Olympics Virginia with a check for more than $26,000 in proceeds from their 2007 in-store coin collection campaign at the Winning Spirit Golf Classic held April 28 at Brandermill Country Club in Midlothian. With the help of corporate partners like Sheetz, Alstom and BEX, this year's Winning Spirit raised an additional $15,000 for Special Olympics Virginia's state programs. Thank you to all who participated, despite the rain!
|
||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
 Macy's Thanks for Sharing program raises more than $600,000 for Special Olympics in 10 statesDuring this holiday season (Sept.19 through Dec. 31) Macy's shoppers who enrolled in The Thanks for Sharing program helped to raise more than half a million dollars in support of three national charities including Special Olympics. In Virginia, Macy's will continue to support the Law Enforcement Torch Run in addition to supporting the Winning Spirit Golf Classic and the Summer Games Victory Dance. That's OUTSTANDING news for Macy's, Special Olympics Virginia and the communities we both serve.
|
Special Olympics Virginia Announce Annual Awards Winners
Special Olympics Virginia presented its Athlete of the Year, Coach of the Year, Outstanding Area Volunteer, Outstanding Family, Program Volunteer and Virginia H. Foster Winning Spirit awards at the 2008 Awards Celebration, presented by Farm Bureau Insurance, March 10. Congratulations to this year’s winners:
For more information on each winner, click here for the event program.
|
|
|
At the same time as legislation to remove the term "mentally retarded" from all state code is working its way through the Virginia General Assembly, eight Special Olympics Virginia athletes recently were presented with House and Senate Joint Resolutions commending them for their accomplishments during the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai.
|
||||||||||||
|
SunTrust My Cause promotion extended until June 30, 2008 SunTrust, a valued partner of Special Olympics Virginia and our Law Enforcement Torch Run, has made community involvement an important part of the relationships they have in the communities they serve. As part of their commitment, SunTrust launched the My Cause promotion to help raise money for nonprofit organizations just like Special Olympics Virginia. Through June 30, clients who open a new SunTrust Personal or Business Checking account, accept a new SunTrust Visa® Check Card, make any purchase using the card, and complete and submit an online redemption form by June 30, 2008, will be empowered to make a choice: Choose for SunTrust to either donate $100 to their favorite nonprofit organization (it must be a 501(c)(3) organization as recognized by the IRS) or choose to receive a $50 gift card to keep for their own cause. For more information about My Cause and how to get involved, please visit suntrust.com/mycause. |
||||||||||||||||
Ready, set, pull! Plane Pull set for Sept. 6 at Dulles
Teams must raise a minimum of $1,000 to participate, and an award is given to the team who raises the most money. Presented by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the Dulles Day Family Festival and Plane Pull also will feature live music, a 10th annual car show, a Kid’s Bus Pull, military and civilian aircraft displays, business exhibits, and children’s games and entertainment. For more information on the Plane Pull, or to register a team, please visit 
Don't miss the chance to cheer on more than 30 teams representing Richmond's finest businesses when they compete in eight zany events to earn yearlong bragging rights and the coveted traveling trophy. From the Jump Rope Jive and the Wacky Egg Toss to the Zany Relay and the Canoe Relay Races, the Richmond Corporate Games at Innsbrook are a longstanding Richmond tradition, with proceeds from the event benefiting Special Olympics Virginia. Activities run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 13 and the event is free and open to all spectators. Anyone interested in volunteering his or her referee skills for the afternoon should contact Katie Botha at 
Long-distance runner Karen Dickerson was recognized July 21 by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for her achievements as a Special Olympics Virginia athlete and a tireless advocate for Special Olympics. Among her many achievements, Dickerson competed in the 2003 World Games in Dublin Ireland, where she won the bronze medal, and she continues to compete in numerous marathons, including the Boston Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon. She also was one of 11 Special Olympics athletes chosen to run in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg during the 2007 Special Olympics World Games in China.
Looking for photos from Summer Games 2008? A video of thousands plunging into the Atlantic Ocean for a great cause? Check out these videos and many others via Special Olympics Virginia’s new YouTube Channel! Visit it today: 
While most were sound asleep Sunday, May 11, or Mother’s Day morning, 500 “fans” of Special Olympics Virginia were swimming, biking and running their hearts out during this year’s 4th Annual Virginia Run Triathlon. The competition, hosted by The Virginia Run Community in Centreville, VA, included a 250-meter swim, a 12-mile bike and a 3-mile run. The event raised more than $10,000 for Special Olympics Virginia.
TA-DA!! Young Athletes "off to a great start" across Virginia
Raising awareness, funds and spirits with Sheetz
Children are invited to submit original logo designs for the Kids Bus Pull—a kid-sized version of our famous Plane Pull event—where teams of children pull a school bus to raise money for Special Olympics Virginia. The winning logo design will be featured on posters and T-shirts given to all Kids Bus Pull participants. The artwork of the semi-finalists will be displayed at Dulles Airport this summer. For more information, 
 |
|||
 |
You can Make the Point All Year Round! Make the Point is a collaborative effort between Special Olympics Virginia, a life enrichment program through sport for persons with intellectual disabilities, and public and private schools across Virginia. Special Olympics Virginia is proud to partner private schools, elementary and middle schools, organizations, PTA's, and members of the Virginia High School league to offer this exciting program. This is an innovative way to support Special Olympics Virginia, raise money for your school, and promote volunteerism all in one program. Special Olympics Virginia uses the funds raised to scholarship athletes from your community to Special Olympics Virginia State Championships. The remaining 50% you raise stay to support your school. |
||
Check out these photos of our athletes. | |||
To read past articles click here.
we couldn't do it without you!
Site Index Privacy Statement |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
