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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!

Click here for the brand new "R" Word TV Public Service Announcement.
Click here for a PDF of the new “R” Word flyer.

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:

Hokies vs. Hoos online "R" word challenge, April - July

Kroger "R" word coin collection campaign, June - August

For more information on the "R" word campaign, contact:

Corporate Partners may contact Katie at kbotha@specialolympicsva.org

Media Partners may contact Holly at hclaytor@specialolympicsva.org

If you’re a fan of Special Olympics, you’re no fan of the "R" word, retard. Help Special Olympics Virginia eliminate the “R” word.
Click here to sign the “R” word pledge today!!

TA-DA!! Young Athletes "off to a great start" across Virginia

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:

Aquatics Bowling Powerlifting Volleyball
Athletics Cycling Soccer Bocce
Basketball Golf Softball Gymnastics
Tennis

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.

Raising awareness, funds and spirits with Sheetz

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!

Special Olympics Virginia athletes Frank Stephens (left) and Paul Marretti (right) with Quincy Jones

Three Special Olympics Virginia Athletes Celebrate with Quincy Jones

Three Special Olympics Virginia athletes had the distinct honor to attend longtime Special Olympics supporter Quincy Jones’ 75th birthday bash April 23 in Washington, DC. David Egan, Paul

Marretti and Frank Stephens shared stories and jokes with Jones, and also presented him with several birthday gifts during the evening.

The Academy Award-winning film composer expressed his gratitude to his many well-wishers, noting: “I can't tell you how honored and grateful I am to be here tonight with everyone, especially the Special Olympics athletes and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me grow younger.”

More than 150 guests including musicians, athletes, members of Congress, US foreign ambassadors, business executives and philanthropic leaders also attended the festivities to personally give Jones their best wishes. The evening's highlights included the reading of a personal message from United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a surprise phone call from the legendary Stevie Wonder, and a surprise visit from former Secretary of State General Colin Powell.

Macy's Thanks for Sharing program raises more than $600,000 for Special Olympics in 10 states

During 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:

Program Volunteer of the Year: Bill McKinney of Richmond

Outstanding Area Volunteer: Tim Hartle of Fairfax

Outstanding Family of the Year: The Ruley Family of Churchville

Coach of the Year: Billy Brock of Norfolk

Athlete of the Year: Karen Dickerson of Springfield

Virginia H. Foster Winning Spirit Award: Grace Anne Braxton of Fredericksburg

For more information on each winner, click here for the event program.

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, click here.

Virginia General Assembly Honors Special Olympics Athletes with House & Senate Joint Resolutions

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.

The athletes, whose World Games successes included seven gold, six silver and five bronze medals, each were presented with a House Joint Resolution in the center aisle of the House Chambers Wednesday, Feb. 27. Immediately following the House presentation, the athletes made their way over to the Senate Chambers, where each athlete also was presented with a Senate Joint Resolution in the Senate center aisle.

"When a person with an intellectual disability can be recognized as an honored citizen, a role model, a person of dignity, a leader," said Rick Jeffrey, Special Olympics Virginia president, "it is significant of a new inclusive way of thinking that will help us all learn how we can share each other’s gifts and live better together."

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.


	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. full story here.

	Check out these photos of our athletes. Photo gallery