Get Involved Spotlight: Special Olympics Texas
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Consider the basketball. Left alone on flat ground, it is just a basketball. Now put the basketball in the hands of a Special Olympics Texas athlete. What happens next is much more than basketball. She throws the basketball through the hoop and feels joy. Her family cheers with pride. Spectators without an intellectual disability start to see her a little differently, perhaps re-considering how they view people with intellectual disabilities. Little by little, the world changes. The sport is the medium, but the real power lies within the Special Olympics experience and all the people it touches.
From Special Olympics Texas, the community sees a new way of thinking, feeling and acting. In the moments of the Special Olympics Texas experience, the athlete changes from a person of diminished value to a champion. In these moments of transformation, everyone else is changed too. We are more open, joyful, tolerant and accepting. Ultimately, these are the traits that can help create a better community for us all.
What Can Your Support Do?
- For $5 two athletes can receive two ribbons each at a local competition
- For $10 SOTX can offer one athlete the chance to compete in an area bowling competition
- For $20 Special Olympics Texas can provide training materials for one coach
- For $25 one athlete can compete in an area sports competition such as basketball, athletics, bocce ball or softball
- For $35 one athlete can participate at statewide competition Winter Games
- For $55 one athlete can participate at statewide competition Fall Classic
- For $75 one athlete can compete at Summer Games.
- For $100 one athlete or family member can attend Families Camp
- For $500 twenty Special Olympics Texas athletes can receive support to participate in competitions at the state level
- For $1000 Special Olympics Texas can host a Victory Dance to celebrate the athletes’ accomplishments at state games.
There are many sponsorship opportunities available throughout the year for Special Olympics Texas from actual competitions to fundraising events. As a donor, you can see your gift in action through diverse, year-round volunteer opportunities.
Since the Special Olympics program is available in every community, your donation benefits local athletes. Austin area offices serve over 5,000 athletes, 328 coaches and 2,882 volunteers. Ultimately, your generosity can provide a life-changing experience for individuals with intellectual disabilities well into the future. For more information on upcoming events and how to get involved contact Melissa Matherne at mmatherne@sotx.org
Volunteer Opportunities:
Special Olympics Texas is a volunteer-driven organization, which means that we need volunteers for just about everything. Volunteers can assist at the events, coach athletes, help with fundraising, coordinate events, provide office support, serve on committees and so much more. You name it, they do it! More than 1.5 million individuals around the globe dedicate one of the most precious gifts to Special Olympics – their time. Over 30,000 of those individuals volunteer right here in Texas. For more information on how to get involved contact Judy Yoshimaru at jyoshimaru@sotx.org.
If you have a passion for helping youth and adults with intellectual disabilities, and you’d like to help with fundraising, event logistics, and outreach in the community, you may want to join one of our many event committees, for more information contact Melissa Matherne.
Upcoming Events and Competitions Include:
- Aquatics Competition: September 22, 2012 at Hays Communities Family Branch (YMCA of Austin)
- Fire Truck Pull: August 26, 2012 at Round Rock Express Dell Diamond
- Bocce Ball Competition: September 28, 2012 at Parque Zaragoza Park
- Over the Edge: October 27 2012 at Hyatt Downtown Austin on the Lake
- Bowling Competition: November 11-14, 2012 at Showplace Lanes
- Flag Football Competition: December 1, 2012 location TBD
The Special Olympics Texas program is used as a model for many states and even countries as they develop and mature their program offerings. In every program, Special Olympics strives to be a cutting-edge organization that approaches each endeavor we undertake with a single intent – to improve the quality of life for the athletes we serve. Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you we are able to do just that.
Audio and video for post produced by Mike Lee
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