Uncle Sam might want you, but WE DO TOO!! We need you to volunteer, because volunteers make our world go round. Special Olympics Pennsylvania – Philadelphia relies on the wonderful work that our dedicated team of volunteers selflessly provide event after event and time after time. We couldn’t do what we do without their support.
There are a number of ways that you, too, can get involved! Depending on your area of interest opportunities include: Games Management, Coaching, Day of Event Volunteers, Special Events, Internships, Young Professionals Committee, Administrative and Office Support and you can even Volunteer to Cheer – just come out and be a fan!
If you’re interested in receiving information about available volunteer opportunities, please fill out a NEW VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM! From there you will receive occasional emails updating you on upcoming volunteer needs and how you can get involved and support Special Olympics PA – Philadelphia!
We do have some IMMEDIATE needs, however. If you’re able to help for any of the below, please contact us immediately (bkleine@specialolympicspa.org) and we will confirm your attendance as a volunteer.
1) Unified Soccer Matches: Wednesday, May 7 at MLK High School from 8:30 AM until approximately 12:30 PM, and Wednesday, May 14 at Frankford Stadium from 8:30 AM until approximately 12:30 PM. Volunteers are needed to help set up games and run the matches for our school students (both with and without intellectual disabilities).
2) Unified Soccer Championship: Friday, May 30, 2014, at Thomas Edison High School. Volunteer opportunities range from 6:00 AM until about 3:30 PM. The needs include set up, athlete coordination, games management, event management, and more. This event is the culminating event of this year’s Unified Soccer in Philadelphia! Dignitaries and other VIP guests will be out witnessing the excitement. This will be a fun tournament-type day with 13 schools participating.
3) Dirty Dash: Saturday, June 7 from 6:15 AM until 2:15 pm. The organizers of the Dirty Dash are giving SOPA Philly a donation for each volunteer we provide! Volunteers are needed to help with the setup and management of the event. We have a goal of providing 50 volunteers. The event is in Schwenksville, PA and volunteers must be 18 and older. We also have 20 free Foam 5K registrations to give away to Dirty Dash volunteers on a first come first serve basis. The Foam 5k is on May 24th.
4) SAVE THE DATE: SOPA Athlete National Games Send-off: Saturday, June 14, 2014. More information will be available soon! We will need everyone in Philadelphia and the surrounding area to come out and Volunteer to Cheer! We will be joining together at the Wells Fargo Center to send off Special Olympic Pennsylvania athletes to the National Games in New Jersey and wish them luck. Philadelphia is sending the largest delegation of athletes in Pennsylvania and they need your support. BE A PART OF THE MAGIC!
Please contact Britt at bkleine@specialolympicspa.org to confirm your attendance as a volunteer at any of the above events or to inquire further. As always, thank you for support SOPA Philly!
Gold medals that is! As part of their “Support the Home Team” campaign, Wawa stores across the east coast are collecting your spare change to help send Special Olympics athletes to the 2014 USA National Games in New Jersey. Special Olympics Pennsylvania is scheduled to send more than 230 athletes to the games, 24 of whom represent the Philadelphia program. Through August 11th you can help Wawa turn your change to gold by asking an associate to scan a $1, $3, or $5 donation to Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s USA National Games team.
On June 14, 2013 at the Penn State Conference Center Hotel in State College, the first round of athletes were selected to represent Team Pennsylvania in the 2014 Special Olympics USA National Games. Special Olympics Philadelphia is proud to report that four individual athletes and two basketball teams will be representing Team Pennsylvania at the National Games with another two individual athletes being selected as alternates.
On June 14, 2013 at the Penn State Conference Center Hotel in State College, the first round of athletes were selected to represent Team Pennsylvania in the 2014 Special Olympics USA National Games. Six Philly Athletes Selected for 2014 USA National Games as well as two basketball teams will be representing Team Pennsylvania at the National Games with another two individual athletes being selected as alternates.
Athletes were selected by a random draw from those who won a gold medal at the 2013 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games held from June 7-9, 2013 at Pennsylvania State University. The first round of athletes, partners and alternates were selected in the sports of Aquatics, Athletics, Bowling, Golf, Artistic Gymnastics, Tennis, Basketball (Full-Court Teams), and Softball (Traditional and Unified Sports Teams).
Special Olympic Philadelphia athletes still have a chance to qualify for the 2014 National Games which will be held in New Jersey. The remaining 96 spots on Team Pennsylvania will be decided after athletes compete at the 2013 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Fall Festival at Villanova University on November 1-3, 2013. Athletes will be selected from the sports of Bocce, Powerlifting, 5 v 5 Soccer (Traditional and Unified Teams), and Volleyball (Traditional). Congratulations, Team Philly!
National Games Athletes Named from Special Olympics Pennsylvania to compete in the 2010 USA National Games in Nebraska from July 18-23. During these USA National Games, nearly 3,000 athletes will compete in 13 Olympic-style sports, with the support of 1,000 coaches, 8,000 volunteers and an estimated 15,000 family and friends. In addition to sports, the USA National Games will offer various programs in health, wellness and education. Special Olympics Pennsylvania named 40 athletes and 13 coaches to be part of the National Games.
Teddy Angerman
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Teddy Angerman has been participating in the Special Olympics PA, Philadelphia County program for 25 years, training and competing in the following sports: aquatics, basketball, bocce, bowling, powerlifting, and volleyball. In the past, Angerman has attended the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Alaska and the 1989 World Winter Games in Nevada. When asked how Special Olympics changed his life, Angerman said, “I’ve met a lot of friends through Special Olympics and I’ve learned how to play other sports.” Angerman is currently employed at Navy Depot, and in his spare time, enjoys bike riding, shopping and going to the movies. |
Meghan Garlick
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Meghan Garlick has been participating in the Special Olympics PA, Philadelphia County program for 7 years, training and competing in the following sports: aquatics, basketball, bocce, and bowling. When asked how Special Olympics changed her life, Garlick noted “making a lot of friends” as being a major highlight. Garlick currently works with her mom cleaning houses, and in her spare time, enjoys visiting the New Jersey shore where she surfs. During the winter months, she enjoys snowboarding. |
Eddie Glover
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Eddie Glover has been participating in the Special Olympics PA, Philadelphia County program for 26 years, training and competing in the following sports: athletics and floor hockey. In the past, Glover has attended the 1987 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Indiana and the 2001 World Winter Games in Alaska. Glover is currently employed with the Special Olympics Philadelphia Program, and in his spare time, enjoys playing softball, skiing, ice skating and rowing. |
Mary Ellen Zisette
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Mary Ellen Zisette has been involved with the Special Olympics PA, Philadelphia County program for approximately 20 years where she serves as the bowling coach and member of the Spring Games Management Team and Awards committees. In the past, Zisette has served as a bowling coach for the 2006 National Games in Iowa. She also attended the 1995 World Summer Games in Connecticut as a spectator, the 1999 World Summer Games while on vacation, and the 2001 World Winter Games in Alaska as a parent. While she spends much of her free time coaching and working with Special Olympics athletes, Zisette also enjoys traveling with her immediate family and getting together for extended family events. |
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