The 2014 TD Bank Campaign for Special Olympics is approaching the home stretch here in Philadelphia. With 22 branches and countless staff working hard to raise money for our Philadelphia Program, the numbers are looking promising and encouraging for a strong finish!
The TD Bank Fundraising Campaign for Special Olympics runs until May 4th, 2014, and was designed to raise support for Special Olympics. The fundraiser allows TD Bank Employees, Customers, friends, and family to support their goal of raising over $1 million for Special Olympics in the states they operate in!
To raise funds, TD Bank is offering wristbands with a minimum donation of $5 at any of their 1300+ TD Bank locations. In addition, customers can bring in loose change, count it at the Penny Arcade, and donate all or part of their Penny Arcade total to the Special Olympics. TD Bank will waive the fee for non-Customers if they too wish to donate! Of course, Customers and Employees can also make a donation at any TD Bank Store; this can be done by check or cash.
Be sure to visit your local TD Bank branch to get your wristband and to help support Special Olympics Pennsylvania- Philadelphia!
MedFest at Drexel University is Thursday, March 27, 2014MedFest at Drexel University will be held at the Armory (3205 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104) between 8:00 am – 2:00 pm on Thursday, March 27.
Come join us for Special Olympics Night with the Sixers! The Sixers will be hosting Special Olympics Pennsylvania at their March 29, 2014 game against the Detriot Pistons. The game starts at 7:30pm. The public is able to purchase tickets to the game and support Special Olympics. Tickets are $28 Mezzanine Centers Rows 1-7 or $43 Lower Level Corners Rows 11-17. $3 per ticket purchased will be given back to Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
You can purchase tickets online here. When prompted, type in promo code: SOPA. Choose the 76ers vs. Detroit Pistons Game. $3 of every ticket purchased using this code will go back to the local program, based on zip code of the person making the purchase.
Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes in attendance will have the opportunity to go on the court after the game to take a shot and have their photo taken. In addition, Michael Carter Williams will be speaking to our group after the game!
For more information, contact Katie Simmons at 215-339-7657 or email katiesimmons@sixers.com.
Note: You may also use this code to buy tickets to any Sixers game to help benefit our partnership, so please reach out for Katie or follow the above link for all of your Sixers ticket purchases (and share with friends and family too)!
Participants line up at the starting line for the 29th annual Leprechaun Run
This year’s 29th Annual Leprechaun Run was a Success! The Leprechaun Run, a Philadelphia tradition since 1984 continued on March 16th at The Navy Yard and raised over $27,000 for Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes.
Thank you to everyone who came out to help make the Leprechaun Run the great event that it was! We couldn’t have asked for better weather, or better participants!
We have big plans in store for next year’s 30th run including bringing the run back to its roots on the second Saturday in March. Stayed tuned toward the end of 2014 for further details on what you can expect from our 2015 Leprechaun Run!
For race photos and results, click here for results and click here for photos. For more information about the Leprechaun Run, click here.
See you next year for the Leprechaun’s 30th birthday!
The Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities (MCPD) has selected Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia program wins Access Achievement Award in their nonprofit organizations category! The Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilties annually presents an Access Achievement Awards to area businesses, non-profits organizations, and individuals who have made outstanding efforts to improve access for people with disabilities throughout the Delaware Valley. Business, organizations, and individuals are nominated by the public and selected by the Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities.
The Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities presents Annual Access Achievement Awards in the following categories:
In addition to the Access Achievement Awards, the commission also awards scholarships to students with disabilities who show potential as future leaders in the Philadelphia disability community. Awards will be presented at the MCPD Seventeenth Annual Access Achievement Awards Breakfast on October 25, 2013.
Our plaque says, “For outstanding commitment to increase access for people with disabilities through the removal of physical and attitudinal barriers”. We want to thank the Special Olympics Pennsylvania – Philadelphia family for being our success. Without you, this award would not have been possible. We are proud of the barriers we have overcome, but know there are many more individuals with disabilities we can be reaching. We look forward to continue expanding and increasing opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Philadelphia’s 5-a-side soccer team, Stars and Stripes, after earning the Bronze Medal during the impressive showing at the Fall Sectional
On October 5, 2013, Special Olympics Pennsylvania head their 2013 Eastern Fall Sectional at East Stroudsburg University. The Philadelphia local program had an impressive showing at the fall sectional as athletes competed in soccer, bocce, volleyball, powerlifting and long distance running and walking were the sports offered at the Fall Sectional. Three bocce teams, two soccer teams (a 5-a-side team and a 7-a-side team), and a volleyball team represented the Philadelphia local program. The Eastern Fall Sectional is held to determine which athletes qualify for Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Fall Festival, hosted by Villanova University. After a day of intense competition, we are proud to announce our teams had an impressive showing at the fall sectional.
Kenneth Brown, a student at Abraham Lincoln High School in Philadelphia and a Special Olympics Unified Partner, was recently selected as a National Youth Activation Committee (YAC) member by Special Olympics North America, a top honor in the organization.
The YAC is made up of young people from across the country who work together to promote school communities where all young people are agents of change. YAC members provide advice and counsel on strategies designed to reach other youth, engage in and promote Special Olympics activities in their home environments, communicate the initiatives of Special Olympics Project UNIFY, and network with other youth and U.S. Programs on a local, national and global basis.
Kenneth got involved with Special Olympics in his high school, where his twin brother, Kevin, who has autism and intellectual disabilities, also attends. Kenneth and Kevin played on a Unified soccer team together, and the experience inspired Kenneth to get more involved with Special Olympics.
“As a National YAC member, I truly want to reach out to people on a national & local level, helping to start a chain reaction and break down barriers,” Kenneth explains. “I want to empower others so that one-day their dreams will come true too. My favorite part about being involved with Project UNIFY is that every day is another opportunity to help another someone’s dreams come true.”
Special Olympics Philadelphia is a proud charitable partner of the 2013 Philadelphia Marathon. Volunteer for Philly Marathon weekend to make the race an awesome experience for everyone! 10 runners representing Special Olympics Philadelphia will be hitting the pavement on November 16th and 17th for the marathon, half marathon, or 8K race, and we’re looking for our awesome volunteers to be part of the weekend as well without breaking a sweat! This weekend is a highly anticipated event weekend for the city of Philadelphia as runners travel from all across the world to run past all of the famous spots in Philadelphia.
Volunteers are needed to assist in a variety of ways between November 15-17th:
Volunteers for this opportunity must be at least 18 years old. To join us as a volunteer, please submit the form below. For more information about the race location and courses, please visit the official marathon site.
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!
Facebook
Twitter