On Saturday, April 29th, Special Olympics Philadelphia held our 40th Annual Philadelphia Spring Games at William Penn Charter (3000 West School House Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19144) and it was an absolute success! We had a record-breaking event on numerous levels, including the number of counties hosted (six), the number of athletes competing, and celebrity and political representatives! It looked like it would be a cloudy day when it started, but as we were about to start the sun came out.
The day started at 8:00 am at the Philadelphia Museum of Art with the Law Enforcement Torch Run. The Flame of Hope was escorted by law enforcement from the Upper Gwynedd Township Police Department, Philadelphia Police Department, lead by Deputy Commissioner Dennis Wilson. Members carried the Flame of Hope from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to William Penn Charter. At 9:00 am, Opening Ceremonies began enthusiastically as athlete Allie Rutizer, and Sports Anchor for Comcast SportsNet, John Boruk emceed the morning. To lead the parade of athletes, West Powelton Drum Squad lead the way before we introduced athletes from Bethlehem City, Chester County, Delaware County, Lehigh County, Montgomery County, and of course, Philadelphia County. Besides athletic teams, basketball teams, and tennis teams, we also welcomed our Young Athletes, Gymnastics Team, and athletes from School of the Future and some of our bocce athletes. Athletes in the parade were escorted by members of the Temple University Football Team. After the athletes took their seats, a remarkable edition of the National Anthem was sung by a parent, Denine Aversa as Frankford High Schools Junior ROTC Color Guard lead by Cadet Kevin Olsen presented the colors.
Afterward, Director of Special Olympics PA – Philadelphia, Britt Kleine, spoke and introduced Mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, who gave words of his support of Special Olympics, appreciation for everyone involved, and encouragement for the athletes about to compete. After Mayor Kenney spoke, Councilman Derek Green spoke and presented Special Olympics PA – Philadelphia with a Citation from the City of Philadelphia to honor the 40th Anniversary of the Philadelphia Spring Games. Opening Ceremony ended with the Flame of Hope being brought in by the Law Enforcement Torch Run and escorted by, retired professional boxer, Bernard Hopkins. After the excitement of the Flame of Hope arriving at the 40th Annual Philadelphia Spring Games, Allie and John kept the energy high by proclaiming the Games Open!
Athletes parted ways to partake in athletics (track and field), basketball, and tennis competition. As competition started, our VIP guests got to participate in a Unified Bocce Experience with some of our community bocce athletes as well as athletes from our Interscholastic Unified School, School of the Future. Two courts were set up and after a brief training for our VIP guests, the experience was on its way! Everyone who participated had a great time and athletes played alongside our VIP guests. Our Young Athletes who are not old enough to compete as an official Special Olympics athlete, showed off their skills at William Penn Charter’s playground as they completed an obstacle course that was set up especially to show off their skills.
Besides competition, the Olympic Village offered a place for athletes to relax and do some fun activities while waiting for their turn to compete. In addition, sponsor PriceWaterhouseCoopers was at the grill, firing up some burgers, hot dogs and chicken sandwiches for spectators as well as selling some beverages and souvenirs. The day ended with athletes being awarded medals in order of their finish at their respective competition site. Everyone left happy, and for those athletics and tennis athletes – a little tanner!
Thank you to the coaches, assistant coaches, and families who helped all of our athletes prepare for the 40th Annual Philadelphia Spring Games! A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who made this day possible!
Coming Soon!
| Team | Athletes | Place |
| Bad News Bears | ||
| Timberwolves | ||
| Wildcats | ||
| Ballers | ||
| Blazers | ||
| Hawks | ||
| Hoops | ||
| Phlames | ||
| Phlash | ||
| Rebels |
Coming Soon!
Via Kristen Applegate YouTube channel on behalf of Temple University
PHOTOS: Special Olympics holds annual Philadelphia Spring Games at Penn Charter in East Falls
The Gish Rockford Family
Our program is growing and we need your help! Special Olympics PA – Philadelphia is Seeking Management Team Volunteers! Our management team will be comprised of volunteers who are dedicated and passionate about SOPA Philly to help us grow in a variety of areas. These individuals will work on the administrative/back-end of SOPA Philly and help us advance the program’s best interests throughout the year. Below is the descriptions of the management team positions we are looking to fill. Several of these positions are recommended by Special Olympics PA and will all be considered for use in the Philadelphia Program. Additional positions have been added based on our program’s needs.
Assisting in the organization and success of sports training for coaches and athletes. Additionally responsible for the collaborating with program’s Sports Director to ensure paperwork, deadlines and other needs are met in order to for athletes to participate in Area/County/Statewide competitions (in compliance with Olympics sports rules and SOPA policies)
Recruiting and coordinating the activities of family members of Special Olympics athletes to encourage participation.
Working with an Athlete (similar title) to encourage and develop plans to sustain healthy and active lifestyles beyond an athlete’s sports training. Providing suggestions and recommendations to the SOPA Philadelphia staff on how we can be a healthier program (menus for events, additional active/fitness opportunities, website resources, etc.)
Working with families, athletes and teams to engage them in fundraising activities and initiatives to help support the local program budget. This can be through engaging athletes to participate in current fundraisers (Leprechaun Run, Philadelphia Polar Plunge) or by creating new fundraisers (dance, raffles, etc.)
Working with our school program to help transition participants into our community program both during their time as a student and after they graduate from high school. Connecting with city service groups to promote Special Olympics for individuals with ID through their support coordinators.
Focus on growing Unified Sports offerings in the community. Adding Unified Sports opportunities to existing training sites and seeking new opportunities. Responsible for recruiting Athletes and Partners to participate on these Unified teams. Will work closely with Manager of Interscholastic Unified Sports (school program) and Sports Director.
*Unified Sports is a program that brings together individuals with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams promoting inclusive communities and a shift in focus on a person’s abilities instead of their disabilities. These teams can be a ‘player development’ model where the partner (no intellectual disability) is in a mentorship role to the athlete (person with ID), but it can also be a ‘competitive’ model where both the partners and athletes have a similar skill level in that particular sport. Currently, SOPA Philly plays Unified bocce, soccer and track and field during our school program, and has Unified bocce and bowling in our community program.
Responsible for volunteer and athlete recruitment and registration. Works closely with our Database Coordinator.
Continue the ongoing success and growth of our Young Athletes Program. Ensuring sessions are running twice per year at various sites throughout the city. To include recruitment of participants and athletes, as well as identifying new potential host sites. Help develop and implement a sustainability plan for Young Athletes.
*Young Athletes is an 8 week-long early childhood sports play program for children with intellectual disabilities aged 2 to 7 years old. It includes games, songs, and other fun! Our young athletes learn basic sports skills like kicking and throwing a ball and playing with others! While young athletes practice their sports skills, they gain motor skills like balance, flexibility, strength, and coordination.
After finishing first at the 2017 IUS Philadelphia Bocce Championship, two George Washington teams an a team from Thomas Edison were placed into a hat to see who would represent Philadelphia at the 2017 Interscholastic Unified State Bocce Championships. At the end, one of the teams from George Washington Eagles moved on to represent Philadelphia. Members of the George Washington Team 1 headed to Hershey, PA on Thursday, March 23rd to be there when competition started early on Friday, March 24th.
George Washington showed up early to the Giant Center in Hershey, PA to go for the gold. In the first round, they went up against the Upper Dauphin Trojans and lost in a 7-8 game. Although the chance of gold slipped through their fingers with just one point, our George Washington Eagles did not lose sight of sportsmanship and congratulated the Trojans with their heads held high. In their final match, the Eagles went for the bronze medal as they went up against the Sun Valley Vanguards. The Eagles gave it their best shot, but in the end lost their second match. Like the first match, they congratulated the Vanguards with a smile on their face. Although the Eagles lost both of their matches, they had a great time spending the night in Hershey, PA and going against teams from across the state.
Gold Division |
Blue Division |
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1st |
Elizabeth Forward Warriors |
Rochester Rams |
2nd |
Upper Dauphin Trojans |
Grove City Eagles |
3rd |
Sun Valley Vanguards |
Souderton Indians |
4th |
George Washington Eagles |
Strath Haven Panthers |
On Friday, November 25th the 137th Annual Philadelphia Charity Ball took place. That evening, the Jimmy Medal awarded to Michael Caporale. The Jimmy Medal identifies and celebrates individuals who make a positive difference in the lives of others. Through their actions, they exemplify the virtues of resiliency, humility, empathy, and loyalty.
Mikey, diagnosed with autism, preferred being alone in his early years, watching and playing video games. His parents and stepparents felt that Mikey needed more engagement with the real world. He needed human connection. Mikey had shown some interest in videoing. Self-taught, he eventually started to capture video. At the age of 13, he discovered video blogs and started his very own YouTube channel and Mikey Cap Productions was born. The video camera got him out of the house and into the community, making friends both online and off. His YouTube channel and social media presence got a big boost from fellow local YouTubers with an international following exposing Mikey to others like him around the world. He made it his mission to show them that they are never alone, that they always have a friend in Mikey Cap. He is making a positive difference already in those he has reached, and encourages them to do the same, with the promise of a “shout-out” or repost as a reward.
Now in high school, Mikey followed in his big brother’s footsteps, by joining Special Olympics. He participates in bowling, athletics, volleyball, basketball, and soccer! Special Olympics is not only an outlet for much needed physical activity, it’s an opportunity every day for Mikey to build strong, lasting friendships with kids his own age, and to learn more about himself. He loves to record all his practices, capturing his feelings, egging on his coaches, cheering on his teammates. Special Olympics helped to round out the potential that everyone who knew him could already see: his compassion, his competitive nature, his strong spirit. And he plans to continue to participate in Special Olympics, to video for Mikey Cap Productions, and to spread the word that anyone can make a difference, if they try.
Philadelphia Charity Ball attendees and our athletes entered the Crystal ea Room under the sword arch of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, At the ball, Mikey was joined by his supportive family and fellow South Philadelphia teammates, Victoria Amaradio and Bianca Pedulla as he accepted the award. Mikey, Victoria, and Bianca indulged in a wonderful meal and, in true Special Olympics form, when it was time to hit the dance floor, Mikey grabbed his teammates and escorted them to the dance floor and showed the crowds their moves.
Between May 21st and June 22nd the 2016 TD Tour took place. Twelve Philadelphia athletes toured the twenty-two TD bank branches in Philadelphia as well as visited corporate TD in Center City. The TD Tour is when Special Olympics athletes visit various TD Banks to thank them for their support and sponsorship throughout the year. The athletes who participated in the 2016 TD Tour are Megan Murphy, Cory Jenkins, Ryan Bogan, Daniel Amrik, Sharon Quarles, Ian Capacio, Allison “Allie” Rutizer, Craig Lawson, Joseph Yerkes, Lisa Barber, Tyreek Perkins and Adrienna Nieves.
These athletes had the opportunity to go behind the scenes of almost every TD bank they visited and see things the public cannot see. They were given the royal treatment and they could not contain their excitement. Athletes were able to talk to customers through the drive through window using a microphone, see where TD’s clients’ valuables are kept in the vault, learn what tellers do on a daily basis, assist tellers with deposits, withdrawals and other transactions, and some even got “locked” in the vault!
Each bank was extremely welcoming to our athletes providing snacks and small TD Bank themed items. Our Philadelphia athletes had a lot of fun getting to know our new TD friends and touring where they work! The smiles on their faces were contagious and the athletes had every TD worker laughing and smiling. Thank you to all of the TD Banks who hosted us and we cannot wait for next year!
On Thursday, March 3rd eight Philadelphia high schools met at Thomas Edison High School for the 2016 IUS Bocce Championship – the first in Philadelphia to determine which two bocce teams would advance to the state competition in Hershey, PA. George Washington High School, Abraham Lincoln High School, Thomas Edison High School, School of the Future, CAPA, Parkway West High School, Simon Gratz and South Philadelphia High School came with their school spirit and drive to be one of the top two teams to advance.
Britt Kleine, Director of Special Olympics Pennsylvania – Philadlephia, kicked off the Opening Ceremonies where President and CEO of Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Matthew Aaron, and Director of Health, Safety and Physical Education of the Philadelphia School District, Bettyann Creighton, welcomed students, teachers, coaches, and fans to the event. Thomas Edison High School had a heavy hand in the Opening Cermonies as the Thomas Edison High School ROTC presented the colors, Thomas Edison High School Teacher and IUS coach, Josh Bower, lead coaches in the coaches oath, and Thomas Edison athlete Tyrik Walter declared the 2016 IUS Bocce Championship open! To lead athletes and partners in the athlete oath was Special Olympics State Unified Youth Committee Representatives from High School of the Future, Athlete and Partner, Tymair Boyer and Djibril Diall.
After Tyrik Walter declared the Championship open, athletes who were playing in round 1 rushed to their courts for the first 20 minute game. Following Round 1 were two more rounds of intense competition with teams trying to seal their spot in the semi-finals. After the third round, there was a pause in play while scores were added up to determine which teams would move on to the semi-finals. However, the pause in games did not cause our athletes and partners to sit still. The DJ cranked up the tunes and a dance party took over Thomas Edison’s gymnasium. Although the Special Olympics Pennsylvania – Philadelphia staff was sad to break up the dance party, they had the important task of announcing the 8 teams to move on to the semi-finals (in alphabetical order): Lincoln 2, School of the Future 1, School of the Future 2, School of the Future 4, Thomas Edison 1, Thomas Edison 2, Washington 1, and Washington 2.
While some schools did not advance, they were able to take advantage of some amazing sponsors of the event. On the sidelines were ShopRite giving out healthy snacks and water, Thomas Edison students educating their peers on how much sugar is in various drinks and providing naturally flavored water options available in strawberry, cucumber, lemon and lime, and Eat. Right. Now., a Philadelphia School District initiative providing nutrition education for a healthier future.
After the semi-finals, four teams took to the court to find out which two teams would advance to the state’s 2nd Annual IUS Bocce Tournament at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. After intense competition – including two teams coming within .5 inches apart from the polina for the point two teams were given gold medals to advance to the IUS Bocce Tournament. Congratulations to George Washington 1 and School of the Future 4 who will advance to Hershey!
At the end of the day, all of our athletes lived true to our oath, “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt“. Each athlete and partner put their skills to the test and gave it their all and so we congratulate everyone on games well played. We also want to thank all of the volunteers who contributed their time and for making this a memorable event for all – and the coaches who continuously give our athletes and partners guidance – both on and off the bocce court.
School (score)
ROUND 1Washington 1 (6) vs. South Philadelphia 1 (4) Washington 2 (6) vs. South Philadelphia 2 (4) Washington 3 (2) vs. Lincoln 2 (9) Washington 4 (10) vs. Lincoln 3 (2) Lincoln 1 (1) vs. Parkway West 2 (5) School of the Future 4 (6) vs. CAPA 2 (3) School of the Future 2 (3) vs. CAPA 1 (5) Lincoln 4 (3) vs. Simon Gratz (2)
|
ROUND 2South Philadelphia 1 (2) vs. Parkway West 1 (8) South Philadelphia 2 (6) vs. Parkway West 3 (2) Lincoln 2 (10) vs. School of the Future 3 (2) Lincoln 3 (7) vs. School of the Future 1 (3) Edison 2 (6) vs. Lincoln 1 (1) Parkway West 2 (0) vs. School of the Future 4 (8) Edison 1 (3) vs. School of the Future 2 (7) CAPA 1 (3) vs. Lincoln 4 (6) |
ROUND 3Parkway West 1 (2) vs. Washington 1 (7) Parkway West 3 (0) vs. Washington 2 (10) School of the Future 3 (3) vs. Washington 3 (12) School of the Future 1 (14) vs. Washington 4 (2) CAPA 2 (3) vs. Edison 2 (5) Simon Gratz 1 (3) vs. Edison 1 (6) |
|
SEMI FINALS 1Washington 1 (8) vs. Washington 2 (2) Lincoln 2 (8) vs. School of the Future 1 (7) |
SEMI FINALS 2School of the Future 4 (6) vs. Edison 2 (5) School of the Future 2 (3) vs. Edison 1 (11) |
FINALS 13rd/4th Place: George 2 (11) vs. School of the Future 1 (3) Finals: George 1 (6) vs. Lincoln 2 (4) |
FINALS 23rd/4th Place: School of the Future 2 (3) vs. Edison 2 (5) Finals: School of the Future 4 (8) vs. Edison 1 (3) |
Spread the Word to End the Word is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics, Best Buddies and our supporters to inspire respect and acceptance through raising the consciousness of society about the R-word and how hurtful words and disrespect can be toward people with intellectual disabilities.
The campaign, created by youth, is intended to engage schools, organizations and communities to rally and pledge their support at www.r-word.org and to promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The annual day of awareness is held the first Wednesday of every March – in 2016, Spread the Word to End the Word will fall on March 2nd. While most activities are centered on or near that annual day in March, people everywhere can help spread the word throughout their communities and schools year-round thru pledge drives, youth rallies and online activation.
Spread the Word to End the Word was founded by college students Soeren Palumbo (Notre Dame 2011) and Tim Shriver (Yale 2011) in 2009, and continues to be led by passionate young people, along with Special Olympics athletes and Best Buddies participants across the United States and in many other parts of the world.
Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with intellectual disabilities. However, much of society does not recognize the hurtful, dehumanizing and exclusive effects of the R-word.
Language affects attitudes. Attitudes impact actions. Make your pledge for #Respect today at www.R-word.org.
Visit www.r-word.org to learn how you can Spread the Word to End the Word.
Christy White, Special Olympics cwhite@specialolympics.org or 202-824-0307
In 2015, USTA Middle States partnered with Special Olympics of PA to offer additional tennis player opportunities. Join us on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm for the first SOPA Indoor Tennis Clinic and Team Tennis event at Hillcrest Racquet Club in Reading, PA (4401 Perkiomen Ave, Reading, PA 19606) that will feature an hour and a half of instructional clinic followed by team tennis match play.
This event is open to all SOPA athletes and adaptive tennis players for the following skill levels: traditional (yellow ball), green dot (full court, slightly lower compression ball), red ball short court (ideal for beginner players).
There is no cost to participate, but registration is required. Food and snacks will be provided. Click here to view and download an event flyer.
SOPA Indoor Tennis Clinic & Team Tennis Flyer
The 2016 SOPA Night at the 76ers is scheduled for Sunday, March 20th.
Every year, Special Olympics Pennsylvania offers its friends the chance to watch the Philadelphia 76ers in a game at the Wells Fargo Center and help spread awareness about its organization at the same time. Enjoy discounted ticket prices (a portion of proceeds will go to Special Olympics Pennsylvania), take in a thrilling game and do something positive for your community.
The game of the Philadelphia 76ers vs. the Boston Celtics starts at 6pm.
Prior to the game, our athletes will have some pre-game fun on the court, beginning at 3pm!
Get your tickets here and enter code “SOPA”
To get tickets off-line or if you have any questions, contact Mitch at MitchCohen@sixers.com or 267-479-1125
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