Registration has opened for the first-ever Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America (URAA) presented by Bank of America. The Unified Relay will give anyone in the country a chance to carry the Flame of Hope that will be lit in Athens, Greece and help deliver it to Los Angeles for the Special Olympics World Games. Over the course of 46 days, in a hand-to-hand exchange, over 20,000 participants will run, walk or bike a segment of the relay in this team and individual fundraising event as it passes through all 50 states.
The Pennsylvania set of legs will begin on June 4th. The relay will culminate at the Opening Ceremony of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles on July 25, 2015. ESPN, the official broadcaster of the World Games, will produce the Opening Ceremony live as well as a nightly highlights program throughout the nine-day event.
Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America presented by Bank of America
ANYONE can be a torchbearer in the Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America presented by Bank of America. Over 20,000 participants expected to take part as torchbearers.
Across the U.S – Over the course of 46 days, in a hand-to-hand exchange, torchbearers will run, bike, walk, rollerblade or roll a segment of the relay in this team and individual fundraising event. The Unified Relay will have three simultaneous routes, Northern, Central and Southern, and will pass through all 50 states.
May 26 – July 10
Funds raised from the Unified Relay will go to Special Olympics to provide sports training, competition opportunities and additional programming that empowers people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful and inclusive society for all.
Register as a team or individual at http://www.unifiedrelay.org/
Each Unified Relay route will be led by a group of co-captains, including media personalities, actors, musicians, athletes and Special Olympics athletes like PA’s very own Johanna Schoeneck.Co-captains will serve as spokespeople for the Special Olympics movement and the Unified Relay, encouraging participation through registration, fundraising and spectatorship.
Johanna Schoeneck
Unified Relay Across America Co-Captain, Northern Route
Current hometown: Cogan Station, Pennsylvania
Johanna has competed at the local, state and international levels of Special Olympics. She represented the United States at the 2011 Special Olympics World Games in Athens, Greece in her favorite sport, equestrian.
With 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 177 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators, the 2015 Special Olympics World Games – being staged in Los Angeles July 25 – August 2, 2015 – will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games. The 2015 Special Olympics World Games will feature 25 Olympic-style sports in venues throughout the Los Angeles region. The Opening Ceremony, to be held July 25, 2015 in the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games, is expected to attract 80,000 spectators. Visit http://www.la2015.org/ for more information.
Click here to find out what athletes and volunteers will represent Pennsylvania at the Games.
Test your speed up 53 flights or 1,019 stairs at this year’s Step Up for Special Olympics presented by PECO. Step Up 2014 is Nov 16. This event features four variations of the stair climb including a timed stair climb, a fun (untimed) stair climb, an “as many times” as you can climb version. If climbing stairs is too easy for you, why not try the CrossFit Climb, where participants add a CrossFit workout prior to the Stair Climb!
SOPA Philly’s Young Professionals Committee will host their 2nd Annual YPC Fundraiser for SOPA Philly. They will host a Live Auction and Fundraising event for Special Olympics Philadelphia in partnership with Varga Bar! Admission will be $10 for which you receive one beer, one raffle ticket for our door prizes and an auction paddle to participate in the bidding for some of our larger items. Be sure to come out and support our Young Professionals Committee and all the work they do to help support our program!
Funds raised will benefit the nearly 2,000 athletes in the Philadelphia area, as well as help welcome new athletes to the cause. The ultimate goal of Special Olympics is to use stories of athletes’ achievements, skills and challenges to educate, engage and ultimately change attitudes toward this population of individuals in Philly and around the world and your contributions help to further this cause.
Sneak peak of some of the items up for bid:
This year marked the 6th annual American Muscle Charity Car Show, the largest charity car show on the East Coast and Special Olympics PA was chosen as the benefiting charity!!! Thanks, American Muscle!On August 16, 2014 thousands of mustangs and even more mustang fanatics came together at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, PA to enjoy all things Mustang! Celebrity guests like Chip Foose, along with a ton of neat vendors, car competitions and some great weather made this day an absolute success. Special Olympics PA had a vending both where we promoted our program, encouraged awareness and even had a bocce court set up where show attendees could play some of our athletes in a friendly United game. The main attraction just may have been the incredible BRANDED SPECIAL OLYMPICS RED MUSTANG that was donated to our booth for the day! Some of our athletes came out to enjoy the show and even chose their favorite mustang of the show to receive an award! The show concluded with a check presentation donating $31,200 from American Muscle to SOPA, but also a surprise donation of $4,300 from the Red Mustang Registry, RMR! Two very generous donations that will significantly impact our program and efforts in the community.
Thank you to American Muscle for selecting Special Olympics and to the car show attendees and partners, like RMR, for really getting behind American Muscle and supporting our great organization! 
To learn more about American Muscle, please visit http://www.americanmuscle.com/
Last night was a very exciting occasion for Special Olympics as President Obama honors Special Olympics at White House gala. Obama celebrated Special Olympics and what the organization stands for.
Special Olympics athletes from around the globe, including two athletes from Pennsylvania (one being Philadelphia’s very own Unified Partner Kenneth Brown), attended the gala at the White House and represented our incredible organization and program. Obama spoke from the heart when he said, “What all these people represent is what the Special Olympics is all about: overcoming obstacles with love and kindness and generosity and health competition. Those are values that everybody can use. Those are values that the Special Olympics can teach all of us.” This is a statement that not only holds true to all of Special Olympics but especially here at SOPA Philly!
We are so proud of our athletes, our volunteers, and our supporters and we couldn’t be more excited for what our future holds! We truly hope you will be a part of it with us! Learn how you can get involved today by supporting us monetarily or with your talents!
The 2014 USA Games took place all over central New Jersey from Saturday, June 14 to Saturday, June 21, 2014. Venues were located at Princeton University, Rider University, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), Mercer County Park, Brunswick Zone – Carolier, The Hun School, The Lawrenceville School, The Peddie School, Prudential Center, and the Sun National Bank Center. Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes participate in USA Games competitions. The USA Games, held in a different state every four years, draws 3,000 athletes, 1,000 coaches, 8,000 volunteers and 15,000 family members and friends to the event from across the nation. The 2014 USA Games offered sporting competitions in basketball, bocce, track and field, softball and an introductory sport, flag football.
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Jackie Lutts
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Tamika Newkirk
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Sharon Quarles
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Michael Walker
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James Barbour
Philadelphia Phlams – 4th
Ryan Bogan, Matt Grabowski, Derrick Jackson, Vernon Mayfield, Angel Rodriguez, Joe Rynkiewicz, Mitchell Stahl, Brian Stulz, Corey Sweet, Charlie Zisette
Head Coach Stacey Plumbo
Assistant Coach Justin Beattie, Assistant Coach Rosemary Duffy
Philadelphia Panthers – 1st
Kwante Crummy, Tyrell Hargrave, Michael Henderson, Nakisha Johnson, Sharod King, Demetrius LeFlore, Ben Liken, Christopher Ray, Paris Wallace
Head Coach Myra Asburry
Assistant Coach Beverly Liken
Siobhan Driscoll – 3rd
William Celmer – 3rd
William Celmer & Siobhan Driscoll – 4th
William Celmer, Siobhan Driscoll, Andrea Andrews (Columbia Montour), Heather Sutton (Westmoreland) – 2nd
Philadelphia Eagles – 2nd
On Friday, May 30, 2014, Special Olympics Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, the School District of Philadelphia, and the Public Coalition of Charter Schools came together for the 2nd Annual Unified Soccer Tournament to celebrate the culmination of this year’s Unified elective course.
With over 200 athletes and partners in attendance, along with incredible volunteers from TD Bank, Finish Line, and Thomas Edison High School among MANY others, the Unified Soccer Championship was a complete success. Special guests included Superintendent Dr. William Hite, several local councilmen and dignitaries, and our Ceremonial emcees, Jennifer Lewis-Hall and Zach Lashway from PHL17. Director of the Philadelphia Program, Barbara Chavous, and Special Olympics Pennsylvania CEO, Matthew Aaron, both spoke to the crowd and expressed the excitement and joy that this initiative brings to Special Olympics. If the sheer enthusiasm of those in attendance was not enough, 15 computers were donated between the participating schools on behalf of a partnership between Special Olympics PA – Philadelphia and Team Children.
Students from 15 Philadelphia schools played and supported one another as athletes both with and without intellectual disabilities took the field, together. The day was filled with happiness as spectators and participants were able to cheer on teams with SOPA Philly thunder sticks, handcrafted signs, and even let out some additional energy by attending Olympic Town with guest vendors like the Philadelphia Union and PHL17! The success of the day was confirmed when awards and praise were given to the participating schools and students who all roared at the recognition of their accomplishments. Although only one team walked away with the gold, every athlete and partner walked away from the 2nd Annual Unified Soccer Championship as a winner.
Special Olympics Unified Sports® is an inclusive sports program that puts athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. This Unified Soccer elective course includes a curriculum with youth leadership components, anti-bullying elements, and soccer training and competition. The course provides greater access to sports for all students, with and without disabilities.
SOPA Philly Receives AHPERD Award for promoting youth fitness
SOPA Philly Receives AHPERD Award. On May 30, 2014, Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia program received the Legislative Honor Award selected by the local association of the Pennsylvania State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (PSAHPERD). SOPA Philly received the award at their annual awards banquet. The Legislative Honor Award recognizes a person, group or organization from outside the profession who has supported and promoted the mission and goals of PSAHPERD. This recognition goes a long way in showcasing the efforts and strides being made by our Philadelphia program and the positive impact it’s having in our community.
Special Olympics Philadelphia could not be more thankful and honored to have been chosen for this award. We appreciate the continued support and efforts of our staff, athletes, volunteers and community in the promotion of our mission and look forward to our bright future!
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!
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!
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