FOX 29 News Philadelphia | WTXF-TV
On Friday, May 29, 2015, Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia program partnered with the School District of Philadelphia for the 3rd Annual Unified Soccer Championship held at Northeast High School, located at 1601 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia. Opening Ceremonies began at 9:30am followed by preliminary competition until about noon. After teams participated in preliminary competition, they then went head to head for the medal rounds including the Championship game! Special guest, Matt Cord, from WMMR helped start the day with an energetic, exciting Opening Ceremony.
The Championship featured teams from 11 Philadelphia high schools and Chester High School. Schools in attendance were: Abraham Lincoln, Audenried High School, Chester High School, Furness High School, George Washington High School, High School of the Future, Martin Luther King High School, Northeast High School, Sayre High School, South Philadelphia High School, and Thomas Edison High School. In addition to the soccer tournament, Creative and Performing Arts High School and Samuel Fels High School will showed their skills at bocce in some friendly competition.
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, developed in partnership between the School District of Philadelphia and Special Olympics Pennsylvania, includes 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.
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!