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365 Newsletter - Special Olympics Florida

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Special Olympics Florida
Volunteer Support Competition Local Program Calendar

 

 

 

March, 2009 
 
By now, most of you have no doubt heard about President Obama's remark regarding Special Olympics, on the "Tonight Show" last week, equating his own poor bowling score to being "like Special Olympics."
 
The President's remarks (for which he has apologized) ignited a flurry of reaction across the country from outrage to "So what's the big deal? It was just a joke!"
 
However, it's exactly that kind of sentiment that is the crux of the matter. As Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver said last week, "This is a population that struggles every day to be accepted. It's a population that has as its greatest challenge to not be humiliated, to not be made fun of, to be valued every day."  
 
It's inherent to Special Olympics to find the positive in every challenge and it is our hope that this will turn out to be a great teaching moment for our country.
 

This incident is an opportunity to begin the broader conversation and education as to why "casual jokes" that take aim at people with intellectual disabilities and Special Olympics, as an organization that celebrates and encourages their abilities, are often hurtful, undeserved and unwarranted.  

Words matter: they can cause pain and result in stereotypes that are unfair to people with intellectual disabilities. And using Special Olympics in a negative or derogatory context can be a humiliating put-down to people with special needs and their families. 

 

For some reason, it's still "OK" in our society to reduce this population to a punchline, with no regard, remorse or retribution. This needs to stop. And it stops when we all decide to change the conversation. 

We are encouraging everyone to engage in open conversation about the damage stereotypes can cause, so that we can begin to work together to create communities of acceptance and inclusion for all.

We invite you to join our Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, a national awareness effort that will launch on March 31, where we are asking people to pledge their respect for people with special needs.

 
 

Spread the Word to End the Word:
Youth Rally in Miami

Miami Palmetto Senior High School student Noah Gray is no ordinary eleventh grader. He is a Special Olympics mega-fan. An extraordinary student who also finds time to tutor other students and participate in a seemingly endless list of extracurricular activities.

Noah was recruited by Special Olympics because of his exemplary work on the Virgin Voting campaign aimed at mobilizing first-time voters during the 2008 elections. Noah subsequently attended the Global Youth Rally during the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho last month and produced an "R-word" PSA for Special Olympics (watch it now).

Inspired by what he experience at the Global Youth Rally, Noah decided to produce his own "Spread the Word to End the Word" event at his high school. On March 31, over 700 students will take part in a Youth Rally as part of a national, youth-lead day of awareness for America to stop and think about their use of the R-word. That R-word is not "recession," but something more hurtful and painful - "retard."

The goal of Spread the Word to End the Word is to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the R-word and encourage people to pledge to stop using it.

The 50-minute rally will feature actor Eddie Barbanell from the hit movie "The Ringer," Special Olympics athletes and volunteers, and original music performed by rap artist Rush. Also on the program are original videos produced by young people. High school students across the country will be asked to take the pledge to stop using the "R" word and to help raise awareness among their friends.

You can watch the event live at www.schooltube.com, beginning at 12:35PM (ET) on Tuesday, March 31!

The rally will be available for on-demand viewing after the event: visit the home page of Special Olympics Florida after March 31 for more information.

We invite everyone to tune-in on-line and continue the conversation with their friends, children, colleagues and families so that we can all help Spread the Word to End the Word.
 

Don Taft (left) with Special Olympics
Broward athlete Patrick Sallarulo
 
 
 
 
 

A Gift That Will Keep on Giving

 

You may not know the name Don Taft, but you should. Thanks to an incredibly generous gift, he has opened up a world of opportunities for the athletes and volunteers of Special Olympics Broward County.

At a ceremony at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Davie, FL on February 11, the University announced the naming of its 366,000 square-foot University Center in honor of businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist Don Taft in recognition of a gift from The Taft Foundation. The gift is one of the largest in the history of the University.

 

Special Olympics Broward County has been working from a temporary location for years, and occasionally had problems finding gym space for its events, according to Special Olympics Broward County Coordinator, Linda Mills. "Moving day" will be in April, when Special Olympics Broward County can start using the center for year-round training and competitions.

 

Read more...

 

 

Inaugural Fiddler's Green St. Patrick's Day 5K

 

600 runners and walkers laced up their running shoes and got a jump start on St. Patrick's Day by participating in the First Annual Fiddler's Green St. Patrick's Day 5K on March 7. Runners took to the brick, tree-lined streets of Winter Park to help raise funds for Special Olympics Florida.

 

Special Olympics athlete Giles Connolly and his Unified Partner Chris Haas (pictured above, center - Giles on left) joined in the fun. Giles finished second in his age group (running against non-disabled peers), setting a new personal record of 25:03 - 7 minutes faster than his time at the 2008 State Summer Games!

 

Special thanks to Fiddler's Green, Orlando Orthopaedic, Andy Fox (pictured upper right - sporting the stunning head-to-toe red tuxedo he promised to wear if the event reached its registration goal), the volunteers who helped organize and host the event, all of our sponsors, and of course, everyone who participated.

 

 

vitaminwater at Target: Refreshing and Philanthropic!

 

When's the last time you drank something that helped change the world?

 

Well, now through April 11, you can join Coca-Cola and Target Stores in supporting Special Olympics Florida athletes by stocking up on vitaminwater at your neighborhood Target.

 

Coca-Cola serves as an international sponsor of Special Olympics and both Coca-Cola and Target Stores are year-round Silver Medal Sponsors of Special Olympics Florida. Target volunteers are a mainstay of our annual State Summer Games' Bocce venue and Target supports an array of fundraising events, like our annual Champions' Gala.

 

So quench your thirst with something as good for others as it is for you!

 



 

Declare Your "Fanhood"!

 

Take our first-ever 365 survey and share with us the ways you choose to "Be a fan" of Special Olympics. The survey is really short and takes just moments to fill out (unless you have a lot to share with us)!

 

 


Meet Our Year-Round Sponsors!

 

We encourage you to support those who support Special Olympics Florida.


Take a moment to meet the companies and civic groups whose statewide, sustained support make our programs and services a reality for 15,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities.


We know you have many choices when it comes to who you do business with, purchase your products and services from, and which civic groups you support: we ask that you consider our sponsors when making those choices.

 

Learn more about the benefits of your company or civic group becoming a year-round sponsor.

 

Would you like to talk to our Development Staff about sponsorship opportunities? This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

 

Recognition of support/sponsorship of Special Olympics Florida does not constitute endorsement.

 


  Update Your Profile!

 

Time for a little spring cleaning...take a moment to update your profile with us so you'll never miss any news, special offers or information from Special Olympics Florida! 

 

Just click on the link at the very bottom of this communication, where it says "manage my preferences."  

 

Update your contact info, the kinds of communications you wish to receive from us and more. Easy as that!

 


What's Next?

 

Special Olympics Florida Golf Classic: Friday, April 24, Sanctuary Ridge Golf Club, Clermont. 8:30AM Shotgun start. Hosted by the students of the UCF Sports & Fitness Program (Lake-Sumter Campus). Contact Dena Garas, Special Olympics Florida at (407) 970-1640 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are interested in playing or sponsorship.

 
Rough Riders Tournament and Raffle: May 1, River Hills Country Club (near Tampa). Looking for a great day of golf and fun? Then make plans to come out for the Rough Riders 6th Annual Golf Tournament. This tournament is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment (Rough Riders) and proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Florida.

Even if you can't make it to the tournament, for a $100 donation, you'll have a chance at winning a $10,000 vacation in paradise or $7,500 cash! You do not need to be present to win. Only 500 tickets will be sold. Get yours now!

 

State Summer Games: May 15-16, Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex. 2,100 athletes of all ages and abilities will be competing in track and field, soccer, bocce, cycling, tennis and volleyball. Register to volunteer now!
 
We need health professionals to volunteer to help conduct our Healthy Athletes screenings at the Summer Games. Learn more about Healthy Athletes and register to volunteer!
Be a Fan.
Premier Fan: Publix

Special Olympics Florida
1105 Citrus Tower Blvd. | Clermont, FL 34711

Phone 352-243-9536 | Fax 352-243-9568
www.specialolympicsflorida.org
Contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it



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