TD Bank is inviting Pennsylvanians to "Be a fan" of Special Olympics, May 13 - June 30!

 

As part of a national partnership, TD Bank is asking their customers to help them raise funds for Special Olympics through a variety of unique and fun ways. This is the 5^th year for this partnership which has seen more than $1 million raised nationwide each year, including more than $400,000 raised for Special Olympics PA the past four years.

Here are just a few ways you can team up with TD Bank to support Pennsylvania’s Special Olympics athletes and reach the new $1.2 million goal:

• For a $5 donation, you can sport a cool "Be a fan" bracelet - just pick one up at any TD Bank location!
• Is all that loose change slowing you down? Take it to a TD Bank Penny Arcade coin counting machine, have it converted to bills and choose to donate a portion (or maybe all?) of your conversion to Special Olympics PA.
• Make an in-store donation next time you're in.
• Take part in one of their special in-store, fun events that will benefit Special Olympics. See your participating local branches for details and say hello to our athletes who will be attending many of these events, so you'll get to meet a hometown hero!

So find your nearest TD Bank at http://www.tdbank.com/net/absearch/, stop by, and "Be a fan" of Special Olympics!

Erie County Basketball Invitational Tournament

The Erie County program, under the guidance of Mary Zubetz, once again held a very successful 3v3 and 5v5 basketball invitational tournament.  On April 13^th, over 250 athletes, coaches and volunteers met at Girard High School for a day of fierce round ball competition.  The Erie County teams were challenged by the Warren County teams and a terrific time was had by all.  Lunch was provided and the coveted Gus Macker Awards presented.  If you live in the Northwest corner of Pennsylvania, why not consider attending this tournament next year?

Many thanks to Mary, and the entire Erie County team, and Girard High School for the generous use of its facility.

39th Annual Crawford County Special Olympics Track and Field Meet

Special Olympics Pennsylvania in Crawford County held its 39^th annual Track and Field meet on May 8th at the Crawford County Fairgrounds.  Over 350 athletes participated in the event and Heather Clancy Young, CEO of the Meadville Area Federal Credit Union, served as emcee. The first event of the day was the parade of athletes.  Classrooms and groups lined up and marched to the front of the grandstand.  Joyce Seeley of Maplewood School led the group in the National Anthem.  

Meadville Area Senior High (MASH) students provided music while each of the schools and agencies marched in for Opening Ceremonies.  Crawford County athletes Kyle Miller and Cody Hubert carried the torch and lit the Olympic cauldron; while, Bill Shaulis led the group in the Athlete Oath – “Let me win but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt.”

After opening ceremonies, each participant began their first competition event and could also participate in several fun activities like the Frisbee or bean bag throw, or participate in Olympic Village where carnival style games were set up and run by Thurston House staff, MASH students and volunteers.  The event would not have run so smoothly without support from local  tool and die shops, schools, agencies and businesses that came out to help make the day special.  AVI Food Systems Inc., Nutrition Inc, and Mc Donald's provided lunch items for the 350 athletes.    

This is the second year that Crawford County presented the Danny Zirkle Spirit Award.   Danny participated in many local, sectional and state competitions.  In 2008, he was awarded a special trophy for his sportsmanship at Fall Festival, which led to his induction into the Special Olympics PA Hall of Fame later that year.  Danny exemplified the “spirit” of Special Olympics. The Spirit Award winner for 2013 is Tanner Holabaugh, a school aged athlete who helps out at the practices and encourages others to do their very best. 

 

 

P&GbrandSAVER® May 12 – June 30, 2013

It’s time again to kick off this year’s P&GbrandSAVER® and Thank you, Mom program! Keep an eye out for your P&GbrandSAVER® coupon books in your local newspaper on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12, 2013.  

This promotion is based on coupon redemption: Special Olympics will receive 2 cents for every coupon used and you must present the coupon upon checkout. There is no limit to the donation from P&G, so the more coupons redeemed, the higher the gift.  And don’t forget the savings for you -- the P&GbrandSAVER® coupon book includes over$48 in savings! The coupons expire June 30, 2013, so don’t wait too long to start clipping and saving! To find a local newspaper carrying the P&GbrandSAVER® coupon book please click here http://www.pgeveryday.com/brandsaver-coupons

Special Olympics Pennsylvania Athletes Compete in 2013 Penn Relays

On Friday, April 26, 2013, Special Olympics athletes competed in their own division in two races — the 4×100-meter relay and the 100-meter dash— during the 2013 Penn Relays, the oldest and largest track and field competition in the US hosted annually by the University of Pennsylvania.  In total, approximately 20 athletes from all over the East Coast participated.

Participating Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes included: Adam Mucklow (Bucks County), Houston McDaniel (Montgomery County), Bernie Thompson (Bucks County), and Alex Brauman (Montgomery County).         

Congratulations to Bucks County athlete Adam Mucklow who came in first in the 100M event at the Penn Relays.  See the race time below:

Penn Relay Results - 100M Run

Adam Mucklow                 Bucks Co.                          00:14.41

Zach Goodrich                   Wake Co., NC                   00:14.81

Joshua Thomas                 Franklin Co., NC                00:14.96

Houston McDaniel           Montgomery Co.              00:15.03  

Mychael Parker                Franklin Co., NC                00:15.10

Daniel Jenkins                   Baltimore Co., MD           00:15.15

Bernie Thompson             Bucks Co.                           00:15.18

Alex Brauman                    Montgomery Co.             00:15.41

 

Click here to read The Daily Pennsylvanian article about our Special Olympics athletes.

 

Greg Focht, an athlete from Centre County, Finishes at the Fifty!

Greg Focht runs with his team during the Beaver Stadium Run

Greg Focht, a 47 year old Special Olympics PA – Centre County athlete, took part in his first 5K this weekend during the 2013 Beaver Stadium Run.  He has never run before in his life, but was proud to take part in the event when his first pair of running shoes were sponsored by Rapid Transit Shoes.

Motivated to begin running after he saw his fellow athletes participate in the 2012 Special Olympics PA Summer Games Torch Run at Penn State University, Greg trained vigorously for the Beaver Stadium Run with Kathie Mayo, a Centre County program volunteer.  Within months of training, Greg reduced his 3-mile time by 17 minutes.

In addition to recently completing his journey to “finish at the fifty” on Sunday, Greg will be inducted into the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in May where many of his other Special Olympics accomplishments will be recognized.

Greg continues to train today and is becoming an icon around the community.  Perhaps we will see him participate in the 2013 Summer Games Torch Run?  Only time will tell.

An estimated 3,700 runners and walkers of all ages and abilities took part in the Fourth Annual Beaver Stadium 5K /1 Mile Family Fun Walk at Penn State University on Sunday, April 21, 2013 raising more than $360,000!  Thanks are extended to Greg for his involvement!

View the below video of Greg Participating in the Run! 



Lebanon Valley College Community Dutchmen Win Award for Special Olympics Support

Pictured: Bradley Krisantis, Lebanon County Program Manager Joan Sechrist, Kelly Fahenstock, and Ines Antensteiner

Lebanon Valley College (LVC) showcased its students during Inquiry 2013, a celebration of the scholarly, scientific, and creative achievements of the student body, from April 14 – 18. This year the symposium included a reception hosted by President Lewis Evitts Thayne, Ph.D., for College trustees and various guests on campus for Thayne's inauguration as the 18th president of Lebanon Valley College. During the symposium, Thayne presented the President's Award for Community Service to LVC’s Community Dutchmen.

The LVC Community Dutchmen is a student service group that was started by two young men in 2007, Chris Bauer and Nick Zuloph.  The group began as an exclusive volunteer organization for the Special Olympics PA - Lebanon County program that provided volunteers for its sports trainings.

Now, the Community Dutchmen provide additional diverse services that involve more than just trainings.  The group also helps with athlete dances, the polar plunge, sports clinics, annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day park clean-up, and will be serving as hosts for Lebanon County’s Athlete Leadership Program meetings and activities in the fall.

The Presidential Service Award has been designed to acknowledge a student organization "which has contributed to life in Central Pennsylvania through community service.”  We congratulate the Community Dutchmen for receiving this honor!