P&GbrandSAVER®

Coupons for a Cause: For 30 years, P&G has been a loyal supporter of Special Olympics, and this year is no exception. It's almost time for the annual P&G promotion! On Sunday, January 1, 2012, keep an eye out for your P&GbrandSAVER coupon book in your local newspaper.With more than $109 in savings in each book, you can feel good about purchasing your favorite products, especially when the savings also translate into funds for Special Olympics. For each coupon redeemed, P&G will donate 3 cents to Special Olympics. And there's no limit! So get your coupon books and help change someone's life. Find a local newspaper that carries the P&GbrandSAVER coupon book.

Subaru "Share the Love" Event

Subaru knows their owners care. That’s why they created the “Share the Love” event. From now until January 3, 2012, you get a great deal on a new Subaru and they’ll donate $250 to your choice of five charities, one of which is Special Olympics. Over the last three years, they’ve donated nearly $15 million dollars to charity. They hope to donate another five million by sharing the love again this year.

Whether you are in the market for a new Subaru, or you know someone who is, be sure to pick Special Olympics as your “Share the Love” charity and help support our athletes. Learn more by visiting Subaru.com/share. Each of the participating charities will receive a minimum donation of $250,000, up to a maximum total donation among all five charities of $5,000,000.

"Be a Fan" Today!

When you Sponsor an Athlete, you transform a life. Share the Joy of Victory and the Promise of Acceptance. Your contribution will help an athlete gain confidence, boost self-esteem, and build lasting friendships.

Special Olympics Pennsylvania has kicked off a "Be a Fan" Today! Campaign geared toward the current and new generation of volunteers, coaches, athletes and financial supporters. Through the creation of the new www.BeaFanToday.org website, local programs can raise money in support of their athletes through the "Sponsor an Athlete" tab. This promotion will benefit our athletes with 100% of the proceeds going straight to the local program. Visit www.BeaFanToday.org and click on "Sponsor an Athlete" or an area in which you'd like to become involved!

Support Special Olympics!

AT&T and Special Olympics have announced the launch of a new cause-related marketing initiative to support the organization and its mission to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

As part of this initiative, AT&T will make a donation to Special Olympics in the amount of $40 for each online purchase made on eligible AT&T products and services through our partnership micro site, www.att.com/specialolympics. The donations program runs from May 9, 2011 through February 29, 2012.

“Special Olympics makes a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands of athletes and their families,” said David Christopher, Chief Marketing Officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “AT&T is proud to be a sponsor and supporter of Special Olympics’ mission, and with the help of customers and supporters, we are excited to assist the organization as it transforms communities with programs that drive acceptance, inclusion and respect.”

AT&T is also deeply committed to enriching and strengthening diverse communities and has a long history of supporting Special Olympics efforts. By sharing unique moments with Special Olympics athletes and teams, while at the same time raising funds for the organization, AT&T is able to support athletes, their families and communities.

“Thanks to individuals and to unique corporate programs like this new AT&T initiative, we are able to continue to enrich and advance the lives of athletes and their communities,” said Brady Lum, President and Chief Operating Officer, Special Olympics.

May 16 - June 30, 2011

TD Bank is inviting Pennsylvanians to "Be a fan" of Special Olympics!
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 3rd year for this partnership which has seen more than $1 million raised nationwide each year, including nearly $200,000 combined in 2009 and 2010 here in Pennsylvania. Here are just a few ways you can team up with TD Bank to support Pennsylvania’s Special Olympics athletes:

• 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 TD Bank, 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, stop by, and "Be a fan" of Special Olympics!

Add “Support Special Olympics” to Your April Grocery Shopping List!

April 1 - May 2, 2011

For the fourth consecutive year, Special Olympics Pennsylvania has been once again invited to be part of the April point of service fundraising promotion with Safeway stores (Genuardi's) across the state! Visit your neighborhood Safeway store from April 1 – May 1, 2011 and make a donation at checkout. Last year, The Safeway Foundation announced that they raised $10.7 million in April during the company’s annual Support for People with Disabilities Campaign and pledged to continue its efforts to support two of the most prominent organizations that assist people with disabilities: Easter Seals and Special Olympics.

Gross proceeds will benefit Special Olympics and Easter Seals in local communities, which will allow us to provide greater services and programs for our more than 20,000 athletes and help us reach the other children with intellectual disabilities in Pennsylvania to bring them into the Special Olympics family.

Visit http://www.genuardis.com/ today!

Bill Moves to Remove the "R-Word"

Pictured from L to R: Lebanon County athlete Alysa Dreibelbis, SOPA President and CEO Matt Aaron, State Senator Andrew Dinniman, and State Representative Jake Wheatley.

Lawmakers are pushing to have a bill passed that would remove the words 'mental retardation' from state laws.

State Representative Jake Wheatley and State Senator Andrew Dinniman have introduced bills that would redefine the term mental retardation as intellectual disability. During a press conference about the bills, Special Olympics Pennsylvania athlete Alysa Dreibelbis and President and CEO Matt Aaron took to the podium at the State Capitol in Harrisburg on March 2, 2011 along with Wheatley and Dinniman to speak about the importance of changing the language.
The event coincided with Special Olympics' "Spread the Word to End the Word" Day. Similar legislation has become law in several other states and at the federal level.

Join us and help end the R-word

Spread the Word to End the Word is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics, Best Buddies International and our supporters to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word. The campaign, created by youth, is intended to engage schools, organizations and communities to rally and pledge their support at http://www.r-word.org/ in order to promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities.
Click here to find year-round tools to help you host your own Spread the Word to End the Word day of awareness in your community. If you have questions, please email info@specialolympics.org or call 1-800-700-8585.