Special Olympics Pennsylvania

P&GbrandSAVER®

2012-01-02T11:21:00.003-05:00

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

2011-11-29T21:10:00.005-05:00

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!

2011-08-09T11:10:00.001-04:00

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!

2011-07-13T11:44:00.001-04:00

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.

2011-05-10T14:16:00.001-04:00

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!

2011-03-28T15:23:00.007-04:00

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"

2011-03-07T11:33:00.004-05:00

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.

Make a Year-End Donation

2010-12-13T12:20:00.007-05:00

Help Special Olympics Pennsylvania with a year-end gift and join us in changing lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Your generosity enables Special Olympics to provide sports training, competitions, and other programs that benefit athletes, their families, and their communities. Make your tax-deductible gift before December 31st.

DONATE NOW

Join us in changing lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Sports provide a gateway to empowerment, competence, acceptance and joy. But for every Special Olympics athlete, there are many more that we haven’t reached yet. Make your tax-deductible gift and help us give the power of sport to one more person who wants to participate.

Scarf Project: Special Olympics USA

2010-12-09T00:09:00.003-05:00

Handmade scarves donated as a result of the 2011 Special Olympics USA Scarf Project will be a symbol of unity, support, compassion and empowerment, as the Special Olympics athletes, coaches, families, volunteers and supporters wear them with pride in knowing they have become part of the Special Olympics family.

The idea for a scarf project resulted from an opportunity to provide a gift of welcome for the athletes of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Boise, Idaho. A call went out for 5,000 Red Heart delft blue & white scarves, and by Games time nearly 60,000 scarves had arrived from every state in the U.S. and from 12 countries around the world.

Now in 2011, the Special Olympics USA Scarf Project is spreading its wings and going national! You can now choose any of the 33 participating Special Olympics Programs to support! Our goal is to give knitters and crocheters the power to select which Program they want to support and help create an unprecedented sense of unity, support and community for the athletes and the Special Olympics Movement as a whole.

For more information visit http://www.scarvesforspecialolympics.org/ and let the knitting and crocheting begin!

Special Olympics Pennsylvania Eunice Kennedy Shriver Portrait Hanging Ceremony

2010-10-04T14:33:00.005-04:00

Eunice Kennedy Shriver by David Lenz; 2009; National Portrait Gallery; Commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery as part of the First Prize, Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2006

The State of Pennsylvania, under the leadership of Governor Edward G. Rendell, honored the life-long contributions of Eunice Kennedy Shriver by permanently hanging her portrait on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 in the East Wing Rotunda of the Capitol Building in Harrisburg, PA.

The imagery selected for display is a reprint of a David Lenz photo-realist painting commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C., which represents the first time the museum commissioned a portrait of an individual who has not served as a U.S. President or First Lady. In Lenz’s painting, Mrs. Shriver is at her Cape Cod, Massachusetts, home surrounded by four Special Olympics athletes and a Best Buddies Ambassador. One of the pictured athletes is Loretta Claiborne, a Special Olympics International Board member and current Special Olympics Pennsylvania athlete who was a part of the portrait hanging ceremony and Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s 40th Anniversary celebration.

In addition to honoring the life of Eunice Kennedy Shriver through the permanent portrait installation, Governor Edward G. Rendell proclaimed September 25th Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day throughout the commonwealth. Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day was created to inspire new fans to experience her legacy and embrace the movement she founded in her backyard. What started as an inclusive sports camp in the early 1960s has blossomed into a worldwide movement transforming lives in over 170 countries. Eunice Kennedy Shriver was the leading international advocate for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities. In awarding her the first “Sportsman of the Year Legacy Award,” Sports Illustrated called her”…one of those revolutionaries who saw opportunity where others saw barriers, someone who started a movement and changed a world.”

Around the world, people celebrated Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day. Thousands around the world committed to perform Eunice Kennedy Shriver Acts (EKS Acts) of inclusion and acceptance for and with persons with an intellectual disabilities --inviting them to lunch, volunteering in a special education classroom or vocational center, conducting an awareness campaign at local businesses or schools, becoming a coach for Special Olympics, offering support to a parent of a child with intellectual disabilities. All are Eunice Kennedy Shriver Acts of Unity, which contribute to furthering her legacy.

Individuals and families who have no prior involvement with Special Olympics or Best Buddies are urged to contact their local Special Olympics program and participate. For more information, please visit http://www.eksday.org/ .

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day (EKS Day) September 25th

2010-08-19T09:42:00.001-04:00

September 25, 2010 is an annual celebration of her life and a global call for people to commit actions of inclusion, acceptance and unity for and with people with intellectual disability.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s actions helped open the minds and hearts of all people to the gifts and talents of individuals with intellectual disabilities. As Special Olympics founder and Best Buddies supporter, she demonstrated an unrelenting indomitable spirit in action that one person could make a difference and change the world.

Today, our call to action begins with you. We invite you to celebrate this extraordinary woman’s legacy, and commit Eunice Kennedy Shriver Acts of unity, whether it’s Playing a sport, Joining in the Special Olympics and Best Buddies movement, or Building communities of inclusion.

Become an agent of acceptance and action throughout the world. Embrace the spirit of Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day, and on that day, ACT.

How will you ACT on EKS Day? To learn more, visit http://www.eksday.org/

Bank of America Promotion

2010-07-30T16:42:00.001-04:00

If you believe in dignity, acceptance and the human race, then you are already a fan of Special Olympics. Carry the card that shows it. To learn more, visit http://www.specialolympicspa.org/promotions/92-bank-of-america

Be a fan of Special Olympics on Your Next Visit to Denny's

2010-05-25T16:02:00.002-04:00

Denny’s has launched a national fundraising promotion to raise support for Special Olympics athletes at home and around the world. Visit your nearest Denny’s restaurant from May 25 to July 31, 2010 and make a donation at checkout. By doing so, you’ll be a fan of Special Olympics. 100% of amounts raised will benefit Special Olympics and will allow us to provide greater services and programs for the 3.4 million athletes who are part of the Special Olympics movement around the world.

Learn more at http://www.specialolympics.org/be_a_fan.aspx

Special Olympics Pennsylvania Beaver Stadium Run/Walk

2010-04-22T12:20:00.003-04:00

This year's Special Olympics Pennsylvania Run/Walk is this Sunday, April 25th! We hope that you will come out and support our athletes by cheering them on, by becoming a volunteer, or by showing your support by participating yourself!

You can still register in person by signing up at our Registration Tent across from the Bryce Jordan Center on Curtin Road at Penn State University.
The Registration Tent will be open during the following times:
Friday, April 23 – 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 24 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 25 – 7:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

Race time is 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 25 at the same location on Curtin Road. If you’ve pre-registered and would like to pick up your race number, t-shirt and other materials, please do so during any of the above times.

All proceeds from this event will support thousands of Special Olympic athletes. We hope you decide to come out this Sunday, April 25th to show your support for Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes as they participate in this year's Beaver Stadium Run/Walk! You won't want to miss it!

For a more complete description of details regarding registration, event times, and volunteer opportunities, please visit our website: http://www.specialolympicspa.org/specialevents/beaver-stadium-runwalk

Genuardi's-SOPA Promotion

2010-03-31T17:09:00.004-04:00

Add Special Olympics to your grocery shopping list! Visit your neighborhood Safeway(Genuardi's) from now until May 2, 2010 and make a donation at checkout to be part of Safeway’s support of people with disabilities. Every donation makes a difference!

For the third consecutive year Special Olympics Pennsylvania has been once again invited to be part the April point of service fundraising promotion with Safeway stores (Genuardi's) across the state! Last year, Special Olympics participated in this promotion with Easter Seals and we raised $11.2 million in the US and Canada—an increase of $1.2 million from 2008. With your support again we believe that the Special Olympics partnership will continue to impact the success of Safeway's April promotion.

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 other children with intellectual disabilities in Pennsylvania to bring them into the Special Olympics family.

2010-03-03T09:57:00.000-05:00

Replace the “R-Word” with “Respect”

The “r-word” or “retard(ed)” has become common and seems largely acceptable in society today. But, words have meaning, impact, and consequences.

The word hurts, even if it is not directed at one of the millions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For too long, people with disabilities have faced negative stereotypes. The “r-word” keeps those stereotypes alive. It is one of the burdens cited most frequently by our Special Olympics athletes. Now is time for a change, and we can all be part of it.

Let’s all pledge to replace the “r-word” with “respect” in our vocabulary. A simple change, but what a difference it can make – in our schools, our workplaces, and our communities! After all, the word “respect” exemplifies what people feel when they see Special Olympics athletes in action – they see through the stereotypes and instead witness humanity, joy in competition, pride and potential.

Everyone is invited to join Special Olympics in the campaign to “Spread the Word to End the Word.” With thousands of others, pledge to stop using the “r-word” online at www.r-word.org. Together, we can reach our goal of 100,000 pledges by March 3rd.

Join with us in choosing a different word – respect – a word with a different meaning, a different impact, and ultimately much different consequences for all of us.

Matthew Aaron
President and CEO
Special Olympics Pennsylvania

Take the R-word Pledge

2010-02-25T18:27:00.003-05:00

Thousands of people have taken the pledge to stop using the word "retard" as an insult or a putdown. Take the R-word pledge today and let everyone know that you are ready to "change the conversation" right now.

It's Time to Take the Plunge!

2010-01-19T11:39:00.005-05:00

This year's Special Olympics Pennsylvania Polar Bear Plunge is quickly approaching!
The Polar Bear Plunge is a fundraising event that challenges an individual or group to enter into a cold body of water in order to raise money for Special Olympics. Plunge participants set a fundraising goal and get pledges from family, friends and colleagues for their commitment to be “freezin' for a reason.” By being a part of the Plunge challenge, you are allowing thousands upon thousands of children and adults with intellectual disabilities to experience a brighter tomorrow. If you dare to take the Plunge and warm the hearts of more than 20,000 Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes this year, register today!

For more information on how you can register to take the Plunge, visit: http://www.plungepa.org/

Coupons for a Cause

2009-12-15T09:51:00.005-05:00

Special Olympics and P&G are excited to celebrate 30 years of working together! December 27th kicks off the P&GbrandSAVER coupon promotion. Get a coupon book in your local newspaper, save big bucks on your favorite products, and help raise money for Special Olympics: for every coupon redeemed, P&G will donate 3 cents to Special Olympics. http://www.pgeverydaysolutions.com/pgeds/brandsaver-coupons.jsp

Spreading Joy, One Song at a Time

2009-11-18T16:30:00.002-05:00

Spreading Joy, One Song at a Time
I wanted to tell you about this end of year effort launched by Special Olympics. When you make an online donation in the name of friends and family as holiday gifts, your loved ones will receive a card with a certificate for a free holiday song download. It’s a great alternative holiday gift for those on your holiday list who are most difficult to shop for and the money supports a great cause, giving more people with intellectual disabilities a chance to participate in Special Olympics, train, compete, gain self-confidence and acceptance. Find out more here and I hope you consider participating! www.SpecialOlympics.org/giftofsong

National Portrait Gallery Unveils EKS Portrait

2009-05-11T14:18:00.002-04:00

On Saturday, May 9th, the National Portrait Gallery hosted a ceremony to unveil a portrait of Special Olympics Founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver. This was the first time a portrait of someone other than a President or First Lady has been commissioned.

What a wonderful tribute to our Founder and to the Special Olympics movement! And, Andy Leanord and Loretta Claiborne, two of the five athletes featured in the portrait with Mrs. Shriver, have competed in Special Olympics Pennsylvania.

Read more in the May 9th post on the NPG blog at:
http://face2face.si.edu/

Reaction to President Obama's Comment on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno

2009-03-20T20:01:00.003-04:00

President Obama's comment about Special Olympics was wrong and hurtful. While he immediately realized his mistake and called Tim Shriver, the Chairman of Special Olympics International, to apologize, this demonstrates how pervasive negative stereotypes about Special Olympics and people with intellectual disabilities remain in our society. We still have a lot of work to do to change mindsets and create a world where our athletes are accepted and recognized for their abilities, not their disability.

You can read my full statement at:
http://www.specialolympicspa.org/press/press.php

Matt Aaron
President and CEO
Special Olympics Pennsylvania

World Winter Games

2009-02-19T08:39:00.002-05:00

Special Olympics Pennsylvania's 5 World Winter Games athletes just returned from Boise with gold, silver, and bronze medals. More importantly, they brought back memories and experiences of a lifetime, like two of our athletes who got to spend time with Vice President Biden during his visit to the Games. Read more on SOI's website about the Games, the VP's visit, and the President's new special assistant for disability policy who was introduced at the Games. http://www.specialolympics.org/WGU_VP_WWG_visit.aspx

Youth are speaking out about the R-word!

2009-02-11T10:46:00.002-05:00

Special Olympics PA sent 3 people to the Global Youth Activation Summit taking place right now in Boise, Idaho as part of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. http://tinyurl.com/abbpah

Winter Update

2009-02-09T15:28:00.002-05:00

There are lots of exciting things happening at Special Olympics Pennsylvania! Last week, a sendoff was held at the Flyers/Bruins game to wish our 5 athletes, 6 coaches, 2 officials, and 1 trainer good luck at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho (2 of these athletes and 1 of the coaches also recently marched in the Inauguration Parade in Washington, DC). Special Olympics Pennsylvania also sent 3 delegates to attend the Global Youth Activation Summit in Boise, expected to draw more than 130 young people, with and without intellectual disabilities, from around the world who are committed to making a difference in their schools and communities through Special Olympics.

Competition is now underway in Boise, and we send our best wishes to all athletes! You can find out more at the Team USA website at http://www.specialolympicsteamusa.org/index.php.

Coming up February 22-24, Special Olympics Pennsylvania will be hosting our annual Winter Games in Johnstown, PA. Almost 300 athletes and 150 coaches from across Pennsylvania will come together for this statewide competition featuring intense competition in alpine and cross-country skiing, figure and speed skating, and snowshoeing events.

There's never been a better time to be a fan of Special Olympics Pennsylvania!

Matt Aaron
President and CEO

SI Honors EKS with Legacy Award

2008-12-12T08:32:00.001-05:00

Have you seen the December 8th edition of Sports Illustrated? If not, please pick up a copy. Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver is honored with the first “Sportsman of the Year” Legacy Award. The magazine includes a 12-page layout covering Special Olympics, including a feature on Special Olympics Pennsylvania athlete, Loretta Claiborne. Every person associated with Special Olympics should be proud to be a part of this rich 40-year history!

Matt Aaron
President and CEO
Special Olympics Pennsylvania

2008-11-21T13:44:00.003-05:00

Dear Friends of Special Olympics Pennsylvania:

As many of you know firsthand, we just completed a spectacular Fall Festival, celebrating a 20-year tradition at Villanova University. It was the perfect way to begin my service as President and CEO of Special Olympics Pennsylvania and made me even more excited about the opportunity I have to lead this great organization!

Looking forward, our top priority must be to make this incredible organization a sustainable one – an organization prepared and positioned to serve our athletes in the future. As everyone knows, these are difficult economic times. But despite the economic climate, I know that by working together and always remaining focused on serving our athletes, we will succeed.

I intend to work hard to enhance communication across all parts of our organization. Successful teamwork begins with good communication! I had the opportunity to meet many of you at Fall Festival, and I look forward to getting out into the field and meeting more of you in the weeks and months ahead. I welcome your ideas, suggestions and concerns and hope to learn from your diverse experiences and perspectives.

As we work together as one team to make Special Olympics Pennsylvania bigger, stronger, and even better than it is today, I know that we will go even further in delivering life-changing experiences of hope and joy to tens of thousands across Pennsylvania.

Thank you for being a fan of Special Olympics Pennsylvania! The best is yet to come!

Matt Aaron
President & CEO