April 2012

There are four routes mapped out with distances of 15, 31, 48 and 66 miles and with fully stocked rest stops every 10 – 12 miles. There is a ride for all abilities. Register for $25  and collect at least $100 in pledges. Sign up today.

See Cops on Doughnut Shops

Officers will take to the roofs of Atlanta’s ninth annual
“Cops on Doughnut Shops” weekend from 6 a.m. on Friday, June 8 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 10, where they will collect dough-nations from customers as they eat, sleep and play on the rooftops of Krispy Kreme stores. Click here for more information about the doughnut shops in metro Atlanta, Athens and Columbus.

Bocce Tourney April 29 at Brio’s

La Societa Italiana hosts a bocce tournament at Brio Tuscan Grill behind
Perimeter Mall April 29, Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Don’t miss this fun event,
which includes hors d’ouevres, wine, an athlete speaker, door prizes and
silent auction items. Cost is $20. Teams of two will vie for the coveted
gold & silver medals overlooking the lake at 700 Ashwood Pkwy.
Click here for more information. Or contact Jennifer at
Jennifer.Daniell@SpecialOlympicsGA.org Brio’s will donate 10 percent
of what you spend at dinner.  Click here to sign up in advance.

We’re going to Chili’s May 9!

Have a meal at any Chili’s (excluding locations at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and Discover Mills) and 10 percent of that day’s sales will go back to Special Olympics Georgia. Take the night off from cooking and raise money for the athletes of Special Olympics Georgia. Note:
You must bring this flyer for SOGA to get credit.

Sponsor of the Month

AutoTrader.com continues to generously support Special Olympics
Georgia year-round through financial and volunteer support at our
competitions and events. It is AutoTrader.com employees and their families that lend a hand with whatever is needed, cheer on the athletes during the competitions, and make the awards ceremonies special for each athlete.

AutoTrader.com believes in the power of participation and knows that
together we can make a difference. AutoTrader.com does more than just connect buyers and sellers of new, certified, and used cars. It connects to the community. AutoTrader.com and its employees focus on unique and meaningful ways to collaborate with community partners and expand its reach in the community.

“AutoTrader.com truly values our partnership with Special Olympics
Georgia. Our employees relish the opportunity to volunteer at the summer and winter state games, as well as local track and field events. Special Olympics games are signature events for our employees – we can all identify with working towards a goal and celebrating moments of triumph. Our volunteers become cheerleaders, confidants and shoulders to lean on. Seeing smiles on the athletes’ faces, sharing a high-five, and encouraging
them to work harder next time keeps us coming back for more. Our company is proud to partner with such a respected and trusted organization” says Jennifer Anderson, Community Relations Manager.

AutoTrader.com’s continued support of Special Olympics Georgia is greatly appreciated, and it is a partnership that we value and hold in high regard. Thank you AutoTrader.com!

 Volunteer of the Month: Kathy Straughan

 Kathy Straughan has been volunteering with Special Olympics Georgia for over 20 years, as a coach and as the chairperson of the Gwinnett County Management Team. Like all great volunteers, she knows that the most important goal as a SOGA volunteer is
the success of the athletes.

 Throughout her years with SOGA, Kathy follows all Special Olympics rules, policies and guidelines, making sure each are reinforced by all her volunteers. Volunteers like Kathy, who set a true example for all Special Olympics volunteers, are essential assets to Special Olympics Georgia because they help make the program a success for not only other volunteers but to the athletes as well.

Because of her professionalism and integrity to SOGA, Kathy has been chosen as the April Volunteer of the Month. Thank you Kathy for all you do.

Volunteer Opportunities

Over the Edge, Atlanta
April 21
Over the Edge is a brand new event for SOGA that has brave participants rappelling down a building. Volunteers are needed to help with the day’s activities. We promise not to send you “Over the Edge!”

Knights of Columbus “Get Inspired
to Ride,” Cartersville
April 28
This is Inaugural Ride, hosted by the Knights of Columbus, raises money for SOGA’s Camp Inspire. The ride begins and ends at the Anheuser Busch Brewery. Volunteers are needed to help staff rest stops, register participants, etc.

Flag Football Volunteer
Coordinator
May 19
We are looking for a lead volunteer to be in charge of all volunteers at the Flag Football venue at Summer Games. The volunteer coordinator will greet, instruct and lead general volunteers.

Gymnastics, Badminton, Tennis and
Volleyball Awards Captains needed for the 2012 Summer Games
May 18 – 20
Awards captains make sure awards run on time, given out properly,
materials are correct, and coordinate general volunteers assigned to
awards. You must be 18 years or older, and available the entire weekend of May 18.

Athletics helper
May 18 – 20
The athletics venue at the Summer Games is in need of someone to be in charge of shooting the starting pistol for track. This individual will be needed each day of the Summer Games.
If you are interested in volunteering for any of the above
events/positions, please contact Leslie Anderson at Leslie.Anderson@SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

New York Prime: April 22 proceeds go to SOGA
On April 22, New  York Prime, next to Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead, is
donating proceeds of the evening’s sales to Special Olympics Georgia. Let’s make a night of it at New York Prime.

Click here for the flyer. Prime was rated “Best Steakhouse 2003-2011 by Jezebel Magazine.

Matching Gifts
Double or triple your tax-deductible donation to Special Olympics Georgia through your company’s matching gift program. Thousands of companies match charitable contributions made by their employees. Find out if your company will match your donation to Special Olympics with our custom search engine or by visiting your personnel office. If your company does match gifts, please provide SOGA with the necessary paperwork. What a great way to increase your financial support of the athletes with no additional cost to you!

 Do Your Shopping Online and Support SOGA
 www.GoodShop.com has joined forces with 2,500+ of the top Internet retailers and travel sites (e.g., Amazon, eBay,Target, Apple, Kohls, Nordstrom, Expedia) to provide coupon and free shipping offers, as well as donate part of every purchase to SOGA at no
additional cost to you! Simply go to  www.GoodShop.com, select SOGA as your charity, click through to your favorite store, and then shop as usual. You can also access this shopping component from the www.GoodSearch.com homepage.

Magazine Subscription/Renewal
Whether renewing your favorite magazine or subscribing to a new one, you can help raise funds for Special Olympics Georgia by ordering through our partner, DialAmerica. You’ll get BIG discounts, and DialAmerica will donate 12.5 percent of your paid subscription to
SOGA. To subscribe, call (877) 872-2362 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. or click on the icon to the right.

Athletes play at half-time Saturday at Atlanta Silverbacks game

Come to the Atlanta Silverbacks season opener against the San Antonio Scorpions, Saturday, April 7 and see Special Olympics Georgia athletes play during half-time. Participants of March 31′s Silverbacks clinic received a free ticket to the game, compliments of Morgan’s Wonderland, a San Antonio-based family fun park for people with special needs. Tickets cost $10 and up, call Joey Timbers at (404) 410-7437 for tickets.

Attention Coaches: Take the Principles of
Coaching Online Course

The Online POC Course is designed for the next level beyond entry-level certification. It takes about 25 hours to complete and costs $35, and it can be extended to six months to take.
The objectives of the Principles of Coaching course are:
– To develop an understanding of Special Olympics and identify a coaching philosophy for each participant,
– To apply the sport management team approach in recruiting athletes, volunteers and family members and develop training plans for conducting sport-specific training programs for Special Olympics athletes,
– To identify practical methods for enhancing athlete performance by
developing sport confidence through effective coaching techniques,
–  To apply the principles of strength, endurance and flexibility
training and nutrition as they apply to Special Olympics athletes, and
– To provide a safe environment for Special Olympics athletes during
training and competition.

Click here for the course.

 Lilburn Police Hold Tennis Tourney

The Lilburn Police Department holds tennis tourney called “Swinging for Special Olympics: Round Robin Tennis Tournament,” Saturday, April 28 at the City of Lilburn Police Department Tennis Courts. Costs $30 per person to enter and $20 if you register before April 17.
Click herefor the flyer.

Enjoyed the Polar Plunge? Get your
2012 souvenir long sleeve shirt today! Costs $15.

Email Danny.Knight@SpecialOlympicsGA.org for your shirt.

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