Gainesville set to host both State Fall Games and Horse Show for Special Olympics Georgia

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Second straight year this SOGA double-event is being held in “Poultry Capital of the World”

Atlanta – October 1, 2015 – For the second straight year, Gainesville and the Hall County area will be the site for two of Special Olympics Georgia’s biggest events each year – the State Fall Games and the State Horse Show.

This double-event is set for next weekend, Oct. 9-11 at four different venues in the Gainesville area. Nearly 2,500 athletes and unified partners will travel for the State Fall games to compete in bocce, cycling, golf and softball. Venues for the State Fall Games are North Hall Park (bocce and softball), Laurel Park (softball and cycling) and Chicopee Woods Golf Course.

20141011_2287In addition, approximately 240 athletes will participate in the State Horse show, which will be held at Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center. Riders will be competing in events such as dressage, horsemanship, showmanship, western riding and unified drill team.

The Opening Ceremony for both events will be on Friday, Oct. 9, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The State Fall Games’ Opening Ceremony will take place at Gainesville Middle School, while Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center will host the State Horse Show Opening Ceremony.

The State Fall Games and the State Horse Show are both free and open to the public.

“Special Olympics Georgia is excited to be back in Gainesville/Hall County for the State Fall Games and Horse Show,” said Special Olympics Georgia CEO Georgia Milton-Sheats. “Over 2,000 athletes from around the state will be traveling to Gainesville to compete and they will be going for the gold! The Gainesville community has been so welcoming and supportive and we hope to see many of you in the stands and cheering on the athletes.

“Thank you, Gainesville, for being fans of the athletes.”

In addition to the competition itself, there will also be Olympic Town on Saturday, Oct. 10, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. inside the North Hall Park Community Center gymnasium, where athletes can enjoy games, crafts, snacks and more. Athletes will have their balance, strength and flexibility measured by physical therapists for free.

There will also be a Young Athletes demonstration at Olympic Town for any children, ages 2-7, with and without intellectual disabilities. Here, children will go through quick stations that teach sports skills, prepare these Young Athletes for future competition and encourage cognitive and motor development.

Olympic Town at the State Horse Show will also be on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Activity Hall of the Agricultural Center. It will feature arts and crafts.

Special Olympics Georgia would like to thank the three Presenting Sponsors for the two events – Lockheed Martin for the State Fall Games and Farm Bureau and Dr. Chris Claire and Family for the State Horse Show.

Those interested in volunteering should contact whitney.warren@specialolympicsga,org. For more information and a schedule, please visit www.specialolympicsga.org.

About Special Olympics Georgia SOGA provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for 26,702 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendships with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community. For more information, visit www.specialolympicsga.org.

20th Annual Marlow’s Tavern Golf Classic, October 15, TPC Sugarloaf

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Join us at TPC Sugarloaf for the 20th Annual Marlow’s Tavern Golf Classic benefiting SOGA. Since 1999 this annual golf tournament and Marlow’s Tavern openings have raised over $900,000 for our athletes, and this year’s tournament goal is to take it over the $1 Million mark! The fun-filled day will include a putting contest, shotgun start, hole contests, and an awards ceremony, reception and silent auction.

Click here for Available Sponsorships.

Click here for the Registration Form.

If you cannot participate in the tournament but would like to make a donation, please make your check payable to Special Olympics Georgia, write “Marlow’s” on the memo line, and mail to Susan Skolnick, Special Olympics Georgia 6046 Financial Drive, Norcross, GA 30071.

For more information, contact Susan Skolnick at (770) 414-9390 ext. 1111.

Thank you Marlow’s Tavern and past and current sponsors for your generous support over the years!

 

2014 State Fall Games

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2014 State Horse Show

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2015 State Masters Bowling

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2015 Duck Pluck

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2014 State Summer Games

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Warner Robins set to host the State Masters Bowling Tournament for Special Olympics Georgia

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Sixth straight year this SOGA event is being held in Georgia’s “International City”

Atlanta – August 12, 2015 – In what is becoming a late-summer tradition, the Special Olympics Georgia State Masters Bowling Tournament returns to Warner Robins Aug. 21-23. This marks the sixth straight year the event is being held in Georgia’s “International City.”

Warner Robins was also the host city for the inaugural State Masters Bowling event in 1990. The Tournament is free and open to the public.

“We are so excited and looking forward to the upcoming State Masters Bowling Tournament,” said Special Olympics Georgia CEO Georgia Milton-Sheats. “Thank you to the city of Warner Robins and the community for being so incredible and embracing us with open arms. This will be a huge event including singles, unified team and ramp bowling competitions.

“Come and be a fan!”

An estimated 1,200 SOGA athletes and unified partners are expected to compete in the event, while approximately 250 coaches and 600 volunteers will be on hand to help make the tournament a success. The Masters Bowling Tournament is the third of the five State Games hosted by Special Olympics Georgia each year.

Although there will be competition on the first day of the event, the highlight of the day is the Opening Ceremony, which will be held at Southside Baptist Church in Warner Robins. Warner Robins Mayor Randy Toms with serve as the Tournament Grand Marshal, while Amanda Castro from NBC 41-Macon will be the Master of Ceremonies.

The Opening Ceremony concludes with the Parade of Athletes with a bagpiper and the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Afterwards, there will be a dance with singer Dell Cook providing the post-ceremony entertainment.

The bowling competition itself will be held at both the Gold Cup Lanes and Robins Air Force Base Bowling Center (Robins Lanes). Overall, there will be athletes representing 53 local agencies from throughout the state, and awards will be given throughout the Tournament.

Special Olympics Georgia would like to thank the two Presenting Sponsors – the City of Warner Robins and the Warner Robins Convention and Visitors Bureau, as well as Official Sponsors Idealease, Allied World, Flint Energies, Kaiser Permanente, Boeing, RR Donnelley, Mattel, Lockheed Martin and the Knights of Columbus.

Potential volunteers need to contact whitney.warren@specialolympicsga,org. For more information and a schedule, please visit www.specialolympicsga.org.

2015 Duck Pluck set for Friday to benefit Special Olympics Georgia

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10,000 rubber ducks to fill up swimming pool at Post Chastain Apartment complex

Atlanta – August 12, 2015 – The Post Chastain Apartment complex is where everyone will want to be this Friday as Special Olympics Georgia will have its annual Duck Pluck fundraiser.

This event benefits Special Olympics to help the non-profit organization provide year-round sports training and competition to both children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The 2015 Duck Pluck will feature 10,000 yellow rubber ducks filling up the pool at Post Chastain. Certain ducks will then be plucked for prizes.

Ducks are still available to be adopted at five dollars per duck. Chances of winning increase with a $30 donation, in which the donor receives seven duck adoptions plus a souvenir plastic junior duck. This year’s Duck Pluck sponsors are Rooms To Go Children’s Fund and Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academies.

Visit www.AtlantaDuckPluck.com today to adopt your duck online. All online adoptions will close on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 11:45 p.m.

Special Olympics Georgia Clothing Drive, June 30-July 30

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Special Olympics Georgia is collecting donated clothes to raise money for our athletes to be able to compete in State Games. Start cleaning out those closets! SOGA has partnered up with Charity Recycling Service to collect donated clothes: shirts, sweaters, dress clothes, pants, jeans, hats, gloves, shoes, purses, backpacks, sheets. For more information please contact Kylie McGregor at Kylie.McGregor@specialolympicsga.org or call 770-414-9390 ext. 102