January 2013

Join the 2013 Monthly Giving Club

Athletes remind us every day that the triumph is in the trying and not necessarily in the winning. You can share the joy of Special Olympics by becoming a monthly donor and providing dependable funding for the athletes. For $10 a month, you will feed 24 athletes 1 meal at a State Game; for $25 a month, you will provide medals for 12 competitions at a State Game; for $50 a month, you will send 2 athletes to Camp Inspire; and for $100 a month, you will provide 80 athletes housing for 2 nights at a State Game. Your monthly donation can be any amount you choose. Each month, your contribution will be charged to your credit card or you can donate by sending in a check – whichever you prefer. As a monthly donor, you will be recognized on our Web site and in our quarterly newsletter, Georgia’s Champions. To learn more, to sign-up, or to make a change to your current monthly donation, contact Susan at 770-414-9390 x111 or Susan.Skolnick@SpecialOlympicsGA.org. Together, we can make a difference!

Get In the 5K Foam Fest March 16

Join us Saturday, March 16 for foam, mud and an obstacle course at Atlanta Motor Speedway, 1500 Tara Boulevard, Hampton, GA 30228.

The 5k Foam Fest is the newest and craziest race to hit the nation! Smiling and running don’t usually go hand in hand but the 5K Foam Fest is an amazing mix of foam, mud and obstacles thus making fitness fun. Imagine the excitement of a mud run combined with foam, inflatable obstacles, army crawls, foam, colossal walls, mud pits, cargo net climbs, foam, body washer, moon walk, foam, slip’n slides and water obstacles!

Chip Ford has been involved with Special Olympics since 2003. He first competed at the state level in 2003 bowling at the Indoor Winter Games. Currently he participates with the Henry County Parks and Recreation Department. Over the years, his involvement has grown from being an athlete to also fundraising at major events and speaking on behalf of Special Olympics as a Unified Global Messenger.

In 2012, Chip was the athlete chosen to repel down the side of a 20-story building for SOGA’s first ever Over the Edge fundraising event. He managed to raise over $1000 for Special Olympics Georgia. He has also participated as a Polar Plunger. At the State Summer Games, Chip gave the athlete oath at the opening ceremony before a crowd of thousands.

Chip has been present at most state games and invitationals for softball. He even attended SOGA’s first ever kayaking invitational at Lake Lanier.
He excels at softball, volleyball, basketball, and bowling. 2013 will no doubt be another great year for Chip to show off his tremendous talent.

April 20: Go Over the Edge

Ever wondered if you had what it takes to be fearless and face new challenges head-on? Well, here’s your chance! This spring (April 20, 2013) join “edgers” who are brave enough to raise $1,000 to rappel over the edge of a 20-story building for Special Olympics Georgia.

Click here to register.

Want to be a Coach? Sign Up for One of the Clinics Happening in the Next Few Months

Deadlines for each clinic is the Monday prior to the clinic.

* Jan. 11-12 in Bulloch County: basketball, soccer, bowling, softball, bocce, Unified Sports and Coaching Special Olympics athletes. Contact:
david.crawford@specialolympicsga.org

*Feb. 22-23 in Carrollton: cycling, basketball, softball, bocce powerlifting, Unified Sports, softball, and Young Athletes. Contact:
Kelli.Britt@SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

* March 22-23 in Athens: Volleyball, soccer, flag football, rollerskating, Young Athletes, bowling, and Unified Sports. Contact: David.Crawford@SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

* April 12-13 in Walker County: Athletics, basketball, bocce, soccer, Young Athletes and Unified Sports. Contact
Kelli.Britt@SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

Sponsor Spotlight: Allied World Assurance Company

We are pleased to share that Allied World
Assurance Company will serve as an Official Sponsor of the 2013 State Indoor Winter Games! Allied World is passionate about supporting Special Olympic Georgia athletes and raising the much-needed funds to support SOGA
programs.

Katherine Richardson, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Chairwoman for Allied World’s Global Charity Committee commented, “We are proud to support the Special Olympics of Georgia in this endeavor. The Special Olympics is a wonderful organization that makes a tremendous impact in the lives of its participants through sport, teaching leadership, determination and strength. We are pleased to partner with the Georgia Chapter on their 2013 State Indoor Winter Games.”

Allied World recognizes the importance of its dedication to the development of communities through civic involvement, volunteerism and the funding of vital programs. Allied World supports the communities around the world where they do business and in which their employees live and work. Allied World believes that this support returns long-lasting benefits to society, employees, and company.

Thank you Allied World Assurance Company for your time and investment in Special Olympics Georgia athletes!

Volunteer Opportunities

State Indoor Winter Games
Marietta
January 25 – 27

Get out of the cold and volunteer for the INDOOR winter games. Over 1,500 SOGA athletes compete in basketball, bowling, power lifting, floor hockey,
gymnastics, rollerskating and ice skating.

Polar Plunge
Lake Lanier
February 16

This event has participants “plunge” into the freezing cold waters of Lake Lanier  to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Georgia. Come out to volunteer for this event that will have you talking for days! Volunteers are needed to help with registration, set up, activities, and attending the race course.

5K Foam Fest
Hampton
March 12 – March 17

Special Olympics Georgia has a lot of entertaining events throughout the  year, but this one may be the craziest yet. This is the first year SOGA has been invited to be a part of the 5K Foam Fest, which is all about mud, foam, obstacles and running! Check out the action at http://5kfoamfest.com/locations/Atlanta.php. We have volunteer shifts available each day from March 12 – March 17 – just specify when you are available to volunteer. And anyone who volunteers is able to participate in the event for free!

If you are interested in volunteering for any of the above events/positions, please contact Leslie Anderson at
Leslie.Anderson@SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

January Volunteer of the Month

Eileen Thanner is a long-time member of the Special Olympics Georgia family, who contributes her time to us throughout the year. Eileen works for Coca-Cola
Refreshments, who as anyone that has been to a SOGA event knows is one of our biggest supporters.

With SOGA, Eileen is a member of the Honorary Board, a participant in the annual Strike the R-Word Bowling Tournament, a member of the Bob Busse
Golf Tournament committee, and “a FAN of Special Olympics Athletes.” She is also a long time volunteer at both the State Indoor Winter Games and State Summer Games along with her family, coming out to help with awards for several different venues among other duties. So, as you can tell, Eileen is someone who is truly committed to supporting SOGA, its events, and most importantly its athletes.

Thank you Eileen for your many years of service to SOGA and to your dedication each year! We look forward to another great year!

The Big Ketch and You Support SOGA Jan. 7, 8, & 9

The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill in Buckhead will hold Give Back Days for SOGA on January 7th, 8th, and 9th. Simply print this flyer, present it to your server when ordering, and The Big Ketch will donate 10 percent of your check to Special Olympics Georgia.
This offer is valid both for dine-in and take out orders. For more information, contact Susan at
Susan.Skolnick@SpecialOlympicsGA.org or 770-414-9390 x111.

Adopt a Duck Today and Watch Them Race in June

The ducks will be here June 21 for the Duck Derby at Six Flags White Water, but you can start adopting now. A $5 duck adoption/donation makes a great gift for a friend;  one, to feel good about supporting the athletes and two, be entered in the derby where the adoptee of the first duck to cross the finish line wins a great prize. For example, what a heart-warming gift the duck adoption gift would make for Valentine’s Day.

Click here for the duck adoption form.

Click here for more information about the race.

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