Buddy Curry
ATLANTA – November 4, 2015 – Special Olympics Georgia confirmed on Wednesday that former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Buddy Curry will serve as the Grand Marshal for the upcoming 2016 State Indoor Winter Games. The Games will take place January 22-24 in the Marietta/Cobb County area.
“We are extremely honored to have someone like Buddy Curry serve as the Grand Marshal for these State Indoor Winter Games,” said Special Olympics Georgia Communications and Marketing Manager Lee Wright. “As a boy growing up, I have great memories of when Buddy played for the Falcons. Since then, he’s been a pillar in the Atlanta area with his involvement in youth sports and football development.
“I know he’s excited about this great opportunity, and our organization is excited that he will be a part of our Winter Games. Our sincere thanks to Brenda Johnston and the Atlanta Falcons Alumni Department for helping make this happen.”
A native of Greenville, N.C., Curry was an All-ACC linebacker under head coach Dick Crum at North Carolina from 1975-1979. While at North Carolina, he was teammate of future NFL Hall of Fame outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
Selected by the Falcons and head coach Leeman Bennett in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft, Curry immediately became one of the cornerstones to the Falcons’ “Gritz Blitz” defense. In his rookie season, he was selected NFC All-Pro and the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, helping the Falcons win the NFC West Division with a 12-4 record. Curry was also an NFC All-Pro in 1982. His playing career spanned eight seasons with the Falcons, with the last season coming in 1987.
Since his playing days concluded, Curry founded the non-profit corporation Kids & Pros, a character-based youth sports organization that engages retired NFL Players in their communities to teach football fundamental skills & character lessons to youth ages 7–13. Under his leadership, Kids & Pros has become one of the fastest-growing interactive community programs in the country, using an approach that emphasizes football fundamental, position specific training, and character development.
In addition, Curry also serves as a Master Trainer for USA Football, the Official Youth Football Development Partner of the National Football League. He and his wife, Dawn, live in Buford and have four children – Justin, Jessel, David and Gabby. Jessel originally signed with Auburn as a linebacker, but transferred and finished his collegiate career at Delaware. David is a freshman linebacker this season at Georgia Tech.
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.
End the R-Word Campaign
by Liz SmithHelp SOGA Spread the Word to End the Word! Click the link below to get more information on how to assist in the R-Word Campaign and how you can help end the word in your community!
http://www.r-word.org/
Share your story with Special Olympics:
http://www.specialolympics.org/03-31-09_Spread_the_Word.aspx
Special Olympics Georgia State Indoor Winter Games return to Cobb County for 2016
by Liz SmithAn estimated 2,100 athletes and 200 unified partners will compete in the following events: basketball, bowling, floor hockey, gymnastics and roller skating. In addition, the Southeast Powerlifting competition will also be held at the Marriott Hotel, featuring additional athletes from Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. The Games are free and open to the public.
“Special Olympics Georgia is excited to host the Indoor Winter Games all over Cobb County for the 24th year in a row,” said Special Olympics Georgia CEO Georgia Milton-Sheats. “We will have a record number of athletes, coaches, families and volunteers joining at the Games. We hope people will come out to be ‘A Fan in the Stands’ and watch some high level competition and have fun.
“Log on to our website at www.specialolympicsga.org to find out more about our organization and the athletes.”
The Games’ Opening Ceremony will take place on Friday, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at McEachern High School in Powder Springs. Area radio personality Moby will serve as the Master of Ceremonies, while the Opening Ceremony Grand Marshal is former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Buddy Curry.
Competitions will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday at various locations. The venues include: Sparkles (roller skating), Cobb Gymnastics Center (gymnastics), Marietta Middle School (floor hockey), Ron Anderson Recreation Center and McEachern High School (traditional team basketball), Smyrna Community Center (unified team basketball), Windy Hill Athletic Club (3-on-3 basketball), Fair Oaks Community Center (basketball individual skills), Lawrence Street Recreation Center, the Salvation Army and Ward Recreation Center (basketball team skills) and Brunswick Zone and Marietta AMF Lanes (bowling). The Olympic Town festivities and Healthy Athletes program will be held Saturday, Jan. 23 at Marietta Middle School.
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.
2018 Over the Edge
by Liz SmithEver wondered if you had what it takes to be fearless and face new challenges head-on?
Join us Saturday, May 5th as we go “Over the Edge” for Special Olympics Georgia!
Over the Edge is an exclusive opportunity for individuals to take their support of Special Olympics Georgia athletes to new heights. In exchange for raising money, participants will earn the rare experience of stepping Over the Edge and rappelling down Overlook III Building in Vinings! This exciting even benefits the year-round training training and competition for more than 27, 115 Special Olympics Georgia athletes!
If you are interested in participating, becoming a sponsor or would like more information, please contact Ally Jordan at (770) 414-9390 x 1118 or visit our Registration Page.
SOGA Athlete Nandi Isaac appointed to Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities
by Liz SmithNandi Isaac
ATLANTA – November 13, 2015 – Georgia Governor Nathan Deal appointed 23 people to various statewide boards this week, and one of those appointees was Special Olympics Georgia athlete Nandi Isaac.
The Macon resident was one of seven people who were appointed to the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities. The mission of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is to bring about social and policy changes that promote opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities and their families to live, learn, work, play and worship in Georgia communities.
Born in the United Arab Emirates and of Indian origin, Isaac moved to Georgia with her family when she was six months old. She has been competing in Special Olympics Georgia for more than 20 years. It started at the age of nine with swimming, and has since broadened to include athletics, roller skating, sailing, equestrian, ice skating, hockey and basketball. Isaac will be competing in January in basketball at the SOGA 2016 State Indoor Winter Games.
Isaac has become a spokesperson and advocate for people with intellectual disabilities. Her various advocacy roles include being a partner in policymaking for All About Developmental Disabilities and has completed training in peer-to-peer support. Isaac is also a member of the Region 2 Quality Improvement Council of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and also serves on the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council.
A self-made businesswoman, Isaac owns the microenterprise “ScanWithNan,” which helps people preserve their memories through photos. For more information on “ScanWithNan,” go to www.scanwithnan.com.
Give a Gift. Change a Life. Make Your Year-End Donation Today
by Liz SmithAnd as an added bonus, through December 31, our partner Finish Line will match your tax-deductible donation, dollar for dollar, up to a campaign total of $200,000. This “Ignite the Change” Matching Fund will double the impact of every dollar you give. This means Special Olympics Georgia will be able to do more for our athletes … reach farther to engage new athletes … and show the world more than ever what people with intellectual disabilities can accomplish.
Please don’t wait, make your matching holiday and year-end gift today.
2015 State Fall Games
by Liz SmithFormer Atlanta Falcon Buddy Curry to serve as Grand Marshal for Special Olympics Georgia 2016 State Indoor Winter Games
by Liz SmithBuddy Curry
ATLANTA – November 4, 2015 – Special Olympics Georgia confirmed on Wednesday that former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Buddy Curry will serve as the Grand Marshal for the upcoming 2016 State Indoor Winter Games. The Games will take place January 22-24 in the Marietta/Cobb County area.
“We are extremely honored to have someone like Buddy Curry serve as the Grand Marshal for these State Indoor Winter Games,” said Special Olympics Georgia Communications and Marketing Manager Lee Wright. “As a boy growing up, I have great memories of when Buddy played for the Falcons. Since then, he’s been a pillar in the Atlanta area with his involvement in youth sports and football development.
“I know he’s excited about this great opportunity, and our organization is excited that he will be a part of our Winter Games. Our sincere thanks to Brenda Johnston and the Atlanta Falcons Alumni Department for helping make this happen.”
A native of Greenville, N.C., Curry was an All-ACC linebacker under head coach Dick Crum at North Carolina from 1975-1979. While at North Carolina, he was teammate of future NFL Hall of Fame outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
Selected by the Falcons and head coach Leeman Bennett in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft, Curry immediately became one of the cornerstones to the Falcons’ “Gritz Blitz” defense. In his rookie season, he was selected NFC All-Pro and the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, helping the Falcons win the NFC West Division with a 12-4 record. Curry was also an NFC All-Pro in 1982. His playing career spanned eight seasons with the Falcons, with the last season coming in 1987.
Since his playing days concluded, Curry founded the non-profit corporation Kids & Pros, a character-based youth sports organization that engages retired NFL Players in their communities to teach football fundamental skills & character lessons to youth ages 7–13. Under his leadership, Kids & Pros has become one of the fastest-growing interactive community programs in the country, using an approach that emphasizes football fundamental, position specific training, and character development.
In addition, Curry also serves as a Master Trainer for USA Football, the Official Youth Football Development Partner of the National Football League. He and his wife, Dawn, live in Buford and have four children – Justin, Jessel, David and Gabby. Jessel originally signed with Auburn as a linebacker, but transferred and finished his collegiate career at Delaware. David is a freshman linebacker this season at Georgia Tech.
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.
2015 State Fall Games – Olympic Town
by Liz Smith2015 State Horse Show
by Liz Smith2015 State Horse Show
by Liz Smith