Summer Games 2009 a Cheering Success!

As Robert Stowers of Chesterfield (vs. Richmond) lit the Special Olympics cauldron on Friday evening at the University of Richmond Robins Center, the tone was set for a truly magical Summer Games weekend. More than 1300 athletes went for the gold during this year’s event, presented by Comcast, Hardee’s, Sheetz and RightMinds.

And athletes received much more than medals thanks to free health screenings at the Healthy Athletes expo, a "green" experience at the new Pot-a-Plant booth and enthusiastic cheers from more than 1300 fans who volunteered to cheer throughout the weekend.

Many thanks to all of our volunteers, fan-atics, families and sponsors who made this year's event our loudest and most enthusiastic yet. We hope you got way more than you gave.

Our Best Shots!

And don’t miss some of our best shots from the weekend, thanks to the photography expertise of Scott Brown, Jeff Saxman, Mark Gormus, Stephen Gibson, Ray East, John Irby, Bill Fox and Stephen Lackey. Click here for our Summer Games Photo Gallery.

Summer Games Photo Contest: And the Winner Is...

Congratulations to Scott Brown, the winner of this year’s Special Olympics Virginia Summer Games Photo Contest! Scott’s image, shown here, truly captures the spirit of Special Olympics.

Many thanks to all those who submitted your favorite photos, and for spending the weekend with us at Summer Games. It was very difficult to choose this year’s winner - there were so many fantastic shots! – and we feel extremely lucky to have such terrific images in our repertoire for the future.

Again, congratulations, Scott. And to all, keep shooting!

Help TD Bank celebrate Special Olympics month and raise $1 million

From now until July 15, you can stop by your local TD Bank branch to help raise funds for Special Olympics programs in 12 states, including Virginia. For a $5 donation, you'll be sporting a cool "Be a Fan" bracelet and you might just get to meet great Special Olympics athletes like Kirsten and Frank who will be visiting select TD Bank branches in Northern Virginia to showcase their medals and challenge local employees and customers to "Be a Fan" of the Special Olympics movement. Click here to find your closest branch or donate online now.

For more information on this and other cause marketing initiatives, contact Katie Botha, Director of Corporate Development.

Virginia Law Enforcement Torch Run Information

As Summer Games approaches, it’s also the busiest time of year for the Virginia Law Enforcement Torch Run. Around the state, officers not only are fundraising and spreading awareness about Special Olympics, they also are gearing up for the Torch Run, during which more than 3,000 officers run the Flame of Hope more than 2,000 miles across Virginia. The run, which starts in early June, culminates with the Final Leg and lighting of the Olympic Cauldron at the 2009 Summer Games, June 12-13 in Richmond.

We appreciate your patience as we work to enhance the existing Virginia Law Enforcement Torch Run Web site. In the meantime, below are some of the key Torch Run resources, including the Torch Run routes for the various regions of the state. For additional questions, please contact Debbie Apperson at dapperson@specialolympicsva.org, 757-962-1575 or 877-974-7462.

We welcome you to cheer on the officers as they make their way across Virginia; we also need fans to help us welcome the Flame of Hope Friday, June 12, into the Summer Games Opening Ceremony. Sign up to cheer at the Opening Ceremony at www.volunteer2cheer.com.

2009 Torch Run Resources:

• 2009 Torch Run Kick-Off Invitation
• 2009 Summer Games Invitation
• 2009 T-shirt and Hat Order Form
• 2009 shirt back design
• 2009 Harley Raffle Flyer
• Region 1 Torch Run Routes
• Region 2 Torch Run Routes
• Region 3 Torch Run Routes
• Region 4 Torch Run Routes
• Region 7 Torch Run Routes
• Region 8
• Region 9
• Region 10
• Region 11
• Region 12
• Region 13
• May 2009 Torch Run Executive Council Newsletter

Special Olympics Virginia is searching for qualified coaches and one Assistant Head of Delegation for the 2010 National Games. The 2010 National Games will be held from July 18, 2010 to July 23, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Special Olympics Virginia will be represented in the sports of swimming (aquatics), track & field (athletics), bocce, bowling, golf, powerlifting, tennis and soccer. Athletes from swimming, track & field, powerlifting and tennis will be selected at the conclusion of the 2009 Summer Games. All other athletes will be selected following the 2009 Fall Championships.

Coaching for the National Games team is an exciting and rewarding experience. The application deadline for all coaching positions, with the exception of soccer, will be June 26, 2009. Click on the links below to download the application for coaching positions and/or for Assistant HOD.

"The voice is mine, but the dream belongs to all of us"

Special Olympics Virginia is now accepting applications for the Global Messenger Class of 2011. The Global Messenger’s role is to promote, educate and inform the community about the mission, philosophy and benefits of Special Olympics through public speaking, networking and advocacy. Responsibilities and commitment include:

1) Serving as Global Messengers for a two-year period
2) Attending Global Messenger training workshops 1-2 times per year for 2 years and,
3) Along with the Global Messenger mentor, seeking speaking opportunities in your community.

If you are interested please click on the link below and download your application today. For questions, contact Dave Pawlowski, Vice President of Program, at dpawlowski@specialolympicsva.org, 804-726-3034 or 800-932-4653 x 3034.

Special Olympics Virginia’s Paul Marretti honored with Chesterfield Schools Award

Congratulations to Special Olympics Virginia athlete Paul Marretti, who recently was selected as one of seven winners of the Chesterfield Public Education Foundation Bravo! Awards, which honor Chesterfield County Public School graduates who have made remarkable contributions to their professions and communities.

Marretti, a 1998 graduate of Lloyd C. Bird High School, is an inspiring and effective representative of individuals with intellectual disabilities across the globe. He has lobbied both state and federal governments for funding for Special Olympics and in 2008 was named the United States Leadership Council for Special Olympics, Inc. Marretti will be honored a the Bravo! Awards Gala in November.

Special Olympics Virginia Hits the Road

Show your support for Special Olympics Virginia by purchasing a specialty Special Olympics Virginia license plate. Joyce Tucker, the Area 16 coordinator, is spearheading this project, which requires 350 people to complete an application and make a $10 payment before the license plate can be approved. The $10 payment will be applied toward the cost of the specialty plate the next time you register your vehicle, once the plate is approved.

Click here for the application form. Once completed, send the form and a $10 check made payable to Special Olympics Virginia to:

Joyce Tucker
107 Bluff's Court
Colonial Heights, VA 23834

If you have any questions, please contact Joyce at rdskinfan2@aol.com, or Tina Andes, James River Region Director, at 804-726-3032, or tandes@specialolympicsva.org.

Special Olympics Virginia Coach Wins UPS Community Service Award

Global Honor Extended to Richard Koch of Area 6

Congratulations to Special Olympics Virginia Area 6 coach Richard Koch, who recently won the UPS Jim Casey Community Service Award, which is granted to one UPS employee each year to recognize outstanding community service. He was rewarded for his long-standing commitment to Special Olympics Virginia.

During the last 12 years, Koch, who is director of accounting operations for UPS Freight, has logged nearly 70 volunteer hours for the organization per month, serving as a league director, coach and tournament director. He also developed the Manchester Invitational Basketball Tournament, the largest tournament for Special Olympics in the state of Virginia conducted entirely by volunteers. He further uses his accounting skills to help strengthen the agency's management and fundraising capacity.

Koch's son is the inspiration behind his commitment to Special Olympics Virginia. As the parent of child with an intellectual disability, Koch believes that without Special Olympics, many social, recreational and competitive athletic events wouldn't be available for his son and others with disabilities.

The global UPS Jim Casey Community Service Award winner is chosen annually from nominations solicited from UPS's 425,000 employees. Congratulations, Richard!

Negative stereotypes of people with intellectual disabilities are kept alive when people use demeaning words. Too often, people say "retard" or "retarded" without thinking about the effects these words have on others - even if it's not meant in a mean way.

Recently, Special Olympics Virginia athlete and Global Messenger Frank Stephens shared his thoughts on why using the "R" word is a big deal. "I get the joke that only dumb and shallow people are using a term that means dumb and shallow," he said in a commentary piece, which has since been published in papers across Virginia, and the Denver Post. "But it is only funny if you think a "retard" is someone dumb and shallow. I am not those things, but every time the term is used it tells people it is okay to think of me that way and to keep me on the outside." To read Frank's entire letter, click here.

If you are not sure how to refer to someone with an intellectual disability, call them by their name. That's what they really want; to be thought of as no different from you or me. You would be surprised they actually have more in common with you than not...they like music, dancing, talking about sports, movies - just like you. Help change local mindsets and vocabularies by pledging to eliminate misuse of the "R" word.

• Click here for the "R" Word TV Public Service Announcement.
• Click here to sign the "R" word pledge.

Special Olympics Virginia hits YouTube!

Looking for photos from Summer Games 2008? A video of thousands plunging into the Atlantic Ocean for a great cause? Check out these videos and many others via Special Olympics Virginia's new YouTube Channel! Visit it today: http://www.youtube.com/specialolympicsva -- and be sure to check back soon for the latest videos and photo slideshows!