Kami has been involved with Special Olympics Virginia for over 10 years as the Area 2 coordinator. Herself, her husband and all of her children have volunteered and coached at numerous events in the Southeast. At the first soccer tournament she attended she was asked to be a coach, and she hasn’t had a free Saturday since.
“Part of our mission is to teach sports and learn the rules. The other part is to invite the community to come out and get comfortable with individuals with ID. Then, they share that with their families and friends who start getting involved, and now you have part of the community that are comfortable and interact with people with ID. Because in the end sports are a vehicle. We bring equity and opportunities.”
"Because in the end sports are a vehicle. We bring equity and opportunities."
One of her favorite parts about Special Olympics is the sheer commitment of the volunteers and the friendships that blossom with the athletes. “People with ID will always be here, we have to make the world a better place for them and everyone.”
Local Area 2 athlete Donte Fleming has been greatly impacted by Kami and her time as his mentor in the first class of the Global Messenger program. “This program brought us together in friendship. She’s a very good coach. She’s strict and tough, but we took the time to work together and become successful. And she impacted me so much.”
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Volunteer Week
National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle one of society’s greatest challenges, to build stronger more inclusive communities. This week, we're highlighting just a few volunteers that have been serving our 22,000+ Special Olympics Virginia athletes.
These leaders have lent their time, skills and heart over the years and we couldn’t be more grateful for them, and the countless other volunteers that keep our programs running. Read their stories and take the time to thank a volunteer that you know that has made a difference at Special Olympics Virginia.
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Rose Ann Stern
Rose Ann Stern is the proud mother to three Special Olympics Virginia athletes in Area 23. Her three boys compete in nearly every sport that the area has to offer which, over time, has led Rose Ann to build relationships with nearly all the coaches, athletes, and parents. So, as Rose Ann became more and more comfortable, she started asking a lot of questions, stepping up, and being helpful without being, “too helpful” as she puts it. -
Marcus Leggett
Marcus, whose son is also a Special Olympics Virginia athlete, has been with Area 2 for 15 years as the local coordinator in Virginia Beach and as a coach of multiple sports year round. After being called coach at the first event he attended, he knew he was locked in. -
Kami Lannetti
Kami has been involved with Special Olympics Virginia for over 10 years as the Area 2 coordinator. Herself, her husband and all of her children have volunteered and coached at numerous events in the Southeast. At the first soccer tournament she attended she was asked to be a coach, and she hasn’t had a free Saturday since. -
Gena Callahan
Three years ago, Gena was searching for opportunities for her niece that has special needs and found Special Olympics Virginia. Shortly after she got involved, there was a vacancy for an Area 24 coordinator, and being the leader she is, Gena stepped right up to the challenge. Now, three years later, and she is still here and working hard for the athletes that she considers her family. -
Tom Hagen
Tom Hagen is the long time Area 33 coordinator and father of a Special Olympics Virginia athlete. Like many parents of a child with special needs, Tom was looking for an opportunity for his son when he found Special Olympics. Since then, he has worked to grow the program, bring awareness and recruit more volunteers in the area. -
Andy Stromberg
“I have something inside of my body that says I need to be doing this. I honestly kind of have to do it.”