Did You Know…
There are approximately 10.2 million children with special health care needs in the United States and 62% of parents of these children have no plan to cover their child’s expenses when they are gone?
Special Olympics Georgia has teamed up with Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP and SignatureFD, LLC for a four part series designed to provide the best information and resources about Special Needs Planning.
Special Needs Planning is designed to improve the quality of a loved one’s life by securing his or her financial future without disqualifying him or her from eligibility for means-tested government benefits.
Click here to read Part 1 of our series on Special Needs Planning, diving more in depth into what Special Needs Planning provides, challenges a family or individual could potentially face without it and how to secure the continuity of care.
Click here to read Part 2 of our series on Special Needs Planning, answering the most frequently asked questions about planning for a loved one with special needs.
Click here to read Part 3 of our series on Special Needs Planning, and learn more about Special Needs Trusts.
Click here to read Part 4 of our series on Special Needs Planning, and learn more about resources for funding for a family member with special needs.
2017 Georgia Gives Day
by David CrawfordOn November 28, help support Special Olympics Georgia on #GivingTuesday, and lets show the world just how much GA Gives!
In partnership with the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, we are excited to be part of GA Gives on #GivingTuesday. So please show your support by making a donation in support of Special Olympics Georgia! Remember no donation is too small; every amount helps us reach our goals of providing quality sports programs to the 27,115 Special Olympics Georgia athletes!
Click here to be part of GA Gives and support SOGA TODAY!
For more information about GA Gives Day, contact Sara Bruno at (770) 414-9390 ext. 1105.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day
by David CrawfordIn 1968, one woman started a movement that celebrated the abilities and strengths of a population noticed for their disabilities. From that moment on, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Special Olympics grew to an international organization with the goal to provide opportunities and arenas for individuals with intellectual disabilities to not only shine, but be included and accepted, giving them a more hopeful and brighter future.
On July 20, 2017, Special Olympics will celebrate its annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day (EKS) to honor the life of the woman that started it all. This day will also serve as a global call to action for people with and without intellectual disabilities to live in a more unified society – in sport, work, and in the community. By bringing together all peoples, we are able to give ever new life to Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s vision and honor her inspiration, impact and indomitable spirit.
Please join the athletes of Special Olympics Georgia on Thursday, July 20th, and Special Olympics athletes, partners and fans across the world, unify our communities, expand opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and honor Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
Help Us Build Our New Home!
by David CrawfordTo better serve YOU – our athletes, families, volunteers and friends – we are building a one-of-a-kind training facility and administrative space called Training for Life: Sports Lab & Center. This state-of-the-art new home will include a gymnasium and training space for athletes, gathering space for communities, and administrative support for our staff and volunteers to better serve more than 27,000 athletes!
To make this project a reality we are fundraising $5.5 million through our first ever capital campaign. We’ve raised more than $4.9 million, and we need YOUR help to finish this project. The new facility will include a time capsule – to be opened in 50 years – to commemorate this important step for our SOGA family and the many stories that make up our great work.
Through a donation of $50, you can include your story in this time capsule and forever be a part of SOGA’s history.
Click here to cement your sport in SOGA’s forever history.
Master’s Bowling, August 16-18, 2019, Warner Robins, GA
by David CrawfordJoin Special Olympics Georgia for the 2019 State Masters Bowling Tournament being held August 16-18 in Warner Robins, Ga. We will be hosting over 1,200 athletes from across the state of Georgia, who will compete in Traditional and Unified Bowling during this weekend of fun! Tournaments will be taking place all three days at Robins Lanes at Robins Air Force Base, and Gold Cup Bowling Center. For information about getting involved during this fantastic event please contact David Crawford, or for information on how to volunteer contact Courtney Payne.
For more info to Sponsor this event please contact Thomas Ritch.
Click here for more Information.
We hope to see you at State Masters Bowling in Warner Robins!
Thank You Dunkin’ Donuts!
by David CrawfordSpecial Olympics Georgia would like to thank Dunkin’ Donuts for their tremendous sponsorship of the 2016 Cops on Donut Shops and support of LETR. Below are a few words from Dunkin’ Donuts:
Dunkin’ Donuts
Sponsor of the 2016 Cops on Donut Shops
“On behalf of our franchises within the state of Georgia, being able to support Special Olympics Georgia during National Donut Day was a fun and successful effort! Partnering with the LETR groups made it very rewarding since serving our “safety” organizations is part of our mission at Dunkin’ Donuts Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation. We are please to support the great work and the impact that you have on the lives of the Special Olympics athletes. At Dunkin’ Brands, community is the heart of our business so it was exciting to learn about the “reach ” your organization has throughout the whole state. We believe that charitable giving begins at home, in the communities, cities and towns in which we operate. So, we look forward to continuing our support and relationship with Special Olympics Georgia in the future.”- Kimberly Brandon, Associate Field Marketing Manager, Dunkin’ Brands
Bounce for Bucks
by David CrawfordLet’s Bounce for Bucks!
Join Special Olympics Georgia and Jumpstreet Indoor Trampoline Park on Saturday, August 6 and Saturday, August 13 from 1-3 PM for 2 hours of all access bouncing, basketball, bull riding and more!
Jumpstreet Indoor Trampoline Park will be selling tickets and registering all participants that MENTION Special Olympics Georgia for a discounted price of $17 between 1-3 PM. Participants will be able to bounce until 5 PM. All attendees must mention Special Olympics Georgia in order to get the discounted price.
$2 of every $17 ticket sold will go towards SOGA and our 27,110 athletes across the state of Georgia.
For more information, call (770) 414-9390 ext. 120.
Planning For a Family Member With Special Needs
by David CrawfordDid You Know…
There are approximately 10.2 million children with special health care needs in the United States and 62% of parents of these children have no plan to cover their child’s expenses when they are gone?
Special Olympics Georgia has teamed up with Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP and SignatureFD, LLC for a four part series designed to provide the best information and resources about Special Needs Planning.
Special Needs Planning is designed to improve the quality of a loved one’s life by securing his or her financial future without disqualifying him or her from eligibility for means-tested government benefits.
Click here to read Part 1 of our series on Special Needs Planning, diving more in depth into what Special Needs Planning provides, challenges a family or individual could potentially face without it and how to secure the continuity of care.
Click here to read Part 2 of our series on Special Needs Planning, answering the most frequently asked questions about planning for a loved one with special needs.
Click here to read Part 3 of our series on Special Needs Planning, and learn more about Special Needs Trusts.
Click here to read Part 4 of our series on Special Needs Planning, and learn more about resources for funding for a family member with special needs.
2016 State Summer Games Updates
by David CrawfordAll events for Saturday, May 21 will take place at their regularly scheduled venues and times.
For the official 2016 State Summer Games Inclement Weather Plan, click here.
If you have any additional questions before the 2016 State Summer Games (before May 20), please call the Special Olympics Georgia office at 770-414-9390.
If you have any additional questions during the 2016 State Summer Games (May 20- 22), please call the Nerve Center at 404-727-5202.
If you are LETR, please contact Rebecca Walsh at 678-858-3855 or rebecca.walsh@specialolympicsga.org.
If you are media, please contact Meghan Daves at 864-680-7670 or meghan.daves@specialolympicsga.org.
Thank You Marlow’s Tavern Sandy Plains
by David CrawfordMay Volunteers of the Month- Chamblee High School National Honor Society
by David CrawfordThis relationship initially began with an athlete and his older brother. 25 years later, the Chamblee High School National Honor Society has continued to be involved with the DeKalb County Schools Special Olympics Program. Each year, this elite club and its members volunteer by officiating both the track and field events at the DeKalb County Special Olympics athletics competition. For the past three years, they have also contributed their time to volunteering for the DeKalb Local Volleyball Tournament. In addition, they will be diving into hosting an Aquatics Invitational in May.
The Chamblee High School National Honor Society embraces our Special Olympics athletes with acceptance and kindness. The friendship and fan-like support that they exude provides a platform for each of our athletes to be a true champion. On behalf of the DeKalb County Special Olympics Athletes, thank you to the members of the Chamblee High School National Honor Society for their continued service and friendship.