2015 State Fall Games

Former Atlanta Falcon Buddy Curry to serve as Grand Marshal for Special Olympics Georgia 2016 State Indoor Winter Games

BuddyCurry50

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.

2015 State Fall Games – Olympic Town

2015 State Horse Show

2015 State Horse Show

Gainesville set to host both State Fall Games and Horse Show for Special Olympics Georgia

Second straight year this SOGA double-event is being held in “Poultry Capital of the World”

Atlanta – October 1, 2015 – For the second straight year, Gainesville and the Hall County area will be the site for two of Special Olympics Georgia’s biggest events each year – the State Fall Games and the State Horse Show.

This double-event is set for next weekend, Oct. 9-11 at four different venues in the Gainesville area. Nearly 2,500 athletes and unified partners will travel for the State Fall games to compete in bocce, cycling, golf and softball. Venues for the State Fall Games are North Hall Park (bocce and softball), Laurel Park (softball and cycling) and Chicopee Woods Golf Course.

20141011_2287In addition, approximately 240 athletes will participate in the State Horse show, which will be held at Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center. Riders will be competing in events such as dressage, horsemanship, showmanship, western riding and unified drill team.

The Opening Ceremony for both events will be on Friday, Oct. 9, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The State Fall Games’ Opening Ceremony will take place at Gainesville Middle School, while Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center will host the State Horse Show Opening Ceremony.

The State Fall Games and the State Horse Show are both free and open to the public.

“Special Olympics Georgia is excited to be back in Gainesville/Hall County for the State Fall Games and Horse Show,” said Special Olympics Georgia CEO Georgia Milton-Sheats. “Over 2,000 athletes from around the state will be traveling to Gainesville to compete and they will be going for the gold! The Gainesville community has been so welcoming and supportive and we hope to see many of you in the stands and cheering on the athletes.

“Thank you, Gainesville, for being fans of the athletes.”

In addition to the competition itself, there will also be Olympic Town on Saturday, Oct. 10, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. inside the North Hall Park Community Center gymnasium, where athletes can enjoy games, crafts, snacks and more. Athletes will have their balance, strength and flexibility measured by physical therapists for free.

There will also be a Young Athletes demonstration at Olympic Town for any children, ages 2-7, with and without intellectual disabilities. Here, children will go through quick stations that teach sports skills, prepare these Young Athletes for future competition and encourage cognitive and motor development.

Olympic Town at the State Horse Show will also be on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Activity Hall of the Agricultural Center. It will feature arts and crafts.

Special Olympics Georgia would like to thank the three Presenting Sponsors for the two events – Lockheed Martin for the State Fall Games and Farm Bureau and Dr. Chris Claire and Family for the State Horse Show.

Those interested in volunteering should contact whitney.warren@specialolympicsga,org. For more information and a schedule, please visit www.specialolympicsga.org.

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.

20th Annual Marlow’s Tavern Golf Classic, October 15, TPC Sugarloaf

Join us at TPC Sugarloaf for the 20th Annual Marlow’s Tavern Golf Classic benefiting SOGA. Since 1999 this annual golf tournament and Marlow’s Tavern openings have raised over $900,000 for our athletes, and this year’s tournament goal is to take it over the $1 Million mark! The fun-filled day will include a putting contest, shotgun start, hole contests, and an awards ceremony, reception and silent auction.

Click here for Available Sponsorships.

Click here for the Registration Form.

If you cannot participate in the tournament but would like to make a donation, please make your check payable to Special Olympics Georgia, write “Marlow’s” on the memo line, and mail to Susan Skolnick, Special Olympics Georgia 6046 Financial Drive, Norcross, GA 30071.

For more information, contact Susan Skolnick at (770) 414-9390 ext. 1111.

Thank you Marlow’s Tavern and past and current sponsors for your generous support over the years!

 

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day – September 26

On September 26, we hope that our Special Olympics family around the world will celebrate the legacy of an amazing woman. Launched six years ago to commemorate the life and spirit of the founder of the Special Olympics movement, Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day is a celebration of one person’s achievements and inspiration, but also the values she represents to this day – compassion, tolerance, love and a passion for social justice and equality. Eunice Kennedy Shriver dedicated her life to fighting for people with intellectual disabilities, helping to open people’s minds to their gifts and potential. She believed that one person could make a difference and change the world, and her life demonstrated the truth of that belief.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day will consist of individual events held at the local, state, national, regional and global levels – events that demonstrate and exemplify the value and spirit of inclusion both on and off the playing field. Special Olympics Georgia will be recognizing and celebrating Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day at our Strike the R-word bowling event on September 29.

To be a part of this inclusion movement, sign up at http://www.specialolympics.org/LetsChangeTheGame, and follow it on social media using #LetsChangeTheGame.

2014 State Fall Games

2014 State Horse Show