Dear FANS of Special Olympics,

Many of you already know about our Rugs for a Reason campaign, launched late last year as a pilot program fundraiser for Special Olympics Georgia and South Carolina. These beautiful machine woven, high quality area rugs incorporate the Special Olympics logo in a stylish, subtle design. Rugs are available in three styles and sizes, with price points ranging from $199 to $549.

Best of all, a large majority of each purchase benefits athletes in these states, thanks to a generous partnership between Rugs for a Reason founder Paul Prince of Door to Door Floors in Columbia, South Carolina and Shaw Industries in Dalton, Georgia. Here’s the urgent message: this pilot program ends August 31, 2012.

To justify a national launch as an ongoing fundraiser for Special Olympics North America, we must sell at least 200 rugs in South Carolina and Georgia in the next 120 days. We believe this is a feasible goal. These beautiful rugs are ideal for homes, businesses, Project UNIFY and other classrooms, and anywhere you want to add beauty, comfort and style while supporting a worthy cause. If your budget allows, please buy one. If you have friends, family members, business colleagues or others who might be interested in buying a rug for themselves or for an athlete’s family, please spread the word and urge them to act quickly.

Forward this email and share our website on Facebook and Twitter. Just as we know our athletes can and will succeed when given the chance, we also believe that with our strongest supporters as Rugs for a Reason ambassadors, more than 200 rugs can and will be sold in Georgia and South Carolina by August 31 so that this innovative fundraiser can launch on a national level.

Thanks as always for your support, and for helping us reach this goal.

Two Special Olympics Georgia State Games will be held in middle Georgia Aug. 24-26: the State Horse Show and State Masters Bowling. Nearly 1,000 athletes from all over Georgia will travel to Warner Robins to compete to be the best bowler and Perry for equestrian competitions.

In Warner Robins, bowling competitions will be held at Gold Cup Warner Robins and Robins Lanes Air Force Base. This is the third Masters Bowling will be in Warner Robins. The city has also won the bid to host Masters Bowling for 2013-15.

The Horse Show features more than 300 athletes from all over the state competing to be Georgia’s best in showmanship, dressage, English and western riding, and riding trails at Georgia National Fairgrounds  &  Agricenter in Perry.

The games are free and open to the public. Awards will be given out throughout the weekend.

Click here for the schedules:
State Masters Bowling – Warner Robins
State Horse Show-Perry

Mark your calendar to visit your local Chili’s November 7, to show your support for all the Athletes! Chili’s is donating 10% of the proceeds to SOGA that night! Just bring this FLYER and present it to your server.

You can make a difference by being a sponsor of the state tournament August 24-26 in Warner Robins, for athletes 22 years old and up, ranging from donating $100 to $3,000 for a sponsorship. Even if your donation is much smaller, it still helps and is appreciated. Click here for sponsorship levels and benefits.

Contact Celestine.Hankerson@SpecialOlympicsGA.org about how you can get involved. Celestine can also be reached by phone at (770) 414-9390 ext. 121.