Upcoming events

Brio’s at Bocce: Brio Tuscan Grill is hosting a Bocce Tournament on Sunday May 2 between 1-5, sponsored by La Societa Italiana. Enjoy bocce in Brio’s lovely garden setting overlooking the lake, hor d’oeuvers and wine, for adults over 21. Costs $20 to play. E-mail Jennifer.Daniell@SpecialOlympicsGA.org

Slamfest 2010:  Three-on-three basketball tournament at Discover Mills June 5 and 6 with proceeds going to SOGA.  Volunteers and players needed.  For more information go to http://www.slamfest2010.com/   or to volunteer email: slamfest2010@yahoo.com  Multiple divisions including third grade up through seniors with sliding cost. 

Three-Day Spring Ride: The 21st Annual Spring 3-Day Bike Ride begins in Virginia Highlands on May 21. The 300-mile ride tours West Georgia from urban Atlanta through rural West Georgia and ending in Virginia Highlands on the 23rd.

Ride through Calloway Gardens, the rolling hills from Pine Mountain, and Silver Comet Trail. But you can join the ride at any point!  Just be sure to ask friends and families to sponsor you. You only pay for your personal expenses. You’ll enjoy the ride and raise money for Special Olympics Georgia.

For more information, contact Jeff at schneiderjeffrey@yahoo.com or Charles at cepotts@mindspring.

BRAG: Sign up for the 2010 Bicycle Ride Across Georgia. The ride will take place in middle Georgia June 5-12. A loop ride beginning and ending in Fayetteville with overnight stops in Griffin, Thomaston, Columbus LaGrange and Newnan. Visit www.brag.org  for more information.

SOGA COMMUNITY YARD SALE: Join us for our  yard sale April 23 and 24 at the Decatur Recreation Center. We’ll have tons of items including couches, chairs, entertainment centers, TVs, movies, books, clothes, toys, strollers, children’s furniture, decorative items and so much more!

The yard sale will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days at the center, located at 231 Sycamore Street, Decatur, GA 30030

*We are also looking for donations of items for the yard sale. Schedule a pickup or you can drop items off at the SOGA office. For more information on the yard sale, contact Leslie Anderson at 770-414-9390 ext. 120 or at leslie.anderson@specialolympicsga.org.

Cuffed for a Cause: Join officers across the state as they are CUFFED FOR A CAUSE on Saturday, April 10th!  Officers will bed handcuffed to a moving treadmill for eight hours or until their fundraising goal is met, whichever one comes first!  Be sure to stop by and support them by making a donation.  Click here to see the closest location to you.

Let’s go see some Braves games: Purchase your $6 Gwinnett Braves game ticket for July 11 or your $12 or $6 ticket for the Atlanta Braves game on May 20. If sell 150 Gwinnett tickets, the athletes will be in an athlete parade and 200 tickets for the athletes to participate in the Atlanta game. Let’s help get our athletes on the field. E-mail Wendy.Bigham@SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

Come to the Decatur Recreation Center on April 23 and 24 for some great deals on lots of gently used goods. CLICK HERE for the address and more info. Get a steal and support SOGA at the same time!

Matching Gifts: Double or triple your tax-deductible donation to Special Olympics Georgia through your company’s matching gift program. Thousands of companies match charitable contributions made by their employees. Find out if your company will match your donation to Special Olympics with our custom search engine or by visiting your personnel office. If your company does match gifts, please provide SOGA with necessary paperwork.

Coupon books:If you live in the greater Athens or greater Gainesville areas, you can save at least $1,000 at local restaurants and family entertainment venues by buying a Coupon Book. In addition to saving yourself a lot of money, 50% of the proceeds of each book is donated to SOGA. Learn more about the types of offers included in the books/purchase a book.

Shop Online With Major Discounts: Special Olympics Georgia has partnered with a company to provide you with the opportunity to participate in an Online Reverse Auction and Shopping Portal that will let you shop, save big, have fun, and support SOGA at the same time.
The online reverse auction allows you to bid on today’s most desirable items (i.e., ipod, Wii, gift cards, cameras, computers, etc.). As people bid on an item, the price drops! Once the item drops to a price that you are willing to pay, you can buy the item.  If this sounds too good to be true, click here to see how this works.

The shopping portal connects you to thousands of online merchants (i.e., Target, WalMart, Best Buy, Apple, Borders, Toys r Us, Home Depot, etc.). The best part is that you’re able to earn rewards for yourself and money for Special Olympics Georgia  while buying everyday items you were already planning on purchasing.  Click here to learn more.  

From athletes traveling to Athens, Greece to compete at Greece’s National Games and a Cobb County volunteer winning a national award to Cobb County athletes having a spotlight at a partner organization’s event; Special Olympics is always moving.

Thirty-year-volunteer Kittie Caston was recognized with the national Point of Light Award. Being deaf, Kittie has made a life out of  giving those with disabilities the opportunity to shine. She strives to help children and adults with intellectual disabilities learn discipline, confidence and demonstrate courage through her work with Special Olympics Georgia.The Point of Light Award honors individuals and volunteer groups around the country that have made a committment to help meet critical needs in the community. The award was created by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

A SOGA family, volunteer and local program were recognized for outstanding work in the community at Indoor Winter State Games Opening Ceremony Jan. 15. The Distinguished Service Award winners are: the Isabell Family of Fayette County, Outstanding Family; Karen Carter; Outstanding Adult Volunteer; and Lowdnes County/Valdosta in Area 15, Outstanding Local Program.

Rhythmic gymnasts Elena Weaver, Dana Misitano, Lani DeMello and Karen Davis were selected to join 31 other United States Special Olympics athletes to compete in the Hellas National Games in Athens, Greece, at the end of May. All four athletes are at the highest level of Special Olympics rhythmic gymnastics. Ana DeMello will be the coach for the team. Gymnastics expert and coach Cindy Bickman will serve as the technical delegate.

The athletes have also been asked to demonstrate their Level 4 routines for international judges who will judge the rhythmic gymnastics competition at 2011 World Games in Athens. The judges will use the opportunity to complete their Special Olympics judges’ training.

Cobb County athletes:  Michael Ball,  Sean Concepcion, Marko Crncevic, Justin Erb, Daunte Lloyd, Maria Owmby,  had the spotlight at Dream Makers Youth Foundation’s  Celebrity Wheelchair Basketball last month in Smyrna. The athletes were cheered on by fans as the practiced lay-ups during an intermission.

SOGA is excited about its partnership with Dream Makers Foundation,  a nonprofit organization that provides community-based education, recreation and therapeutic services to preschool through high school-aged children with special needs throughout the metropolitan Atlanta area.

Dream Makers offers free tennis lessons to children with special needs two Saturdays a month at the Universal Tennis Academy from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. If interested, call (678) 398-6693. Dream Makers also has a tutoring program within schools, if interested in one at your school e-mail dreammakersyf@aol.com.