A record number of  2,300 athletes, coaches and unified partners participated at State Winter Games in Cobb County in January, kicking off SOGA’s 40th anniversary. Once again, Cobb County, especially Cobb County Parks and Recreation and Cultural Affairs, welcomed our athletes and even adding another venue, All Tournament Players Park. Speaking of breaking records, Lewis Maxwell of Peach County broke his own Special Olympics powerlifting World Record at the powerlifting competition at the Crowne Plaza in Marietta. Way to go Lewis!

SOGA would like to make a special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor of the 2010 Indoor Winter Games, Stadion Money Management. Thank you to all of our sponsors including: Allconnect, AutoTrader.com, Bennett Brown Family Foundation, First PRO Inc, Jones Day, Lockheed Martin, MetLife Foundation, Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Superior Essex, and Winter Construction.

The R-word “retard” hurts,  Georgia students told  friends and families this month. On May 3, Georgia schools held rallies and programs for the second annual day of awareness to Spread the Word to End the Word, asking friends to pledge to not use the r-word, retard. Students challenged each other and raised communities awareness  of the dehumanizing effects of the word “retard.” Today, you can pledge not to use the R-word, too.

In Gwinnett County:
Mill Creek High School students collected pledges during the week of May 3rd and so many people signed the schools’ pledge banner, that they needed to had six more feet of paper to accommodate more signatures.  Club  Best Buddies, who organized the campaign want their classmates to understand the effect that their peers with intellectual disabilities had on them, said teacher Jennifer Rolfes.

In Brantley County:
Students at Brantley Elementary and Middle School rolled into the schools’ computer labs during the week of May 3rd and pledged online to not use the R-word. The word was so well spread among the school system and county, that residents stopped by the school to make their pledges, too. So many people pledged to not use the R-word, that specially made T-shirts and stickets, designed by a local coordinator, ran out.

Special Olympics Georgia  (SOGA) held the COOLEST event ever, the Polar Plunge, at Lake Lanier Islands Beach & Water Park in Buford, Georgia. On February 20, more than 175 supporters plunged into the chilly 45 degree waters of Lake Lanier to raise money and awareness for SOGA athletes. Polar Plunge raised $51,000!

The fun and festive day included  perfect weather, food, music, costume contests, prizes, appearances from SOGA athletes. The Polar Plunge was presented by Lake Lanier Islands Beach & Water Park and Star94 FM, with additional support from Courier Express, Marietta Wrecker, SilvAd Promotions, Dickey’s BBQ, WSB-TV Family to Family, Dutch Walters Photography and Genuine Auto Parts.  Awards were given out in the following categories:
            Highest Law Enforcement Fundraising Team:  Dunwoody Police Department
            Highest Non-Law Enforcement Fundraising Team:  Team Frosted Flakes
            Highest Individual Fundraiser:  Regina Rogers of Georgia Tech Police Department
            Best Group Plunge:  Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office
            Best Team Name:  Plunging Peaches
           
Click HERE to see the wacky photos and watch the calendar for more information on Polar Plunge 2011!

Introduced in 1987, Unified Sports furthers Special Olympics Georgia’s commitment to foster inclusion into school and community sports programs. Unified Sports programs bring together, on the same team, athletes with and without intellectual disabilities.
Learn more about Unified Sports