Articles from December 2018

2018 Tailgate for Teammates

Join us on October 6th for our Annual Tailgate for Teammates fundraiser.

Nothing brings fans together like a good old-fashioned tailgate! Tailgate for Teammates will offer a sense of camaraderie, inclusion and pride among athletes and their supporters. Guests will indulge in upscale tailgate cuisine, take part in fun and festive sports-themed activities, bid for prizes in an auction, and cheer for athletes competing in upcoming Special Olympics Iowa events.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, October 6, 2018
Location: West Des Moines Sheraton
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Tickets: Click here to purchase tickets

SAVE THE DATE! (pdf)

Auction Donation Form

For more information on sponsoring the event or to purchase tickets, contact:
Stuart Steffy, Individual Giving Officer
515-986-5520

USA Games: Team Iowa to earn 27 Gold, 20 Silver, and 8 Bronze

July 26, 2018

The Fourth Annual USA Games took place On July 1-6, 2018 in Seattle. More than 4,000 Special Olympics athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, all in search of a gold. Team Iowa was among those and included: 10 Coaches, 29 Athletes, 4 Unified Partners, and 3 Athlete Leadership Experience members.

There were 14 Olympic-type sports offered at the USA Games. Out of those 14, Team Iowa competed in: athletics (track and field), flag football, powerlifting, swimming, tennis, unified bocce, and unified bowling.

Overall, Team Iowa had a final medal count of 27 gold, 20 silver, and 8 bronze. Among those medals included powerlifter Mitchell Betsworth (pictured above), who earned 3 Golds and 1 Silver. Mitchell says he, “loved competing and meeting all the athletes from around the country. It was great to make a lot of new friends not only from Iowa, but nationwide.” Mitchell’s father, Troy, who is also his coach made the trip to Seattle as well. “What I remember most about coaching Mitchell and Brad Small were the nerves. I was so nervous that I got down on one knee and thoguht I was giving Mitchell my last words of encouragement, and realized I was firing up a lifter from New Hampshire instead of my son!” “The coaches are constantly cheering for all of the lifters to do their best, so it was fitting” Betsworth commented.

Making Team Iowa proud, Athlete Brandon Baier with the Griswold Tigers as the only athlete at the USA Games to qualify for both the High Performance 100 M Dash and the High Performance Shot put. While in Seattle, two Team Iowa members received recognition for being in the Top 10 in their category of the Steps Challenge (offered by the National office). There were 2,580 indviduals registered in the Challenge. Congrats to Brandon Baier, with the Griswold Tigers, for placing seventh. Another congrats to Ron Schmidt with Sioux City West Middle School for making the Unified Sports partner Top 10.

Iowa Coach Receives Inspiring Coach of the Year Award from Brooks Running

June 20, 2018

By Stephanie Kocer

(SOIA coach Nicole Vetter accepts her Inspiring Coach of the Year award from Brooks Running)

As Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) athletes prepare to head to Seattle for the 2018 USA Games July 1-6 at the University of Washington campus, coach Nicole Vetter of Council Bluffs is just returning from Seattle, where she was honored by Brooks Running with the Inspiring Coach of the Year award.

Vetter has been a teacher and coach for 22 years in Council Bluffs. She started her career as a special education teacher before transitioning into teaching physical education and coaching the Thomas Jefferson High School track team. Now she feels like she gets the best of both worlds. “I love getting to know that population of students,” says Vetter. “I get to help both Special Olympic athletes and high school students, which is the best of both worlds.”

In honor of the 2018 USA Games, Brooks Running, which is headquartered in Seattle, selected two track & field coaches from across the nation and awarded them with the Inspiring Coach of the Year award. The winner receives a trophy, a $10,000 grant for Brooks performance running gear, and $2,500 to their team’s athletic department for team expenses. …

SOIA Awards Unified Champion Schools Participants

June 18, 2018

Special Olympics Iowa recognized individuals who embraced the Unified model during the 2017-2018 school year at a Unified banquet held in May. As part of our school based program Unified Champion Schools, Hayley Goldsberry of the Iowa Connections Academy and Tyler Hungate of Linn-Marr High School were both selected as scholarships recipients for the work they have done to help develop a more Unified environment in their schools and community.

Special Olympics Iowa also recognized the Des Moines Public Schools for adopting the Unified Champion Schools model with a district-wide approach.

Celebrating 50 Years of Unity and Empowerment

The spark that became today’s Special Olympics movement ignited at the first 1968 International Summer Games in Chicago, Il., USA.

Five decades later, Special Olympics is returning to Chicago to launch the year-long global Special Olympics 50th Anniversary celebrations this July.

Join us as we play together, learn from each other, and chart an inspiring course for the future!

Special Olympics International, Special Olympics Illinois and Special Children’s Charities in Chicago are uniting to host nearly a week of exciting events to celebrate the first 50 years of Special Olympics and to launch the movement into the future.

Events planned for July 2018 in Chicago include the first-ever Special Olympics Unified Cup. Special Olympics Iowa cheerleaders will be cheering at the Unified Cup.

Also planned is a star-studded Global Day of Inclusion, where the public can “Play Unified” and join in fun athletic competition with Special Olympics athletes. There will also be a Law Enforcement Torch Run Commemorative Run and the ceremonial lighting of the Special Olympics Eternal Flame of Hope, which will symbolize our burning passion for inclusion and justice for people with intellectual disabilities.

All Iowa athletes are invited to attend the 50th Anniversary events in Chicago July 17-21. More information about the events throughout the celebration can be found here.

50th Anniversary Schedule of Events

Special Olympics Unified Cup presented by Toyota
17 to 20 July 2018
Chicago, Illinois, USA

The inaugural Special Olympics Unified Cup competition will team people with and without intellectual disabilities from all over the world. A total of 24 international football/soccer teams will take part. The four-day event is presented by Toyota.

Learn more | Events schedule | FREE Tickets

Torch Run and Eternal Flame of Hope
20 July 2018
Chicago, Illinois, USA

The Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Law Enforcement Torch Run Commemorative Run will include Special Olympics athletes and law enforcement officers. The entire city will light up with a new eternal “Flame of Hope”—symbolizing a world of welcome and inclusion.

Join us | Events schedule |
Get Your Name On The Flame

Global Day of Inclusion

21 July 2018
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Soldier Field, the birthplace of Special Olympics, will host a massive celebration, a festival of inclusion that will serve as the spark for people around the world to commit to making their cities more inclusive. This family friendly festival will offer sports activities, interactive games, exhibits, delicious food offerings, and live entertainment.

Events schedule

Music Concert – LIVE!
21 July 2018
Chicago, Illinois, USA and around the world

Then comes a star-studded evening of inspiring entertainment at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island—and a live audience around the world.

Events schedule

Team Iowa to Compete at USA Games in Seattle July 1-6

On July 1-6, 2018 – more than 4,000 Special Olympics athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the District of Columbia will gather in Seattle to compete before tens of thousands of spectators and volunteers. The 2018 USA Games will showcase the limitless talents of people with intellectual disabilities while promoting the barrier-breaking power of sport to promote inclusion and acceptance.

Among those 4,000 athletes and coaches will be Team Iowa.

The USA Games kick off with the spectacle of the Opening Ceremony at Husky Stadium on July 1, 2018 and will offer 14 Olympic-type sports: athletics (track and field), basketball, bocce, bowling, flag football, golf, gymnastics, powerlifting, soccer, softball, stand up paddle boarding, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

Competitions will be held at venues across the Seattle area including the University of Washington, Celebration Park, Kenmore Lanes, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center and Willows Run Golf Club.

…

2018 Des Moines Register Elite Athletes

May 22, 2018

From the Des Moines Register

The Register’s All-Iowa program honors the top athletes in 21 boys’ and girls’ high school sports in Iowa.

We also honor one additional group — the roughly 2,500 boys and girls who compete in the summer games of Special Olympics Iowa, which began Thursday in Ames.

These All-Iowa team recipients listed below were chosen by Special Olympics Iowa and “represent the spirit of the Special Olympics Iowa movement and have gone above and beyond to show their dedication to sport and sportsmanship. They represent SOIA in competitions, service to their fellow athletes, and leadership within the organization and their community,” according to the organization.

“We are very excited to recognize our outstanding athletes again this year along with all of the other top athletes in the state,” John Kliegl, president and CEO of Special Olympics Iowa, said. “These athletes work hard to compete in their sports, and serve as leaders not only on their Special Olympics teams, but also in their schools and communities. We are proud to have them representing Special Olympics Iowa.” …

Meet Team Iowa: Key Volunteer Ray Strekal

May 11, 2018

By Emma Finn

Ray Strekal will be attending the Special Olympics USA Games this July in Seattle, Washington as the Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) Assistant Head of Delegation. This isn’t his first time volunteering at the Games, however. He has been to every USA Games. He even attend the original USA Games held in Ames, Iowa in 2006.

Strekal is excited to return to the USA Games this July. He explained how he has made many friendships over the years and how seeing people again is always a fun experience.

“It is always good to meet people at the USA Games from different states. It’s good for us to hear about each areas successes and problems while running events so we can learn some things and take that advice back with us,” says Strekal. …

Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Celebration in Chicago

By Emma Finn

In 1968 the first Special Olympics International Summer Games were held in Chicago, Illinois. Now in 2018, Special Olympics, in honor of 50 years, is returning to Chicago to launch the year-long global Special Olympics 50th Anniversary celebrations this July.

Special Olympics International, Special Olympics Illinois and Special Children’s Charities in Chicago are all coming together to host a week full of fun and exciting events to celebrate the first 50 years of Special Olympics. One event planned is the first-ever Special Olympics Unified Cup, complete with both soccer teams and cheer teams.

Epworth Western Dubuque High School will be representing Iowa at the event! The team will be cheering the soccer athletes on as well as doing their routine. The team will also get to do a routine with other teams from all over the world. The 4-day competition happens 17-20 July at Toyota Park in Chicago. Unified teams – including players with and without intellectual disabilities—will compete alongside their local football/soccer club sponsor. …

Statewide Partner Hy-Vee Continues to Employ Athletes Across the State

April 23, 2018

Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) Champion Statewide Partner Hy-Vee has had a long-standing tradition of employing individuals with intellectual disabilities, including many SOIA athletes. Hy-Vee has provided funding, volunteers and resources to Special Olympics Iowa athletes for decades. As a Champion Statewide Partner, Hy-Vee has provided more than $300,000 over the years to support events like Summer Games, the Mid-Winter Tournament, Winter Games, Team Iowa at the USA Games, the Plane Pull, and Polar Plunges®. Not only does the corporation provide financial support, but local Hy-Vee stores throughout Iowa also generously donate food for Special Olympics Iowa events.

In addition to financial support and food donations, Hy-Vee provides dietitians at Special Olympics Iowa events who offer free education and resources to athletes and families regarding healthy eating and lifestyle choices. Many Hy-Vee employees also volunteer for SOIA.

Meet some of our Iowa athletes that work at local Hy-Vee stores across the state!

Kevin Schmieder, Davenport
Kevin has worked at Hy-Vee for 21 and a half years. Kevin when first hired bagged groceries, picked up carts, and cleaned. He now works back in the kitchen busing tables and doing dishes. He is grateful for how good Hy-Vee has been to him over the years. He loves the friendly environment of coworkers and customers. He has always had great bosses and opportunities through Hy-Vee.

Tiffani Johnson, Sioux City
Tiffani has been working for Hy-Vee for three years. Tiffani works in the cafeteria cleaning off tables. She also is known for giving out hugs at work and has a clicker to count all the hugs she gets while working! Customers love to find her while at Hy-Vee to give her a hug and see what number they are! Tiffani loves working at Hy-Vee because of the staff and customers. She likes the safe environment there where they treat everyone respectfully.

Rob Beard, Marshalltown
Rob has worked at Hy-Vee for 22 years. His job is maintenance, everything from cleaning to putting things back on the shelf! Rob likes working at Hy-Vee because of how great the staff and customers are. Hy-Vee does a good job working with his Special Olympics schedule, while also celebrating his accomplishments.