Articles in Fundraisers

Starting November 11th and running through November 24th, Kwik Star stores across Iowa will sell Polar Plunge icons in support of Special Olympics Iowa.

Customers can purchase a paper icon for just $1 each, sign their names on the icon and display them in their local Kwik Star to show support of our athletes during Plunge season.

Kwik Star has been a longtime supporter of Special Olympics Iowa. They are a Premier Statewide Partner and each year for two weeks, every Kwik Star in the state of Iowa sells Polar Plunge icons. Kwik Star employees also support our local programs and employ our athletes. Statewide campaigns such as this increase the awareness of the Special Olympics movement.

Visit your local Kwik Star store to purchase an icon and thank the Kwik Star team for supporting SOIA athletes.

Ever been curious about this famous Special Olympics fundraiser? The Polar Plunge® is a signature fundraiser for Special Olympics that offers a unique opportunity for individuals and organizations to raise money and support Special Olympics Iowa athletes by jumping into frigid waters. Polar Plunges are held across the state of Iowa in the fall and spring. The West Des Moines Polar Plunge will be held Saturday, November 5 at the Jordan Creek Town Center.

Premier Statewide Partner Lincoln Savings Bank is presenting the event for the second year in a row. Volunteers from LSB will be on hand all day to help the Plunge run smoothly and to provide guests with giveaways and fun activities.

Immediately following the Plunge, participants and guests can stay warm and enjoy fun, food, drink, music, a silent auction and drawings at the post-party. Lunch can be purchased for spectators at registration for $10 (ages 5 and under free). …

345 feet. One rappel. One cause. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to face the fear of heights, now is your chance! Special Olympics Iowa’s annual fundraiser Over the Edge will literally take you over the edge of the Financial Center in downtown Des Moines to raise money and awareness for SOIA athletes.

How does Over the Edge exactly work? You must fundraise a minimum of $1,000 to secure your rappelling spot for Wednesday, October 26. You’ll then be assigned a rappel time for that day. You’ll report to the Financial Center the day of the event and will be given instruction on where to go and how to scale down the side of the building. And don’t worry, you’ll be wearing a harness and safety gear!

Of course, if going Over the Edge sounds a little scary to you, there are other ways you can get involved in the event. We’re always looking for more volunteers to help out the day of the event. We even encourage you to help recruit rappellers for the event. …

The Tailgate for Teammates, happening September 17, is an annual event that takes a different spin on a fall gala. Rather than the dress up black tie event, it is a much more laid back event that has the athletes of Iowa focused. The evening is filled with games, laughter and best of all inclusion – which is a huge focus for Special Olympics.

Athletes are able to enjoy themselves mingling with guests or challenging them in a game of bag toss, or getting their picture taken to remember the evening. Most of the athletes’ favorite part of the evening is being featured on player cards with their picture and some facts about them on the back. The athletes sign these and hand them out to guests as conversation starters and ways to show off their accomplishments throughout their Special Olympics career! …

On Thursday, September 22 you can support Special Olympics Iowa by presenting the flyer below to one of three Granite City food and brewery locations in Iowa!

Download Printable Flyers

Special Olympics Iowa’s West Central Area will be involved in a fundraiser at Stuff Etc. in Ankeny during the month of August.

Stuff Etc. is a quality consignment store with six locations around the state. Each month, the company selects a charity to support with an in-store fundraiser called “Charity Umbrella.” Customers can make a donation in the umbrellas hanging upside down over the checkouts.

The store sponsors a sale the first weekend of the month offering shoppers a discount on their purchases when they donate a dollar to the umbrella. Special Olympics Iowa-West Central Area is the charity that is being supported this August. During August 5-7 customers will receive a discount on all of their purchases if they donate a dollar to the umbrella at the Ankeny store location.

For more information visit Stuff Etc.’s website or contact West Central Area Director Debby Eldred at 515-229-7733 or email debeldred@mchsi.com.

Have a softball team looking to play this summer? You’re in luck! The fifth annual JTC Softball Tournament is being held July 16-17, 2016 at Coralville Creekside Ball Park. This year the tournament’s proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Iowa.

See the event poster below for more details.

Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) athletes and law enforcement officials are being showcased on the 44-ounce cups at Casey’s General Stores throughout the state. The cups are available in stores now through Labor Day with a portion of the proceeds from each Casey’s Cup sold going to SOIA.

This is the third year Casey’s has supported SOIA with the Casey’s Cup campaign!

Now, SOIA is challenging customers to take photos of themselves with the cups, and each month this summer (June, July, August), a winner will be chosen to receive a SOIA swag item. A grand-prize winner will be chosen at the end of the contest and will receive a free one-night stay at Embassy Suites in downtown Des Moines and other prizes.

HOW TO ENTER: …

Granite City will be donating a portion of its sales to Special Olympics Iowa on Feb. 17!

Visit one of the three Granite City locations in Iowa – Cedar Rapids, Clive or Davenport– on Feb. 17, show your server our flyer and 20% of your total tab will be donated to Special Olympics Iowa!

Can’t stay for a meal? To go orders are included, too!

In the spirit of the holidays, Special Olympics Iowa is featuring 12 Days of Athletes throughout the month of December. In honor of these amazing athletes, please consider making your year-end donation to Special Olympics Iowa. If your donation is received by December 31, it will be DOUBLED!

DONATE NOW!

Name: Bobby Johnson
Age: 27
Delegation: Waterloo Goodwill, Northeast Area
SOIA sports I participate in: bowling, basketball skills, challenge days, bocce, athletics (100m wheelchair race, softball throw)

What does Special Olympics mean to you? Special Olympics gives me the opportunity to be social and stay in shape and spend time with my team of friends and make new ones. It also gives me the opportunity to be competitive. I especially love bowling.

What is a fun fact about yourself? I am a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan, and my three-year-old niece has me wrapped around her little finger…but I wouldn’t have it any other way. My friends say that I am sociable, funny, have a big heart and have the ability to adapt when things don’t go as planned. I also have the ability to touch people’s hearts as we experienced during my most recent hospital stay.

What is your favorite part about the holiday season? My favorite part of the holiday season is spending time with family and friends. I love Christmas because I like seeing all the different decorations that people put up. We have a tradition in our family where we all gather at our house for a big family and friends dinner and play different games…including BINGO and LCR.