our Revealing the Champion Inside brochure

REVEALING
THE CHAMPION
IN ALL OF US
MAKING OF A CHAMPION
“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
Eunice Kennedy Shriver wrote those words right before the first Special Olympics
games. After nearly five decades they not only serve as our athletes’ oath, but as the
embodiment of our movement and what it means to be a champion.
Special Olympics Mississippi is changing lives in our state and has been ever since Ms.
Shriver first visited the Ellisville State School in 1968. We are the vehicle that gives a
voice to our friends and neighbors with intellectual disabilities. We are their champions
for fitness, health and inclusion.
Mississippi is passionate about sports, and it’s no different for our 4,000 athletes,
who compete in 19 sports ranging from bowling to track to flag football. But while
athletic competition is our path to inclusion, we are also the nation’s leading health
care organization for people with intellectual disabilities. We have passionate doctors,
nurses and clinicians who volunteer their time to give our athletes free healthcare
screenings in disciplines such as vision, hearing and dental.
We are also changing minds in schools, breaking down the barriers of intolerance and
curbing bullying through our unified champion school strategy. We take a holistic
approach where we pair students with and without intellectual disabilities as true
teammates on the field of play and in leadership roles.
Whether you are a sports fan, a healthcare provider or simply understand the need to
help the next generation grow up to be more tolerant of those with special abilities, we
need you to be our champion today!
In the spirit of gratitude,
Tony Bahou
President and CEO, Special Olympics Mississippi
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PROVIDING QUALITY
SPORTS TRAINING
AND COMPETITION
For more than 40 years, Special Olympics Mississippi has been
spreading the message that people who have intellectual
disabilities can and will succeed when given the chance.
With year-round quality training and competitions in Olympicstyle sports, athletes push hard and play harder. They strive to
beat their personal bests, defying the odds again and again.
From the local ball fields to the shining stage of state, regional,
USA and World Games, our athletes showcase the talents and
triumphs of people who have intellectual disabilities.
Comprehensive training in the following team and individual
sports is available during applicable sport seasons:
Athletics
Basketball
Bocce
Bowling
Canoeing
Croquet
Equestrian
Flag Football
Golf
Horseshoes
Powerlifting
Soccer Skills
Softball Skills
Softball (team)
MISSISSIPPI ATHLETES
3,978
MISSISSIPPI COACHES
911
MISSISSIPPI VOLUNTEERS
8,500
Swimming
Track & Field
Sailing
Tennis
Volleyball
BUILDING HEALTHY
COMMUNITIES
Despite severe need and high health risks, people with intellectual
disabilities are denied health services, have limited access to community
health interventions, and experience a lack of targeted health
interventions and programs (World Health Organization, 2011).
Special Olympics Mississippi is working to strengthen the training and
competitive experience of each athlete by promoting inclusive and
healthy communities. The goal is to create an environment of dignity,
while supporting the athlete’s health, fitness and quality of life.
At its first offering in 2015, Special Olympics Mississippi delivered the
following critical health services to athletes from across the state:
HEALTH SCREENINGS
377
HEALTHY HEARING
85
OPENING EYES
80
SPECIAL SMILES
75
AUDIOLOGY REFERRALS
23
OCULAR REFERRALS
40
PROMOTING YOUTH
AND EDUCATION
Project UNIFY is an education-based project that uses sports
and education programs to activate young people to develop
school communities where all youth are agents of change.
Projects promote inclusion of all people, helping to eliminate
bullying and the use of derogatory words.
Unified Sports combines people with and without
intellectual disabilities on sports teams for training and
competition.
The Young Athletes Program is an innovative sports
play program for children ages 2-7 with intellectual and
developmental disabilities and their peers, designed to
introduce them to the world of sports.
DEVELOPING
LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Special Olympics Mississippi’s Global Messenger program
allows athletes to explore opportunities in roles previously
considered “non-traditional.”
Participation provides athletes with opportunities to serve
as board/committee members and spokespeople, and
to play meaningful roles at special events and opening/
closing ceremonies at regional and state competitions.
This experience provides athletes with life-long leadership
skills and confidence to pursue self-sustaining careers and
other life-fulfilling interests.
BE A FAN.
GET INVOLVED TODAY!
Special Olympics athletes are given the opportunity to
participate without regard to economic, demographic, religious
or social factors. Neither the athletes nor their families or
caregivers are charged a fee to participate in the program.
Here’s how you can get involved:
Volunteer - Change an athlete’s life, as well as your own. No
experience necessary; however, be ready to witness the
transformative power of sports.
Mentor - Help athletes gain the skills and confidence they need
to make a difference in their own lives and communities.
Coach - No one affects the life of an athlete more than a coach.
We will provide you with the proper training in program policies,
sports rules and coaching techniques.
Donor - We rely on the generosity of individuals and corporate
contributions.
80%
OF ALL
DONATIONS SUPPORT
PROGRAM SERVICES
OUR BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chairman Kenny Williamson, BankPlus
Vice Chair Rick Webster, Key Constructors
Treasurer
Paul Rogers, Rogers, Ainsworth
& Williams
Secretary
Tandy Boyte, Bob Boyte Honda
Past Pres.
Donna Sims, Bank Plus
MEMBERS
Bob Boyte, Bob Boyte Honda
Dr. Yvonne Brooks
Derek Finley, Mississippi Development Authority
Matt Ginn, Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co.
Gloria Johnson, Boswell Regional Center, ret.
Antonio Knight, Jackson State University
Ben Mangum, Special Olympics Mississippi athlete
Todd Ornstein, Special Olympics Mississippi athlete
Jackie A. Pope, Keesler Air Force Base
Robin Poppenhouse, Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding
Larry Ratliff, Ratliff Heating & Air Conditioning
Jason Smith, Special Olympics Mississippi athlete
George Stegall, Pontotoc Power Company, ret.
Hosea Tate, DeSoto Region Sports Director & parent
15 Olympic Way
Madison, MS 39110
601-856-7748
www.specialolympicsms.org
Special Olympics was created by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation for the benefit of persons with intellectual disabilities.