Thank you athletes for your determination through 3 seasons of virtual sports, the launch of our virtual community, SOOR Active, virtual Youth Games presented by Nike, esports presented by PlayStation, and lots of Zoom dance parties with our very own DJ Shawn Hinz! There are wonderful stories to highlight within our Special Olympics Oregon community showcasing how many athletes were able to thrive during the last year and a half – and we want to acknowledge everyone in our SOOR family who made virtual programming possible. Because of your loyalty and support, today we are looking forward to starting our return to activities in phased approach (July-21 COVID Plan), launching the Plane Pull presented by Subaru, and enjoying the sports broadcast Breakfast with Champions presented by U.S. Bank.
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Britt Oase
Chief Executive Officer
Special Olympics Oregon
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Athlete
Sandy Williams
High Desert Local Program athlete, Sandy Williams, has been participating with Special Olympics Oregon since she was 10 years old (a little over 24 years). She participated in athletics, basketball, and bowling and has medaled in many of the events within those sports. When Covid-19 restrictions resulted in a pause on SOOR’s in-person activities, Sandy did not hesitate to try out the new sport that was being offered in the first ever 2020 Fall Virtual Games. She practiced and competed in fitness as sport and ended up taking first place in her division.
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Volunteer
Angie Schneider
Angie, a long-time coach and Local Program Coordinator (LPC) for Hermiston/Pendleton, is excited about a Return to Activities. She was honored to be part of the task force planning the return while helping to represent Eastern Oregon and rural programs across the state. She wants athletes to know that all the planning was focused on their safety. Right now, she’s busy making sure athletes complete their medicals and volunteers complete their Class A applications and trainings so everyone can get together in person. What Angie loves most about SOOR is that our athletes can stay active in a safe environment.
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Partner
Fires Igniting the Spirit
Thank you to Fires Igniting the Spirit (FITS) for a generous donation of masks, bottles of hand sanitizer and more! These supplies will be sent to Local Programs across the state and used by SOOR COVID Safety Managers at practices as our athletes Return to Activities. FITS’ mission is to help Native American people on this land regain and preserve connections to their culture and land. FITS is a part of multiple interconnected networks and movements working with people in need throughout this land. They have been collecting and sharing household supplies with their community. When they lost their storage facility, they decided to pay it forward and share some of the supplies with others who were in need. Kevin Shanders from the City of Portland at the Bureau of Emergency Management, thank you for connecting these two groups!
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Hero
We are honored to be recipients of this year’s The Ford Family Foundation Rebuilding Impact in Rural Oregon after COVID grant! These funds will support and sustain our Unified Champion Schools programs and Local Programs for rural communities across Oregon. The Ford Family Foundation has been supporting rural communities through grants, scholarships, and fellowship programs since 1957. “Our investments provide rural communities with the tools and capacities they need to build a vital future for themselves – a future where every resident can thrive.” Thank you to The Ford Family Foundation for their work and commitment to lifting our rural communities up through this generous investment!
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Check out our newest video promoting this year's event and get your crew on board for the 2021 Plane Pull! |
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In its 6th year in Oregon and in partnership with Oregon’s Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, the Plane Pull presented by Subaru will be held at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon on Saturday, September 18th. Plane Pull is a thrilling event that challenges teams to compete in a self-selected division for fastest time in pulling the aircraft 50 feet across the tarmac. Teams can face off against their choice of aircraft: a 35,000 lb. NASA Gulfstream II or a 10,000 lb. Beechcraft Starship.
In 2019, the Oregon Plane Pull had more than 20 teams that raised over $15,000 to support Special Olympics inclusive sports programs across the state. In 2021, following a year off due to the global pandemic, the event is returning with a huge goal of recruiting 80 teams to fundraise $85,000. This year’s Plane Pull will feature an expanded food and festival experience with local food trucks, music, vendors, and games for participants to enjoy before and after their Plane Pull.
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Our Mission
Special Olympics Oregon provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children, youth and adults living with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
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