December 2023 NEWSLETTER

State Bowling Recap

More than 1,100 athletes and Unified partners participated at Special Olympics Iowa State Bowling Competitions on November 17-18. Each competitor qualified at an area event to bowl at one of the four state competition locations. Thank you to all volunteers who helped make the events a success and congratulations to all athletes and Unified partners on a great bowling season!

RESULTS

Iowa Wolves Disability Empowerment Night

We invite you to join us on Friday, December 15th for an exciting evening with the Iowa Wolves as they take on the Cleveland Charge. Special Olympics Iowa athletes will be singing the National Anthem, a cheer team will be performing, Unified basketball games will take place between quarters, and a 5-on-5 game will conclude the evening after the Wolves game (approximately 9:00pm.)

Tickets are $10 and a portion of each ticket sold goes back to Special Olympics Iowa. Doors open at 6:00pm, and the Iowa Wolves game begins at 7:00pm.

What: Iowa Wolves Disability Empowerment Night vs. Cleveland Charge

When: Friday, December 15th

Where: Iowa Events Center (730 3rd St, Des Moines, IA)

PURCHASE TICKETS

Winter Games

Join us in Dubuque for the Winter Games on January 8 and 9! The Games will feature athletes competing in snowshoeing, skiing, cornhole, and ice skating events. Snowshoeing events will take place at Camp Albrecht Acres, and the skiing events will be at Sundown Mountain. Figure skating and speed skating competitions will be held at the ImON Ice Arena, and cornhole will be held at the Grand River Center.

MORE INFORMATION

Shoot Your Shot This Winter

During the months of January and February, athletes will be in the gym showing off their basketball skills in regional team basketball tournaments and area basketball skills competitions. Both the regional basketball tournaments and area basketball skills competitions are qualifiers for the Spring Classic scheduled for Saturday, March 9 in Iowa City.

MORE INFORMATION

Unified Champion Schools

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® bring together students with and without intellectual disabilities through education, sports and youth leadership to provide them with the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to create and sustain school communities that promote acceptance and respect. Special Olympics Iowa partners with pre-schools, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and colleges to implement or continue three main components of the Unified Champion Schools model.

Interested in becoming a Unified Champion School?

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SOIA and IHSAA Partnership

Special Olympics Iowa and the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) are beginning a partnership! The partnership is an exciting step to grow and recognize Unified sports as other sports are recognized in schools and across the state. IHSAA will work to promote unified sports programs during the 2023-2024 school year. As unified sports grow here in Iowa, we look forward to expanding offerings to schools in the 2024-2025 school year and beyond.

Potential opportunities through Special Olympics Iowa and the IHSAA include Unified bowling, Unified basketball and others as more IHSAA member schools Unified Champion Schools programs. These opportunities will be shared as they become available while IHSAA also works to promote Unified programs through Special Olympics Iowa.

Interested in being part of these opportunities?

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Staff Spotlight

Megan Filipi

Director of Marketing & Communications

Megan joined Special Olympics Iowa in February of 2020 as the Director of Law Enforcement Torch Run, and recently made the transition to Director of Marketing and Communications. With a background in event coordination and fundraising, and a passion for graphic design and writing, Megan is excited for the opportunity to expand SOIA's branding, recognition and reach, and spread awareness about Special Olympics programs and events.

Maddie Cory

Director of Law Enforcement

Torch Run

Maddie's joy for Special Olympics started when she was in college at Iowa State University, serving as the Special Olympics Director for ISU's Greek Week events. She joined the SOIA staff in August of 2019 as the Torch Run Event Coordinator and was recently promoted to Director of Law Enforcement Torch Run. Maddie is excited to continue growing the LETR program, working with statewide law enforcement and managing fundraising events.

FUNDRAISING CENTRAL

Double Your Year End Gift

We know you care about our athletes, and this holiday season we're asking you to consider making a donation to Special Olympics Iowa. Every gift made through now and the end of the year will be doubled and provides support for more than 14,800 Special Olympics athletes in Iowa to get off the sidelines and experience the joy of sports. Will you help us show the world that people with intellectual disabilities are strong, capable, and talented?

Brrraving the Cold

The final Polar Plunge® of the year was held this past weekend in West Des Moines. The fall Polar Plunge season consisted of five locations (Davenport, Siouxland, Fort Dodge, Dubuque, and West Des Moines) and had a combined 493 plungers and chickens that raised more than $104,600 for Special Olympics Iowa athletes and Unified partners! Thank you to everyone who supported and participated in a Polar Plunge this year, we look forward to "chilling" with you again in 2024!