DECEMBER 2024 NEWSLETTER

State Bowling Recap

More than 1,400 athletes and Unified partners participated at Special Olympics Iowa State Bowling Competitions on November 22-23. 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!

BOWLING RESULTS

Winter Games

Join us in Dubuque for the Winter Games on January 13 and 14! The Games will feature athletes competing in snowshoeing, alpine skiing and cross country skiing events at Sundown Mountain Resort.

Registration for Winter Games is due December 13.

MORE INFORMATION

Hoopin' It Up This Winter

During 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 15 in Iowa City/Coralville.

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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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IHSAA Partnership

Special Olympics Iowa and the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) began a partnership during the 2023-2024 school year, and are excited to be continuing this school year! The partnership is an exciting step to grow and recognize Unified sports as other sports are recognized in schools and across the state. IHSAA is working to continue promoting Unified sports programs during the 2024-2025 school year. As Unified sports grow here in Iowa, we look forward to expanding offerings to schools this 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 establish 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

Colleen Dougherty

Director of Corporate Partnerships

Colleen joined the Special Olympics Iowa staff in November. She has always had a passion for helping others make valuable connections, feel accepted, and find joy. Colleen understands the important role nonprofit organizations play to ensure communities are equitable and thriving and has served as a volunteer and staff member for a variety of nonprofits throughout her career. She is looking forward to connecting with businesses and leaders across the state to support Special Olympics Iowa events and programs.

Iowa Wolves Disability Empowerment Night

You're invited! Join us on Friday, February 7th for an exciting evening with the Iowa Wolves as they take on the Stockton Kings in celebration of Disability Empowerment Night! Special Olympics Iowa athletes will be participating in in-game promotions and events throughout the evening.

Tickets are $15-$25 and a portion of each ticket sold goes back to Special Olympics Iowa. Doors open at 5:30pm, and the Iowa Wolves game begins at 6:30pm.

What: Iowa Wolves Disability Empowerment Night vs. Stockton Kings

When: Friday, February 7th, 6:30pm

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

GET TICKETS

FUNDRAISING CENTRAL

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday, celebrated the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.

This Giving Tuesday, a gift to Special Olympics Iowa will go 3X as far to help athletes find joy, confidence, and fulfillment on and off the field. Donate today and your gift will be triple matched!

Law Enforcement Making an Impact on SOIA

In November, Special Olympics Iowa staff and Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) representatives from law enforcement agencies around the state traveled to Texas for the International LETR Conference.

This conference focuses on collaboration with law enforcement officers from around the world to brainstorm ideas on fundraising for athletes, educational sessions on working with individuals with intellectual disabilities, and the importance of the LETR movement and engagement with Special Olympics programs.

Interested in finding out more about the LETR program or attending the conference? Click the "learn more" button below to fill out the interest form or contact Maddie Cory .

LEARN MORE ABOUT LETR

Supporter shirt sales are just one of the many ways law enforcement support Special Olympics Iowa athletes and programs annually.

This is your last chance to grab one of this year's Law Enforcement Torch Run shirts before the end of the year! Order your shirts from a local law enforcement officer or online. All proceeds go towards supporting Special Olympics Iowa athletes and Unified partners.

Available apparel includes short and long sleeve t-shirts and short-sleeve polos.

ORDER LETR APPAREL

It Would be Beary Cool If You Joined Us

The final Polar Plunge on the year is coming up this weekend in West Des Moines!

Be bold...get a little cold...show a Special Olympics Iowa athlete you care.

You can take the plunge solo or with coworkers, friends, family members, or not at all! That's right, sign up as a chicken, raise your pledges, and enjoy all the same benefits as plungers without getting wet.

Fall 2024 Polar Plunges

December 7- West Des Moines