Winter Games⛷️

In just six days, 256 athletes and Unified partners will gather in Dubuque for the 2025 Winter Games! Competitions will take place on January 13 and 14 in snowshoeing, alpine skiing, and cross country skiing events. All competitions will be at Sundown Mountain. Good luck to everyone competing!

MORE INFORMATION

🏀Basketball Season is Here

Regional team basketball tournaments and area basketball skills competitions start this month and continue through January and February. All basketball events are qualifiers for the Spring Classic scheduled for Saturday, March 15 in Iowa City/Coralville.

Volunteers are needed at many of the competitions. Click the link below for a list of dates and locations needing volunteers and to register.

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

Athlete Leadership Conference Recap

The 2024 Athlete Leadership Conference and Unified Youth Summit was held December 13th-14th in Des Moines. More than 80 Global Messengers and Unified pairs from across Iowa attended sessions on leadership and inclusion.

Session topics revolved around storytelling, professionalism, public relations, and identifying environments where leadership takes place.

Hall of Fame Induction

Special Olympics Iowa inducted 10 individuals into the Hall of Fame on December 12th. The Hall of Fame recognizes the longevity and achievements of athletes and volunteers within our organization. Every inductee has been involved with Special Olympics Iowa for at least 10 years.

The 2024 Hall of Fame class includes Janet Grooters (Sheldon), Jason Kotouc (Ames), Sara Krahling (Eagle Grove), Keith Krumm (Sheldon), Marti Benton (Clive), Mary Gibney (Cedar Rapids), Paul Gorrell (Dubuque), Kathy McCabe (Clive), John Powers (Dubuque), and Liz Tobak (Anita).

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

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?

LEARN MORE

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?

LEARN MORE

FUNDRAISING CENTRAL

Riverside Casino Gives Back

Throughout the entire month of January, any guest who visits Riverside Casino and donates $20 to Special Olympics Iowa will receive $20 in free slot play!

Riverside Casino & Golf Resort

3184 IA-22

Riverside, IA 52327

*Limit one offer per person per day

It Will Be ❄️Snow❄️ Much fun

The temperatures outside are dropping and so are the dates for our spring Polar Plunge® season. It's never too early to mark your calendars! Be bold and get cold at one of the following locations:

March 1 - Council Bluffs

March 8 - Iowa City/Cedar Rapids

April 26 - Cedar Falls/Waterloo