Teammates, Volunteers Shine, Support at World Games in Berlin

Connecticut had great representation at the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany in June. Leading up the the Opening Ceremony, Ret. Lt. Kelly Walsh took part of the Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the World Games. While in Germany, she befriended officers from all regions - and even offered to help Berlin officers establish a Torch Run in their community. Longtime Connecticut and Regional Torch Run volunteer Joe Carlone and Special Olympics Connecticut staff member Lisa Carlone also made the trip to Berlin to assist and help coordinate the Final Leg.

Participants in the World Games sporting events included Special Olympics New Milford athlete Kelly Schneider and her Unified partner Debbie Albers. Together, Kelly and Debbie earned a bronze medal in Unified doubles bowling competition and, along with Dawn Pacheco and Heather St. Germain - a Unified pair from Special Olympics Massachusetts - won the gold medal in Unified teams bowling competition. Additionally, Kelly won a 4th place ribbon in her singles bowling event. Amazing accomplishments on a world stage!

Tricia Stapleton from Special Olympics Newington provided guidance and inspiration to members of the Special Olympics USA team as an Assistant Cycling Coach. Laurie-Jean Hannon, retired VP of Sports for Special Olympics Connecticut, served as a Sport Manager and, in this role, organized and oversaw the activities of a sports team and assisted with logistics and communication.

Recent graduate Ethan Bufford-Cournoyer, alumnus Zack Ryer and Unified Sports® coach Robb Bajoros, all from Coginchaug Regional High School in Durham, took part in the Global Youth Leadership Summit that was held during the World Games in Berlin. Ethan and Zack spoke to a group of their peers about the impact Unified Sports® had on their lives and also presented their K-12 Middlesex Transition Academy Unified Bowling project and grant proposal to U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and the U.S. Presidential Delegation. The objective of the Summit was to bring individuals with and without intellectual disabilities together to develop skills that will empower them to become agents of change in their communities. Special Olympics Connecticut was one of only 45 programs worldwide to have representatives at the Summit.

In addition, Henkel, a Special Olympics Connecticut sponsor based in Germany, sent one of its US employees to volunteer at World Games. Congratulations to all on their extraordinary displays of excellence, kindness and inclusion!

"The athletes were amazing and inspiring. I was able to see many athletes from all over the world compete in bocce (the competition I volunteered at) as well as weightlifting, volleyball, gymnastics and many 4x100 relay heats.

My favorite athlete was a bocce player from Cyprus who played on my court 3 times. She was going for the gold in 2 of the matches and won 1 gold and 1 silver medal. Here I am with her on the last day of the competition."

- Melissa Jacobs, Senior Litigation Paralegal for Henkel North America and Special Olympics Connecticut Volunteer sharing her experience at Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023!

Summer Games Presented by Pratt & Whitney Photo Gallery

Thank you to the caring, generous sponsors, volunteers, local program coordinators and coaches who filled our Summer Games weekends with energy, exhilaration, friendship and joy! Way to go, athletes!

Health Screenings, Education Well-Received at Summer Games

During our Summer Games, athletes received free dental, audiology and podiatry screenings, education in nutrition and maintaining physical and emotional health and physical and massage therapy. This was all made possible by our year-round Healthy Athletes® program.

Susan Saint James Honored with Kiwanis International's World Service Award

Special Olympics Connecticut Emeritus Board Member and longtime Special Olympics volunteer, advocate and spokesperson Susan Saint James received Kiwanis International's prestigious World Service Medal. The Award was presented to Susan by Kiwanis International President Bert West during the 2023 Kiwanis International Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota in June for her steadfast service to Special Olympics in Connecticut and around the globe since the early 1980s. Special Olympics Connecticut President and CEO Mike Mason and his wife, Nora, attended the ceremony.

Recipients of the Kiwanis' World Service Medal have also included Mother Theresa, First Ladies Nancy Reagan and Rosalynn Carter and actress Audrey Hepburn.

Susan Saint James became Special Olympics Connecticut's first Emeritus Board Member in April, for her exceptional dedication and leadership, after fulfilling multiple terms as a Board Member. Our organization is extremely fortunate to have Susan, and her husband Dick Ebersol, as very generous, devoted supporters.

Oldenburg Joins Special Olympics Connecticut Board of Directors

Amy Oldenburg, Vice President, Network Performance and Execution at Aetna, is the newest member of the Special Olympics Connecticut Board of Directors.

Amy has over thirty years of experience within Aetna, including various Network, Product and Marketing positions. In her current position, Amy is responsible for developing the overarching strategy and processes to guide Network contract development and execution. She directs the Markets Network community in the development and execution of fee for service and value-based contracts in local markets for Commercial, Medicare and Behavioral Health businesses as well as provider relationship management. In her previous role, Amy was responsible for the strategy, product development and execution of Aetna’s Commercial & Medicare Clinical Operations.

Amy has a B. S. in Health Management and Policy from the University of New Hampshire and resides in Burlington, Connecticut.

Special Olympics Unified Sports® Associate Director Retires

Paul Mengold, Associate Director of our Special Olympics Unified Sports® school programs, retired last month after working with Special Olympics Connecticut and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference for nine years.

The Paul Mengold Athletic Director of the Year Award was established this year to honor Paul, who was an outstanding Athletic Director at Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge before joining the CIAC Unified Sports staff. We wish him happiness and good health in his retirement and thank him for all he's done to create strong athletes and enduring bonds by advocating for and administering inclusive sports.

A Unified Sports® Story

From living in an orphanage in the Ukraine to scoring and shining on the basketball courts at Farmington High School AND Mohegan Sun, TK Kelly’s Unified Sports® story is truly an extraordinary and inspiring one!

Watch the video here.

Join Abby in Going Over the Edge at Mohegan Sun

Over the Edge is an exciting fundraiser that will have you rappelling more than 30 floors down Mohegan's Sky Tower to support Special Olympics athletes on Friday, September 1st! The views will be amazing and the feeling - invigorating! Find out more, start fundraising and begin your adventure today here.

"Special Olympics makes me happy because I do Over The Edge and make new friends."

- Athlete and Global Messenger Abby Snyder, who will be going Over the Edge again this year! Donate to support Abby here.

Avelo Airlines, Special Olympics Connecticut Teaming Up for Plane Pull Fundraiser

Avelo Airlines is joining forces with Special Olympics Connecticut to present, for a first time, a Plane Pull fundraiser that will take place at Tweed New Haven Airport and benefit Special Olympics athletes on Tuesday, September 12th. Participants will flex their muscles and show their support for athletes of all abilities by pulling together to pull an Avelo Airlines Boeing Next-Generation 737 jetliner 20 feet! To find out more, register a team of 20 or more members and begin raising a minimum of $2,000 - just $100 per person - click here. Tweed New Haven Airport is located at 155 Burr Street and the event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Plane Pull will offer an exciting experience and unique opportunity to win bragging rights and prizes to groups that may include corporate teams, members of community and civic organizations, first responders, families and friends who seek to share in a challenge that will send their spirits soaring!

Noteworthy News

Through our equestrian program at the Farmington Polo Club, athletes learn about grooming and caring for horses as they develop a special bond with these beautiful animals and each other!

Our equestrian program would not be possible without the extraordinary generosity and support of Michael Bozzuto and friends with the Farmington Polo Club.

Athletes and local coordinators attended the Franciscan Sports Banquet hosted by the Franciscan Life Center. Highlights of the evening included meeting Jim Calhoun, Retired Head Coach for Men's Basketball Team at UConn and Michael "Coach K" Krzyzewski, Retired Head Coach for the Men's Basketball Team at Duke University, who were among the evening's honorees and speakers.

Athletes Kimberly Malan and Nick Sinacori spent the day at the Travelers Championship manning a booth to share the mission of Special Olympics!

Officers with the Clinton Police Department hosted a Tip-A-Cop fundraiser at Chips' Pub III on June 20th. The event raised over $5,000.

Athletes Anthony Thibeault and Jack Miner and Unified partner Ryan Miner participated in the Travelers Championship Mini Golf Tournament and had a blast. Special Olympics Connecticut Board Chair Matt Necci was there to cheer them on!

Thanks to Board Member Catherine Kortlandt, we were invited to participate in Linde's Resource Fair on June 6th. Athlete Brian Drexler and SOCT's Kelli Bigelow represented our organization and shared information about our programs and how employees can get involved.

Glastonbury Police officers hosted a Tip-A-Cop fundraiser at Giovanni's Brickoven Pizzeria on June 14th that raised over $2,000. Athlete and Global Messenger John Frazier was there to thank the officer volunteers and restaurant patrons and staff.

Free Resources to Care for Loved Ones

To show our appreciation for all you’ve done for Special Olympics Connecticut, we would like to offer you something in return. Something we hope will have a positive impact on you and your family. If you’re like many people, creating or updating your will, trust and other important documents is something that often falls to the bottom of the to-do list. But planning can help you care for your loved ones and offer significant peace of mind. And it doesn’t have to be complicated.

We hope our free publications will help you get started. Some of the information available includes:

Considerations for taking care of a loved one with special needs, parents or elder family members
Tips for choosing an executor
Creating an Advance Care Directive
Why you need a digital estate plan

You’ll find a complete list of free publications here.

Thank you to our Partner Sponsors:

Thank you to our Year-Round Suppliers:

We welcome your feedback.