Skis, Skates, Snow and More Make Winter Games Presented By Eversource a Success

Winter Games was a resounding success. More than 500 athletes and Unified partners competed in skiing, skating, snowshoeing, gymnastics and floor hockey throughout the weekend. Despite adjustments to schedules due to inclement weather, our athletes were unstoppable and highly competitive. Volunteers proved to be resilient and determined to make it a great weekend for our athletes. The snow Eversource volunteers made and maintained leading up to the Games ensured courses were ready for the races on Saturday and downhill ski runs were completed before heavy rains fell.

Also, more than 70 athletes received nutrition education at Pratt & Whitney and 40 were provided with oral care education and free dental screenings through our Healthy Athletes® program. To watch a recap of Winter Games produced by Presenting Sponsor Eversource, click here.

Thank you to our Winter Games sponsors:

Lotufo Honored with Bud Meyers Award at Winter Games

Alexa Lotufo, an athlete with our Special Olympics Glastonbury local program and competitor in snowshoeing at Winter Games, is this year's recipient of the Bud Meyers Award. Alexa was selected for her outstanding sportsmanship and remarkable contributions to the Special Olympics Glastonbury team.

Alexa's coaches shared that they've witnessed her transformation into a true leader and invaluable member of not only her snowshoeing team, but the Special Olympics program overall. According to Coach Stephanie O'Day, Alexa consistently pushes herself to achieve her personal best, all the while extending a hand of encouragement and supporting her fellow athletes, Unified partners and even athletes on opposing teams.

Additionally, Alexa's annual fundraising efforts have become a huge part of the program's success. She's dedicated her time to crafting and selling over 600 stunning paper snowflakes, with proceeds going to Special Olympics Connecticut.

Even when Alexa was not able to participate as an athlete on the Glastonbury basketball team this past fall, she took the opportunity to take on a new role as an assistant coach. It was during one of these practices that Alexa's sportsmanship and spirit shined so bright. Seeing a fellow athlete struggling, she wasted no time in stepping in to offer her support and encouragement - an interaction that deeply impacted and moved her coach. Alexa is known for her unwavering dedication, compassion and optimism and is respected by her peers.

The Bud Meyers Award is presented annually to an athlete who demontrates excellent sportsmanship in either cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. It is named for Meyers, a longtime snowmaking volunteer from Eversource.

Waterbury to Host Traditional Basketball Tournament on March 23rd

Our Traditional Basketball Tournament and Individual Skills Competition Presented by Webster Bank will take place at Holy Cross High School, Kennedy High School, Post University, ACES at Chase, West Side Middle School, Waterbury PAL, Jonathon Reed Elementary School and Waterbury Career Academy, all of Waterbury, on Saturday, March 23rd.

Opening Ceremonies will take place at Holy Cross, Post University and Waterbury PAL at 9 a.m. and competition is expected to continue from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Officers Recognized for Outstanding Contributions

The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Annual Kick-off Event was hosted by Foxwoods Resort Casino and held on February 22nd. During the event it was announced that law enforcement officers in our state raised over $720,000 for Special Olympics Connecticut in 2023.

Among those recognized for contributions to our organization were Branford Police Department - recipient of the Top Municipality Award, Fairfield University's Department of Public Safety - the IACLA (International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators Department) Award, Troop K - the Connecticut State Police Award and York Correctional Institution - the Department of Corrections Award. Branford police were also presented with the Tip-A-Cop Award, Canton Police with the Adopt-A-Mile Award and Waterbury Police, the Award for the most merchandise sold. iHeart Radio's Renee DiNino, who is a long-time staunch supporter of law enforcement and Special Olympics, was inducted into the prestigious CTLETR Hall of Fame. Sponsors IGA/Adams Hometown Markets, The Hometown Foundation and Bearingstar Insurance were also recognized.

The top 10 fundraising departments of 2023 were also revealed and will be named on the back of this year's Torch Run t-shirt. The departments and amounts they raised include:

Branford Police Department, $46,372

Brookfield Police Department, $41,829

Monroe Police Department, $33,469

Avon Police Department, $24,138

Cheshire Police Department, $19,421

York Correctional Institution, $16,801

Hartford HealthCare Public Safety Central Region, $16,277

Naugatuck Police Department, $16,136

Canton Police Department, $15,316

DMHAS Police Department, $14,831

iHeart's Renee DiNino and Athlete and Global Messenger Brian Drexler served as emcees and 14 Global Messengers were on hand to thank officers for their efforts and service to Special Olympics.

Taking A Cold Dip for Donations at the Penguin Plunge

With more than 130 participants at our Middletown Penguin Plunge hosted by the Polish Falcons' Nest on February 24th and 120 plunging into the ocean at Eastern Point Beach, Groton, on March 3rd, Penguin Plunge season had a strong start. Colorful costumes, a cookout, an oversized penguin and energized and excited crowds added a spark and genuine warmth to these events. Registration remains open for our four upcoming Penguin Plunge events and donations are still being accepted here.

Upcoming Penguin Plunges include the:

Brookfield Penguin Plunge at Candlewood Lake on Saturday, March 23rd

Tolland Penguin Plunge at Crandall Park on Saturday, March 30th

Fairfield Penguin Plunge at Jennings Beach on Saturday, April 6th

Monroe Plunge at the Park at Great Hollow Lake (Wolfe Park) on Saturday, April 13th

Virtual Penguin Plunge anytime, anywhere now through April 30th

Noteworthy News

It was a historic Unified event when teams representing six high schools played in a Unified Sports® basketball tournament at the University of Connecticut's Gampel Pavilion on March 6th. The athletes and Unified partners also got to meet members of the UConn Women's Basketball team and the University's mascot, Jonathan.

Unified Sports® teammates from our Special Olympics West Hartford and North Haven local programs played an exhibition game during the Quinnipiac University Women's Basketball home game vs. Canicius College on February 4th. At halftime, it was announced that this year's recipient of the Gene Singer, CPA Award is Special Olympics Connecticut intern and Quinnipiac University student Jordyn Robinson.

It was a Special Olympics Connecticut takeover of iHeart Radio studios in Hartford when a group of nine Global Messengers, SOCT Board Chair Matt Necci and President Mike Mason visited Renee DiNino who interviewed them all about their involvement with Special Olympics.

The interviews were scheduled to air for two consecutive weekends and can also be heard here.

Energy Health and Fitness Studio has been named an official Special Olympics Connecticut Fitness Destination, thanks to DDS Torrington. SOCT's Chaslynn Saucier visited Energy Health and Fitness to present staff and members of the Special Olympics Connecticut DDS Torrington Special Olympics Fitness Club with a Unified Fitness Club banner and pins for all they do to promote health and wellness in their community.

The 8th Annual SmileMile Walk fundraiser held in memory of UConn student and SOCT volunteer Jeffney Pally to benefit Special Olympics Connecticut took place on February 24th. The event featured a mile walk, cornhole and spikeball and raised over $3,000 to support our UConn Husky Soccer Classic which will take place at UConn on Saturday, April 27th.

Coginchaug Regional High School’s Unified Sports® team demonstrated their skills and shared a message of inclusion at Brewster and Lyman Elementary Schools. The elementary students got to cheer on the Unified high school team and shared their responses to the question “How do you include?”

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:

Visit soct.org.