Join our Team. Change the Game. Unify the World.
Special Olympics Pennsylvania is proud to be a pioneer in a movement for global change. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we are leading the revolution to engage, empower, and transform our communities to ensure full inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities. Through our pursuit, we will make the world kinder, gentler, and more just for all people.
We know what it will take to accomplish our ambitious goals. But, we need you to be a game-changer to help us make it happen. As we look ahead to the next 50 years, we want you to be part of our campaign for the next generation.
Total Fundraising Goal:
$6.5 M
Current Donor Pledges:
$3,748,668
Pillar 1: Unified Sports
We will create a unified world by promoting inclusion, uniting communities, and changing attitudes. We will bring together individuals with and without intellectual disabilities as equal teammates in training and competition. We will build fully inclusive schools and communities, promote respect and acceptance, and facilitate meaningful relationships between people of all abilities.
Challenge:
Children with disabilities are 2-3x more likely to be bullied than their peers without disabilities.
Opportunity:
86% of school staff surveyed nationally believe the Unified Sports program makes a big impact in reducing bullying and teasing in their schools.
Campaign Goals
- Double the number of unified sports schools in Pennsylvania by the end of 2020, bringing together individuals with and without intellectual disabilities as equal teammates in training and competition.
- Engage college students and young adult special olympics athletes in unified sports intramural programs at an additional 10 Pennsylvania universities and colleges.
- Offer unified sports to all 55 local Special Olympics Pennsylvania programs in the near future.
Pillar 2: Healthy Athletes/
Healthy Communities
We will improve the overall health, quality of life, and access to care for people with intellectual disabilities. We must strive to help them overcome the discrimination, isolation, and fear that lead to an increased risk of chronic pain, disease, blindness, hearing loss, and premature death.
Challenge:
People with intellectual disabilities are 2x more likely to die before the age of 50 than adults without intellectual disabilities.
Opportunity:
Special Olympics, the largest global public health organization dedicated to serving people with intellectual disabilities, saves lives by discovering unknown health issues and providing health care that otherwise would not be available.
Campaign Goals:
- Implement "Fit 5," a year-round, holistic wellness initiative that helps special olympics athletes eat right and stay fit.
- Expand healthy habits, a successful preventative health education initiative, to 10 additional special olympics Pennsylvania competitions.
- Identify preventable or treatable health conditions by increasing health screenings to reach a total of 1,200 athletes per year.
- Help athletes receive follow-up care after their health screening by creating a health provider referral network.
Pillar 3: Athlete Leadership
We will bring leadership to life by developing athlete leaders who can help guide the Special Olympics movement into the future, by empowering Special Olympics athletes to become effective self-advocates, by ensuring that people with intellectual disabilities gain meaningful employment, and by engaging organizations that open doors to workplace inclusion.
Challenge:
The unemployment rate for people with intellectual disabilities is more than 2x as high as that of the general population.
Opportunity:
Adults with intellectual disabilities who have participated in Special Olympics are nearly 2x as likely to be employed as peers who have not been involved.
Campaign Goals:
- Launch the movement's first "Center for Inclusive Leadership" in collaboration with university, corporate and national though leaders.
- Build organization partnerships and program models to increase employment opportunities and training experiences for Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes.
- Quadruple the number of athletes who complete introductory athlete leadership university coursework, and triple the number of athletes who complete more advanced coursework.
- Develop advanced athlete leadership training modules to better equip athletes with self-advocacy and decision-making skills.
- Empower athletes as peer role models by increasing the number of athletes who are trained as athlete leadership university instructors.
Pillar 4: Get off the sidelines
We will provide better quality programs to more individuals with intellectual disabilities. We will ensure that everyone with an intellectual disability in Pennsylvania has equal access to the unifying power of sports. And we will create new programs and competitive opportunities to accelerate our progress.
Challenge:
For every individual currently being served by Special Olympics Pennsylvania, there are 19 more we have yet to reach.
Opportunity:
Special Olympics Pennsylvania continues to change the lives of a growing number of people with intellectual disabilities through year-round sports, health, education, and community building. Approximately 18,000 athletes compete at more than 500 annual competitions with the help of over 30,000 coaches and volunteers.
Campaign Goals:
- Recruit 3,000 new athletes and 500 new coaches in Pennsylvania.
- Launch a new Special Olympics indoor winter games competition for more than 900 athletes.
- Double the number of participants in the Special Olympics Young Athletes program, and early childhood sports-play program for children ages 2 to 7 years old with intellectual disabilities.
Pillar 5: Cities of Inclusion
We will make our cities more welcoming and accepting for people with intellectual disabilities, with an initial focus on Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and York. We will work with partners to address every aspect of our athletes’ lives: education, employment, health, housing, and access to information and services.
Challenge:
People with intellectual disabilities are the largest disability group in the world, and many are socially isolated and lack meaningful social connections.
Opportunity:
A city of inclusion is an urban community that values everyone and ensures that people of all abilities can be involved in their communities, effectively pursue opportunities and contribute, safely express themselves, and exercise their rights. These cities enable everyone to take part in education and employment and access health and community services.
Campaign Goals:
- In alliance with school district partners, create socially inclusive elementary, middle, and high schools employing our unified champion schools and other unified programs.
- Expand from 32 Philadelphia and Pittsburgh schools to 240 schools throughout Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and York.
- Partner with city parks and recreation departments to expand our training sites and offer more unified sports and unified fitness programs.
- Leverage existing relationships and build new partnerships to improve access to health services, expand fitness and wellness programs, and address issues such as adequate housing and employment.
Eastern Campaign Committee:
- Marc Bruno
Aramark - David Campoli
The RMR Group - Peter Cooke, Jr.
Cooke and Berlinger Jewelers - Tony Gillespie
Retired (American Express) - Colleen Holt-McCauley
Attorney - Dan Kolb
Special Olympics PA Athlete - Anna McDonough
Cozen O’Connor - Greg McShea
Janney - Diana Paterno – Giegerich
Entrepreneur - Jim Peters
Skyward Health - Chris Ritchie
Huntington Bank - David Rosenberg
Philanthropist - Dick Vermeil, Campaign Spokesman
Retired (NFL Head Coach)
Central Campaign Committee:
- Jake Armstrong
Geisinger Health System - Loretta Claiborne, Campaign Co-Chair
Special Olympics, Inc. - Dick DeFluri
Abundance Wealth - Greg Focht
Special Olympics PA Athlete - Bruce Heim
Keystone Real Estate Group - Cathy and Tony Misitano
Post Acute Medical - William Oldsey
Retired (Educational Publishing Exec.) - Sue Paterno, Campaign Co-Chair
Philanthropist - Robert Poole
Poole Construction - Kellee and Sam Terroso
Industrial Vendor Reduction Inc. - Jim Wenner
Sheetz, Inc. - Jane Zimmerman
Philanthropist
Western Campaign Committee:
- Shannon Barry
Morgan Stanley - Dr. James Bradley
Orthopedic Surgery Specialist - Tom Bradley
Pittsburgh Steelers Coaching Staff - Dr. Robert Capretto
Oak Hill Holdings - Dr. Robert Schilken
Allegheny Health Network - Deputy Jason Tarap
Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office - Michael Trettel
iiCON Construction Group - Chris Weiss
Aerotek
Join the Inclusion Revolution
Donate Take the Pledge Get InvolvedTo donate by mail, please download the pledge form (make checks payable to Special Olympics Pennsylvania) and send to: Attn: Inclusion Revolution Campaign, Special Olympics Pennsylvania, 2570 Blvd of the Generals, Suite 124, Norristown, PA 19403.
For additional information, please fill out the form below.