Project Description

The project I organized and carried out to benefit the community was Kickin’ It Through the Night. It was an all night soccer tournament to benefit special Olympics. I conducted this project for a marketing and business class, called Advanced Marketing and DECA. DECA is an association of marketing students that I am involved in. The first day of Advanced Marketing & DECA class, our advisor presented us with all of the goals for Lakeville North DECA for the year. One of those goals was to create a community service project to benefit the DECA chapter as a whole, the community, and a selected charity. We came to the conclusion that a soccer tournament to benefit Special Olympics would be best. We found inspiration within our school and an interest for soccer was popular amongst our peers. First, I had to decide where proceeds would be donated from this project. Growing up and befriending an individual with intellectual disabilities has given us a different perspective on how we view our lives. Since kindergarten, an empowering individual has blessed my heart. A Special Olympics athlete competitor and a teammate on the adaptive soccer team, Jessica Turner has provided me with the inspiration necessary to take on the challenge of completing this project. Throughout the years, Jess has come to be an incredible and talented athlete with a passion for everything in her life. Despite the challenges she endures on a daily basis, she always has a positive outlook, a smile on her face and a hug for anyone who needs one. Jess, along with the rest of her teammates present a positive image throughout Lakeville North High School. Their involvement in various activities such as managing the varsity football team, and selling cookies between class periods exemplifies the joy they find in everyday life. No matter what, people can always count on them for a smile. With that in mind, there was no question as to where the proceeds from “Kickin’ It Through the Night” would benefit. The Special Olympics has had such a positive effect on so many students at our school, it was the least we could do for the organization. Furthermore, I believe the Special Olympics organization shapes an important group in our society. Participating in the program as an athlete, not only strengthens their physical fitness, but more importantly, gives them a sense of belonging and an overall confidence to succeed in the events and life in general. The chairman of the Special Olympics organization has expressed his desire to continue to support individuals with intellectual disabilities: “Yet still, too many people with intellectual disabilities have lives of unspeakable difficulty. Just a few weeks ago, a report by Mental Disability Rights International exposed the horrifying conditions that people with intellectual disabilities endure in Serbian institutions. Sadly, we know that terrible conditions also persist in many other countries. So it is with desire and obligation that we at Special Olympics continue to combat such injustices.” The Special Olympics prides itself upon being a nonprofit organization. The beauty of the organization is that no athlete is denied participation because of economic struggles. Since the Special Olympics charges no fee for competing, there is no restriction on the number of athletes eligible. This means the Special Olympics depends completely upon receiving financial support from donations and sponsorships. In order to send one athlete to the 2007 World Games in Shanghai, China, it costs about $4,000. The money we collected will benefit the athletes directly, whether or not they attend the World Games. The organization is almost always in need of electronic equipment such as digital and video cameras to capture the unforgettable moments, and athletic equipment to supply the athletes such as tennis shoes and athletic apparel. Special Olympics accepts any donation, and each athlete is grateful for the opportunities and growth they derive from even the smallest donations. With the proceeds and funds we raised through “Kickin’ It Through the Night”, we hope to make a difference in the lives of the competitors. Once I had decided on a charity and an idea, my partners and I set a list of goals we wanted to accomplish. These goals included:
- Raise awareness throughout the school and community regarding Special Olympics.
- Raise $2000.00 to benefit Special Olympics.
- Connect local businesses and the general public to the event establishing positive relations.
First, we contacted Soccer Blast in Burnsville, MN as a potential venue to host the all night soccer tournament. We set up a meeting with a manager from the venue to discuss the possible project’s plan. The meeting was a success and Soccer Blast seemed very excited to host the event. Then, we sat down and created a possible list of local businesses that would be willing to sponsor our event. We developed a packet of information to send out to possible sponsors, including a sponsorship letter, schedule of events, and a letter describing the various levels of sponsorship. Next, we followed up with visits and phone calls to those possible businesses to ensure sponsorship participation. After we began organizing sponsorship information, we started to market and advertise the event. Our target market for participation in the event was high school students in the surrounding area. We developed a packet of registration materials to keep track of teams involved and inform players of the event. Once we began to receive items for the silent auction from local businesses, we began to plan this part of the event. We planned to hold the silent auction at a varsity basketball game the night before the soccer tournament. At the silent auction, we sold items that ranged anywhere from pizzas to fitness memberships and gift cards. From the help of announcements made throughout the game, to the awareness of the community, it came to be a great success. Following the silent auction, the next day the all night soccer tournament took place. It was scheduled to begin at 12:00 midnight on December 16th, 2007. Teams arrived around 11:30pm on December 15th, 2007 to check in and begin opening ceremonies. Our DECA chapter arrived around 10:45pm to begin set-up and preparation. The opening ceremony began at midnight with an explanation of the rules, purpose and schedule of events for the night. We stressed the importance of the charity and the purpose for the event. It was also important for players to abide by the set rules in order for the night to run smoothly. The venue had two indoor soccer fields, which allowed for two games to go on at one time. Each game was 30 minutes long, providing time for warm-up and halftime. We used an eight-team double elimination bracket in order to carry out the games of the tournament. We made sure teams were ready to play at their designated times to ensure we did not run out of time for the rented facility. Teams understood this and were always on time or early for their games. When teams were playing, they watched games, rested, or purchased t-shirts, raffle tickets, or water from members of the DECA chapter. After games were finished, announcements were made for winners of each field and location of next playing time. With the conclusion of the championship game, medals were awarded to the winning team and the raffle winner was announced. A short closing session to thank sponsors and once again inform people of the importance of the cause occurred. In the end, this project raised over $2500 that was donated directly to the Special Olympics. These proceeds will benefits the athletes in competition, medical expenses, and also training and equipment. Overall, the impact of “Kickin’ It Through the Night” will benefit Lakeville North DECA, Lakeville North High School, the Lakeville community, and more importantly, the individuals with intellectual disabilities involved with the Special Olympics. Not only have I gained beneficial skills to use in the real world, but more importantly I have the satisfaction of helping individuals who are less fortunate. I have gained so many skills due to the complex coordination and communication that was involved in making this project successful. Outside of the DECA chapter, our community is more aware of the effects the Special Olympics has on individuals. Before, they may have only believed that the organization developed individuals athletically. However, now the community and people are aware of the long lasting and empowering effects the Special Olympics organizations develops in individuals with intellectual disabilities. It’s funny how one person can have such a large effect on a person. If I hadn’t met Jessica Turner that one day in kindergarten, my life may have been significantly different, and the impact I’ve had on others’ lives could have been different also.

Project Description

I am a 19 year old college freshman currently attending Alma College. I am an International Business Major and a Pre-Law Student.
My project relates to the Special Olympic Basketball Program. This year when I got to college, I got involved with the Area 7 district. We had a successful year with 2 teams from Gratiot County. Our varsity team even won the regional championship in March.
My proposed service project is related to the JV team. Our JV team is comprised mostly of children under the age of sixteen with cognitive impairments. We have several children who are deaf and several others with autism or down syndrome.
The JV team needs a confidence boost. Unlike their varsity teammates, the JV team has not had a successful year. The JV team did not get new uniforms (the varsity did) new bags or new basketballs. They did not seem excited at receiving jerseys the varsity team had used for over seven years with the tough Michigan economy, important funding like this is just not possible.
This program is very beneficial to the athletes. Not only do they get much needed exercise, they develop valuable teamwork and social skills. They learn how to think critically and develop motor skills. These children need encouragement and need to be part of a developed team.
The grant would be instrumental in developing the program for the upcoming season. I am interested in purchasing coaching materials so that I can more effectively instruct my athletes. I would also like to purchase 8 new women's basketballs and new uniforms. We are doing several fundraising in order to meet or goals for next season. We have set up pop can collection funds (10 cents a can in MI) around the campus and have raised sixty dollars from that. We also get donations from local businesses, but they are normally itemized donations (bottled water, ball bags, gas money) and do not contribute to the general fundraising pool. Any help would be very much appreciated. My athletes are so gracious and helping, coaching them is one of the most rewarding this I have ever done.

visit somi.org to learn about the special olympics program in Michigan.

Project Description

Every year Elon University hosts a Special Olympics event at the track and field. Last year, the event had nearly 500 people at it consisting of ~100 volunteers from the university, ~150 volunteers from the community, and ~250 athletes. The event is being held this year on April 3rd.

The goal of the Special Olympics organization as a whole is "empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition." We try to model our event to do the same by providing an entire day of physical competition.

This year, we will be trying to expand the amount of support that Elon gives to the event. Of course, we will be recruiting more volunteers, but also we will try to contribute more financially. We would like to be able to provide lunch for the athletes and the volunteers this year to help curtail some cost of the event. Currently, we will be having a field day as a fund raiser to help raise money. We have also obtained some funds through the Student Government Association.

Here is information about the event in the past:
http://www.elon.edu/e-web/pendulum/Issues/2004/3_11/news/olympics.xhtml

Project Description

McFest is a benefit concert for Special Olympics at the Metro in Chicago. I am the co-chair and we are currently working on the second year of the show. In 2007, it was held in April and we featured six local high-school and college age bands from the Chicago area. They were: The Days, With Waking Eyes, Fishing With Spoons, TeamOne, Still Not Sexy, and Bury Me At Makeout Creek. Doors opened at 2:30, and the show was on its way at 3:00. We had Special Olympics global messenger Chris come on stage with us and speak about her experience with Special Olympics. We also had two more global messengers help us announce the raffle prizes later on in the show. The show went on until 8:00, after both ABC and NBC news channels showed up to cover it. Leah Westfall from New City magazine also interviewed us for her own article. We sold around 530 tickets in advance, put a little over 100 names on the guest list, and sold over 160 tickets at the door. We raised a total of 10,000 dollars for Special Olympics through sponsorships and donations from various companies such as Victory Records, Island Def Jam, Schubas, Take 5, DeVine Racing, Jimmy Johns, Chipotle, Aware Records and so many more, McFest merchandise, raffle tickets, and ticket sales. McFest could not have been any more successful and we are hoping to do even better in 2008!

Project Description

Special Olympics

Throughout my high school career I’ve been fortunate to participate in a variety of community service projects; however, none have been as meaningful to me as the one involving “Alfred”.
While looking for a way to earn my service hours I stumbled upon a unique opportunity to not only gain these hours but also to be able to make a direct impact on the people who live in my community. My school’s student government association was hosting the Broward county Special Olympics and needed volunteers to work with the athletes. I was excited at the idea of assisting people who come so far despite their challenges. On the day of the games I was assigned to be Alfred’s buddy. My responsibilities included helping him prepare both physically and mentally for his tennis competition. I escorted him to the opening ceremony and his exuberance took over. We spent several hours before his event walking around to observe the other athletes and discussing both his nervousness and his excitement about finally being at this tournament for which he had spent months preparing. With the scorching heat of the day I was worried that he might became dehydrated so I made sure to provide him with plenty of water. By the time his event began I felt that Alfred and I had been friends for many years; he had a sense of compassion and anticipation that was contagious and I couldn’t help but feel a rush of pride as he walked onto the court. Event though my duties consisted of keeping track of how many times he served and hit the ball, my most important job was to cheer him on.
Alfred won first place in his competition, and in many ways I felt like I won too. The experience of participating as a buddy in the Special Olympics helped me realize that anything is possible as long as I set my mind to it.

Project Description

Although Calista is too young to be an official Special Olympics volunteer, she has started her own heroic effort in the program. When she found out that our local Special Olympics program lost their largest fundraising event and was worried about having the funding to be able to take athletes to competitions, Calista came up with her own unique plan! She decided to make and sell crafts to help fundraise for the program. She also had a lemonade stand and bake sale. To date, she has spent over 380 hours making and selling her crafts and has raised $1814.00. She continues to make and sell her crafts every chance she gets! In addition to her fundraising, she donated 40 bowling picture frame magnets to be given out as awards at the Special Olympics bowling party!

Not only has she done all of this, but since the age of 5, she has helped out as much as she possibly can at all of the Special Olympics events she goes to. Whether it be keeping scores in bowling, timing during track and field, ball chasing during the softball throws and bocce or simply cheering on the athletes, she has been ready and willing to lend a helping hand!

Calista has a website for her project at http://www.CalistaCares.com