Are you a brand new fan and not sure where to start? Are you an existing fan in search of ideas on how to increase your fandom? (OK, so that's not a real word, but it may be one day if we build a big enough fandom.)

This page is your "How-to-be-fan" home! We'll update this page with ideas, recommendations and whatever else comes along that can help you Be a fan®!

Of course, this is only a partial list - there are countless ways you can be a fan of Special Olympics: financial support, volunteerism, advocacy, donation of in-kind services, wearing cool Special Olympics gear everywhere you go...the list goes on and on.

The best fans are genuine, so make your fan experience what you want it to be!

 

Fan Mail

Whether you're brand new to Special Olympics and would like help figuring out how to begin your fan experience, or if you're already a fan and have an idea or want to try something new and would like to discuss your idea with someone, just share your idea/thought/request/etc. and a member of the Special Olympics Florida team will contact you!

 

Ideas for Everybody (the "mixed bag approach")

Here are some easy starter steps that most any fan can do!

• Bookmark our website, www.specialolympicsflorida.org, so everything Special Olympics Florida will be right at your fingertips!
• Sign up for our e-newsletter, so you're always in the loop with what's going on around the state and in your area (and sometimes we have special offers just for our fans that are available only through this newsletter subscription).
• Check out our Photo Galleries: they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so we'd rather show you what we do than write that much! And you can download any photos you like!
• Bookmark and visit Special Olympics Florida's very own YouTube Channel. See an array of inspirational and informational videos, including recaps of our State Games, athlete and coach profiles, and much more!
• Follow us on Twitter at "soflinfo"
• Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/specialolympicsflorida
• Go cheer at a games - see what's coming up near you!
• Talk to your children, families, friends and/or colleagues about Special Olympics and why we're encouraging everyone to "change the conversation" and not use the "R-word" (retard) as a derogatory term in their day to day conversations.
• Take the pledge to not use the "R-word" in your daily conversation
• Include us on your FaceBook, Twitter, blogs, etc.
• Watch our shows on Sun Sports network! Two times a year we recap our state-level competitions in half-hour programs that are broadcast on Sun Sports network. By signing up for our e-newsletter, you'll always know when they'll be airing.
• Become enlightened and encourage others to do the same. The reality is that many people simply haven't had much interaction with people with intellectual disabilities and are unsure how to act around them and may be a little uncomfortable.
  
  There's no better or quicker fix for that than volunteering at an event and spending a little time with our athletes, families and volunteers in a fun, positive environment.  Once you do, you'll understand that our athletes have the same interests, hopes, dreams and challenges as anyone else - and you'll see people with intellectual disabilities in a whole new light!

 

Ideas for Volunteerism

Get the best seats in the house and experience the fun, joy and excitement of Special Olympics first-hand by volunteering at a competition!

• Volunteer at a games or event near you - see what's coming up in your area
• Volunteer at a Special Olympics Florida State Games - check out Games dates and locations
• Volunteer behind the scenes. It takes a lot of volunteers with all kinds of skill sets to make Special Olympics a reality: teachers, public relations pros, fundraisers, sports experts, people who are good with data entry or organizational skills, etc., etc. Contact your local program to see how you can help.
• Coach: take your volunteer experience to a whole new level by becoming a Special Olympics coach. Never coached before? No worries! Special Olympics provides free resources, classes and mentoring so you can coach with confidence!

 

Ideas for Financial Support: Big or Small (it all helps!)

Special Olympics never charges its athletes or their families a fee for participation, so we are reliant upon the generosity of individuals, companies, foundations and civic groups to fund our annual programs.

• Donate now!
• Monthly Giving
• Attend a special event/fundraiser: we offer an array of fundraising events throughout the year and throughout the state. There's sure to be something of interest for you! If not...
• Start your own fundraiser! Special Olympics Florida staff will help you get started, just contact us.
• Support Special Olympics Florida through one of our many ongoing promotions or offers.
• Get a Special Olympics Florida specialty license plate. Be the driving force behind our athletes!
• Have a used vehicle, RV or boat? Donate it to us!
• Make a major or "planned" gift to Special Olympics Florida through your will, a bequest, a gift of life insurance, stock donations and more.  Create your own legacy – join The Champion’s Society with a planned gift today!
• Have your company become a sponsor on the local or state level!
• Support those who support Special Olympics Florida: be a consumer who cares!

 

Ideas for In-Kind Support

In-kind support of donated goods or services are very important! These budget-relieving donations allow more dollars to go directly to our athletes. No matter what kind of business or resources you have, there's a way we can use them!

• Have a school, gymnasium, pool, skating rink, bowling alley or any other kind of athletic facility? One of our programs' largest expenses is facility rentals. Opening up your facility to our athletes for practices and competitions could make the difference between athletes being able to or not being able to participate in a sport. Contact your local program coordinator to discuss.
• Parks and Recreation Departments: do you have facilities, staff or resources you could make available to your local Special Olympics program? It may strengthen your Special Populations programs!
• Transportation: the #1 cost for Special Olympics programs is transportation. It is also usually the single biggest obstacle to participation for our athletes, as most are dependent upon others for their transportation.  If you are with a charter bus company, a school system, an Arc, group home or similar community-based agency that has its own transportation, talk to your local program to see if you can help address one of our biggest challenges!
• Services for Games: whether at the local, area or state level, for the health, safety and enjoyment of our athletes and fans, we usually need food, tents, security, entertainment and more to conduct quality games.

Ideas for Families

• Start by visiting the "Families" page on our website, if you haven't done so already.
• Check out our FAQ's for families - get some of your basic questions answered here!
• Help your family member with special needs become a Special Olympics athlete: you can't be a Special Olympics family member without a Special Olympics athlete now can you?!
• Also check out our links and resources for families. There are many important services and support organizations out there for your family member with special needs, so check out a few we recommend.
• Become a Family Messenger and help recruit and welcome other new families to our community.
• Don't want to sit on the sidelines? Become a Unified Partner to your son, daughter, brother, sister, brother, sister, aunt, uncle...and compete side by side with your loved one with special needs.
• Become a volunteer or coach! No need to let the athletes have all the fun!
• The health, well-being and enjoyment of everyone is important to us, so we recommend reading our Family Code of Conduct so you are aware of behaviors we expect from the families of our athletes when they are around Special Olympics athletes and events.
• We recommend that all parents and care givers read the "Special Olympics Protective Behaviors Program Guide for Parents and Care Providers." This brochure provides information on what Special Olympics is already doing to protect its athletes and how you, as a parent or care giver can support our efforts by understanding your role in protecting your athlete(s).

 

Ideas for Educators and Schools

In a mainstream world, there are lessons in life and sport. Today, these are the facts of modern educational life:

Special Olympics can help educators address both these needs, with the added bonus of helping to meet Florida's Sunshine State Standards in several areas, primarily Character Building!

• Teachers: bring a class to volunteer at a local Special Olympics event.
• Physical education teachers: organize a one-day clinic.
• Teachers and students: help start, manage and coach a Special Olympics team.
• School public service clubs or athletic teams: volunteer to raise funds or help with local or state games.  Incorporate the Special Olympics Get Into It® curriculum into your school or classroom. Get Into It is a free curriculum for regular education students that involves students in learning about those who are different but who can nonetheless inspire the world with the lesson that we all have gifts to contribute no matter what our limitations.  Read more about Get Into It.  If you would like to incorporate this curriculum into your school or classroom, contact us and we will be happy to help you.
• Start a Unified Sports® team or program at your school! Special Olympics Unified Sports combines people with (traditional Special Olympics athletes) and without intellectual disabilities (called Partners) on sports teams for training and competition; dramatically increasing inclusion in the community and using sports to help break down barriers that have historically kept people apart.  Learn more about Unified Sports. Watch a short video on Unified Sports.
• Principals and Athletic Directors: make your school's athletic facilities available to Special Olympics for practices and/or competitions. One of our programs' largest expenses is facility rentals. Opening up your facility to our athletes for practices and competitions could make the difference between athletes being able to or not being able to participate in a sport. Contact your local program coordinator to discuss.
• Pre-K and Elementary Schools: start a Young Athletes Program - an innovative sports play program for children ages 2-7 with intellectual disabilities and their peers, designed to introduce them into the world of sports!

 

Ideas for Law Enforcement

• Check out the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics on our website to get an overview of law enforcement's support, law enforcement hosted events and ideas on how you or your agency can become involved!
• Sign up for "The Guardian," our free e-newsletter specifically for law enforcement
• Watch an inspirational video about the Law Enforcement Torch Run around the world and hear testimonials form fellow law enforcement officers of the many benefits of participation. Video file is a little big, so give it a couple minutes to load.
• Does your agency participate in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR)? If not, check out the current stops along the statewide route and talk to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , our LETR Manager about getting your agency involved.
• Help raise funds and awareness by having your agency sell our annual commemorative LETR t-shirts and hats. The process is web-based and fully automated so it only takes minutes to do and there are incentive items for agencies to earn!
• Take your oath to "protect and serve" to a new level. Host a "Tip-A-Cop" fundraising event where law enforcement serves as "celebrity waiters" (refreshing beverages, serving bread, etc. in tandem with a head waiter) at local restaurants. Your tips are donations to Special Olympics! Talk to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it about this too!

 

Ideas for Doctors and Health Professionals

Healthy Athletes® programs provide free health screenings in a variety of disciplines at our state-level games. The screenings are conducted by health professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to provide much-needed health care assessment and education to our athletes. After all, a healthier athlete is a better athlete!

• Read a brief overview of the Healthy Athletes Initiatives
• Watch a vdieo about Healthy Athletes here in Florida and the imapct it has on our athletes. High speed connection or low speed connection.
• Volunteer for Healthy Athletes at one of our games and encourage your colleagues to do the same! There is no cost to you and Special Olympics provides you with all the training you'll need!
• Think of this as free continuing education! Did you know that studies show that 81% of medical students will graduate without having any training in caring for persons with intellectual disability? And the 19% who did had an average of one hour. This is free, supervised, hands-on education for health professionals and students.
• Learn about Special Smiles® (dental screening)
• Learn about Healthy Hearing (audiological screenings)
• Learn about Fit Feet (podiatry screenings)
• Learn about FUNfitness (orthopedic screenings)
• Learn about Health Promotion (nutrition and health education)
• Learn about Opening Eyes® (vision screenings)
• Become a clinical director and help oversee a screening venue at a games.
• Visit Special Olympics' (international) Healthy Athletes resources page where you can: sign up for their e-newsletter for a Global perspective, view research detailing both the need for and benefits of Healthy Athletes programs, join the provider directory network, get discipline-specific resources, and more!

 

Ideas for Media

Help us get the word out to your readers, viewers and listeners!

• Cover your local Special Olympics events. We have competitions and special events throughout the state, virtually every week of the year and they all need the community's support, whether through donations, volunteerism or support. Your help in letting people know how they can support their local Special Olympics athletes is vital! Talk to your local program!
• Profile or feature a local Special Olympics athlete, team or volunteer. In a world where there's already too much doom and gloom, few things are inspiring as the achievements of a Special Olympics athlete who has met adversity head-on in their own, unique way...or a volunteer who makes the community a better place by giving of themselves. Talk to your local Special Olympics program for story ideas.