Miami Marlins Pitcher encourages others to Go Coach
Jesús Luzardo
has lent his voice to our "Go Coach"
campaign, encouraging others to support Special Olympics
athletes as volunteer coaches in one of the 25-plus sports we offer throughout our state.
Broward High Rollers Win in Las Vegas
Congratulations to the Broward County Unified Bowling Team, which recently competed at the 32nd annual Special Olympics National Unified Bowling Championship in Las Vegas.
Spread the Word 2024
Schools across Florida took action to create environments where all people are respected and treated with dignity. Since its creation more than a decade ago, Spread the Word Day has grown into a global movement promoting inclusion and working to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities.
Northwest Region Athletes in the News
Special Olympics Florida athletes Shane Patty and Stacy Barnes are crushing it and being recognized for their achievements!
Honoring Black Community Leaders
Flagler County athlete Josh Rosa is inspired by his pastor, John Galloway.
Keeping Athletes Healthy
As
part of our Healthy Athletes initiative, we will be adding our free health screenings at Unified Champion
Schools. With more than 470 Unified Champion Schools throughout Florida,
this is a great opportunity to expand our reach and help our athletes
lead healthier lives!
GO COACH!
Coaches are superstars who help our athletes learn, grow and improve.
Help us build our next generation of volunteer coaches.
Recognizing Black Leaders
Columbia County athlete Travis Ford is inspired by Barack Obama,
the 44th President of the United States.
Riding to Support Special Olympics Florida Athletes
Special Olympics Florida was one of 30 nonprofits competing in the 2024 Great Charity Challenge sponsored by Fidelity Investments. Thanks to the talents of Team Sponge Bob Square Pants, Special Olympics Florida received $17,500!
Special Olympics Florida Athlete Reports Again from the Super Bowl
Special Olympics athlete Malcom Harris-Gowdie is now a bona fide Super Bowl veteran. The Port St. Lucie County athlete was back at the Big Game this year,
thanks to a partnership with sports and entertainment network FanSided.
National Girls & Women in Sports Day
On this nationally recognized day, we celebrate the achievements of two athletes who have been smashing misconceptions and breaking barriers.
Honoring Black Community Leaders
Monroe County athlete Charleslyn Rose Martin is inspired by her uncle and Key
West District VI City Commissioner Clayton Lopez.
Athlete Performs National Anthem in South Florida
Special Olympics Florida athlete Aristide Reinoso performed the National Anthem at Miami-Dade County’s State of the County Address...and he blew the crowd away.
Making Inclusion Fashionable
Hillsborough County athlete Aarushi Pratap designed a new “Inclusion is Fashionable” T-shirt. The shirt can be purchased on the Special Olympics' online store.
Way to Go Wawa
Special
Olympics Florida athletes and representatives were on hand to
help our corporate partner Wawa break ground on what will become Wawa’s
first store in the Tallahassee area.
Celebrating Black History Month
Broward County
Athlete Leader Layla Crehan is inspired by Major League Baseball Hall of
Famer and eight-time All-Star Andre Dawson.
TD Charitable Foundation Grant Supports Healthy Hearing in Duval County
This $25,000 grant will help Special Olympics Florida
provide Healthy Hearing screenings to Duval County’s Special Olympics
athletes and help recruit audiologists to serve as clinical directors.
Brothers Share Love for Sports and Customer Service
Luis and Diego Martinez-Brown have a lot in common. They’re
brothers, they’re Special Olympics Florida athletes, and they’re Publix
associates excited by the 2024 Torch Icon Campaign now through January
21.
Athlete Marks 25 Years at Publix
Special Olympics Florida athlete Jonathan Doring began working at Publix when he was in high school. His current role as a cashier extends
beyond work and into meaningful customer relationships.
Lighting the Torch for our Athletes
Our Torch Icon Campaign at Publix is happening from January 12-21, bringing together Publix associates,
customers and local communities to support nearly 70,000 Special
Olympics athletes in Florida and beyond.
Athlete Chosen as Lightning Community Hero
Congratulations to Marlynne
Stutzman, who was honored by the
Tampa Bay Lightning. As part of the award, Special Olympics Florida
received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the
Lightning Community Heroes program, presented by Jabil.
2023 Was An Extraordinary Year
A year-end message from Special Olympics Florida President and CEO Sherry Wheelock.
A Movement of Community Resilience
Special
Olympics Florida has been selected to participate in this year’s
Great Charity Challenge.
Athlete Honored by the Big 12 Conference
Adrienne Bunn has been named the Special
Olympics Female Athlete of the Year by the Big 12 Conference! She was recognized in front of almost 85,000 people at the Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. She also attended the Big 12 Commissioner’s Reception, along with Special Olympics Florida Chief Operating Officer Meghan McLean.
This Flop Was a Huge Success!
Thank you to everyone who voted for Special Olympics Florida in the recent Jacksonville Jaguars-Tropical Smoothie Café Bellyflop challenge!
Racing for Champions in South Florida
Over 450 participants gathered on the campus of Nova Southeastern University
for the 18th annual
Sallarulo’s Race for Champions. The event, one of South Florida’s most anticipated
fundraisers, celebrates community, compassion, and respect in an
inclusive run/walk alongside Special Olympics Florida athletes.
Race for Inclusion – Miami
Our final 2023 race event took place with more than 300 runners and
walkers coming out Bayfront Park in Miami to raise over $165,000 to
support our mission.
Every Family is Special
A
huge thanks to our partners at Holiday Inn Club Vacations for once
again treating a Special Olympics Florida family to a complimentary stay at
Orange Lake Resort in Orlando.
“Yeah, I am Special”
Special
Olympics Florida athlete Joshua Olds is one of the faces of a new
Special Olympics national campaign designed to reclaim and redefine what
it means to be special.
Hall of Fame Class 2023
We are proud to announce
the newest members of the Special Olympics Florida Hall of Fame. The
2023 inductees truly embody the best of the Special Olympics movement.