"Be a Fan. Bring out the Champion in Everyone!" Special Olympics Georgia State Summer Games May 20-22

/PRNewswire/ -- Special Olympics of Georgia (SOGA) will host its annual State Summer Games for more than 2,000 athletes and coaches May 20-22 at Emory University.

Athletes will compete in aquatics, flag football, athletics, soccer, badminton, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics, and table tennis, with medals awarded throughout.

"It is great to see the athletes have the perfect opportunity to shine at Summer Games. The athletes have worked very hard leading up to this weekend and will be so excited," said SOGA CEO Georgia Milton-Sheats.

Friday morning, a Law Enforcement Torch Run press conference will be held outside the State Capitol steps at 9:30 a.m. Elected officials and law enforcement officers have been invited. Law enforcement officers from agencies all over the state have teamed up with SOGA in a 1,000-mile torch relay across the state leading up to the State Summer Games. The "Flame of Hope" will light the cauldron at Opening Ceremony to signify the opening of the games.

Opening Ceremony will take place at 7:30 p.m. at Emory's McDonough Field. The parade of athletes will be led by Grand Marshal Mattias Schnorf, Defender for the Atlanta Silverbacks, and will be escorted by the Law Enforcement Torch Run Officers from across the state.

The games are free and open to the public. Parking is free at Peavine Parking deck.

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Special Olympics Georgia State Winter Games in Cobb County Set for This Weekend

/PRNewswire/ -- Athletes from all over Georgia will compete in Special Olympics Georgia's State Indoor Winter Games, sponsored by Stadion Money Management, in Cobb County this weekend.

About 1,800 participants from all over Georgia will compete Jan. 21-23 at various locations in Cobb County. Athletes will compete in basketball, ice skating, bowling, floor hockey, powerlifting, artistic gymnastics and roller skating. Southeast Powerlifting is also being held during the weekend at the Crowne Plaza on Powers Ferry. The games are free and open to the public.

The Games' Opening Ceremony is at 7:30 p.m. at Cobb Civic Center in Marietta. At Opening Ceremony, every athlete and coach will wear red and white scarves knitted by volunteers from all over the country. Grand Marshals are the four World Games athletes who will compete in Greece in July. The highlight of the night is the lighting of the cauldron by a law enforcement officer and an athlete, signifying the Flame of Hope for athletes and the community. This year is the Law Enforcement Torch Run's 25th Anniversary. It is SOGA's largest grassroots fundraiser.

Competitions will continue Saturday and Sunday at various locations, including The Cooler, Brunswick Zone, Marietta Middle School, and Cobb County Civic Center. The full schedule and a link to make a donation is available at www.SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

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Special Olympics Georgia Celebrates First Eunice Kennedy Shriver Week Sept. 22-26

/PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of golf enthusiasts and bowlers will celebrate the first celebration week of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of Special Olympics Sept. 22-26

"Her legacy of inspiring change throughout her life will be recognized through a day of sports, meeting new people and contributions with the goal of championing hope, justice, faith and courage," said Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) CEO Georgia Milton-Sheats.

"Eunice Kennedy Shriver week is an opportunity to demonstrate what Shriver has taught us by changing our perceptions of people with intellectual disabilities with sport and camaraderie," Milton-Sheats said.

SOGA is holding events to celebrate Shriver:

* Metro Atlanta residents support Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) by attending THE TOUR Championship, presented by Coca-Cola at East Lake Golf Club Sept. 22-26. Daily grounds tickets are available for $60 each or several days can be purchased. For every ticket sold, SOGA receives 50 percent back, using the code TCSGSH.
* Similar to Shriver, Atlantans will rally against using the R-word and attend "Strike the R-Word! Bowl with Atlanta Hawks Forward Marvin Williams," Sept. 23 at 300 Atlanta. Tickets are $40 including bowling, shoe rental, drinks, appetizers, and a bowling T-shirt.


For more information about THE TOUR and the bowling event, visit www.SpecialOlympicsGA.org

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Special Olympics Georgia Masters Bowling in Warner Robins and Horse Show in Perry Aug. 20-22

/PRNewswire/ -- Two Special Olympics Georgia State Games will be held in middle Georgia Aug. 20-22: the State Horse Show and State Masters Bowling. Nearly 900 athletes from all over Georgia will travel to Warner Robins to compete to be the best bowler and to Perry for equestrian competitions.

In Warner Robins, bowling competitions will be held at Gold Cup Warner Robins and Robins Lanes Air Force Base. This is the first of three years Masters Bowling will be in Warner Robins.

The Horse Show features more than 200 athletes from all over the state competing to be Georgia's best in showmanship, dressage, English and western riding, and riding trails at Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry.

The games are free and open to the public. Awards will be given out throughout the weekend.

All events are free and open to the public.

If you would like to be a volunteer, contact Leslie.Anderson@SpecialOlympicsGA.org or if you would like to be a sponsor, contact Kerri.Baldwin@SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

For more information about the games and for a schedule, visit www.specialolympicsga.org. Come be a fan in the stands.

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'Be a Fan': Special Olympics Georgia State Summer Games May 21-23

/PRNewswire/ -- About 2,600 athletes and coaches from all over Georgia will compete in Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) State Summer Games May 21-23 at Emory University. Athletes will compete in athletics, aquatics, soccer, soccer skills, badminton, volleyball, table tennis, tennis, and gymnastics.

The games, which are free and open to the public, begin Friday, May 21, with the Opening Ceremony at 8 p.m. at Emory's McDonough Field with a parade of athletes. Leading the parade of athletes is Atlanta Falcons Running Back Jason Snelling. Opening's emcee is WSB-TV retired sports anchor Bill Hartman.

Competitions will be Saturday and Sunday, with medals being awarded throughout the weekend. Events will be held at the Woodruff P.E. Center and Candler Soccer Field on Emory's campus.

Parking is free at Peavine Parking deck. For more information about the games and a map of Emory, visit www.specialolympicsga.org.

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Special Olympics Georgia Receives $80,000 Grant From the UPS Foundation

/PRNewswire/ -- Special Olympics Georgia received an $80,000 grant from The UPS Foundation, the charitable arm of UPS (NYSE:UPS) . The grant will be used to support the year-round program of training and competition in 23 Olympic-type sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities throughout Georgia. Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) offers five State Games each year and over 500 local (county) meets, tournaments and competitions and offers opportunities for thousands of volunteers. This grant from UPS will enable SOGA to continue to offer programming to almost 23,000 athletes at no cost to the individual or their family!

Georgia Milton-Sheats, Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Georgia, said, "Special Olympics Georgia is thrilled to be the recipient of a grant from The UPS Foundation. We admire the high energy and high level of enthusiasm the UPS volunteers show at all Special Olympics events and the athletes love it to! We are thankful to have a strong working partnership with UPS and value our relationship and everything that UPS does to support the 22,769 children and adults involved in Special Olympics Georgia."

Established in 1951 and based in Atlanta, GA, The UPS Foundation identified specific areas where its backing clearly impacts social issues. In support of this strategic approach, The UPS Foundation has identified the following focus areas for giving: non-profit effectiveness, economic & global literacy, encouraging diversity, community safety and environmental sustainability.

In 2008, The UPS Foundation distributed $46.9 million worldwide through grants that benefit organizations such as Special Olympics Georgia and provide support for building stronger communities.

"The UPS Foundation is committed to funding impactful programs that make a meaningful difference in our communities - so we are proud to support Special Olympics Georgia's efforts," said Ken Sternad, President of The UPS Foundation.

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Special Olympics Georgia Competition Week in Middle Georgia: State Horse Show, Southeast Powerlifting Invitational and an Announcement About Games

Special Olympics Georgia Competition Week in Middle Georgia: State Horse Show, Southeast Powerlifting Invitational and an Announcement About Games to be Held in Warner Robins

/PRNewswire/ -- Special Olympics will hold three events in the Macon area this week: an announcement about a state games moving to Warner Robins in August 2010 on Thursday, and the State Horse Show in Perry and the Southeast Powerlifting Invitational in Macon this weekend, Nov. 13-15.

-- The Horse Show features more than 200 athletes from all over the state
competing to be Georgia's best in showmanship, dressage, English and
western riding, and riding trails at Georgia National Fairgrounds &
Agricenter in Perry.
-- Also during the weekend, more than 100 Special Olympics athletes from
Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and
Georgia are competing in the Southeast Powerlifting Invitational. The
weekend-long competition will be held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in
Macon.
-- Thursday, a press conference will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Warner
Robins City Hall to announce that the State Masters Bowling is coming
to Warner Robins Aug. 20-22, 2010.

All events are free and open to the public.

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Thirteen Special Olympics Teams in Metro Atlanta Play Softball in McDonough Saturday

/PRNewswire/ -- Special Olympics athletes from metro Atlanta areas will play softball Saturday, Oct. 24 at Heritage Park in McDonough, hosted by Henry County Parks and Recreation Department.

Competition begins at 9 a.m. and teams will play double eliminations. Tournament plaques will be given out to first through fourth place finishes. Teams are from the following counties: Cherokee, Cobb, Dekalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Peach and Rockdale counties. Scores will be used as qualifiers to compete in State Games.

SOGA partners with 86 parks and recreation departments to put on competitions for local athletes. These departments host competitions, provide staff to help run the event and offer programs through its therapeutic recreation division for people with intellectual disabilities. SOGA provides sports equipment, arranges for free medical screenings for athletes and helps publicize the new sports offerings.

Interested Parks and Recreation departments should call 1-800-866-4400 ext. 104 for more information.

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Athletes Around the State Compete in Statesboro at Fall State Games This Weekend

/PRNewswire-/ -- More than 1,000 athletes from around the state will compete in various sports at the State Fall Games in Statesboro Oct. 2-4. This is the second of three years Fall Games will be in Statesboro.

The Games will feature:
-- Long Distance Running/Walking
-- Cycling
-- Golf
-- Softball
-- Bocce

The games will begin with the Opening Ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 at Statesboro High School. All events and ceremonies are free to the public, so bring the whole family and "Be a Fan."

Competition will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday with medals being awarded throughout the weekend. Venues will be located at Mill Creek Regional Park near Georgia Southern University, except for golf. Golf will be held at Forest Heights Country Club. A schedule is available at www.SpecialOlympicsGA.org. Olympic Town, the center of celebration of Fall Games, will be from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at Mill Creek Park. Olympic Town goers will enjoy arts and crafts, and music.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Leslie Anderson at SOGA at Leslie.Anderson@SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

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Special Olympics Georgia Masters Bowling in Savannah July 18 and 19

/PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 900 athletes from all over Georgia will come to Savannah to compete to be the best bowler in the Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) Masters Bowling. Games will be held at AMF Victory Lanes and AMF Savannah Lanes.

This is the third year SOGA will bring Masters Bowling to Savannah.

The games, which are free and open to the public, begin Saturday with an Opening Ceremony at both lanes, which will be followed with competition. Awards will be given out throughout the weekend. Friday, the Savannah Sand Gnats will host a SOGA night at their game against the Hickory Crawdads from North Carolina. SOGA athlete Curt McKellar of Rockdale County will throw out the first pitch. And athletes will sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." The Sand Gnats, an official sponsor of Masters Bowling, also donated tickets to the athletes.

If you would like to be a volunteer, contact Leslie.Anderson@SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

For more information about the games and for a schedule, visit www.specialolympicsga.org.

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Special Olympics Georgia to Raise Funds Through THE TOUR Championship Presented by Coca-Cola's TICKETS Fore CHARITY(TM) Program

/PRNewswire/ -- Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) will be able to reach more people with intellectual disabilities for sports programs and networking for their family members through money raised from THE TOUR Championship's TICKETS Fore CHARITY(TM) program. THE TOUR Championship, the finale of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedEx Cup gives Atlanta charities the opportunity to participate in TICKETS Fore CHARITY -- a fundraising initiative designed to improve the quality of life in the communities where PGA TOUR tournaments are held. THE TOUR Championship features the top 30 players on the PGA TOUR, September 23-27th at East Lake Golf Club.

Through TICKETS Fore CHARITY, SOGA will sell tournament tickets to benefit the organization. All net proceeds go to charity: 50 percent to SOGA and 50 percent to the East Lake Foundation, one of THE TOUR Championship's primary charities.

"Special Olympics appreciates the opportunity extended by The Barclays to participate in this wonderful fundraising endeavor," said Georgia Milton-Sheats, SOGA CEO. "It's now up to us to rally our supporters and volunteers to generate the dollars that will help us continue to make a difference in the community. "

"This is an incredible opportunity to raise unlimited funds for the participating charity and there are absolutely no costs to the organization," said THE TOUR Championship's Executive Director Todd Rhinehart. "Fans will get to witness the very best the PGA TOUR has to offer and generate revenue for charities throughout greater Atlanta in a time when charities need help more than ever. We'd like to invite the community to join us in enhancing and enriching lives by participating in TICKETS Fore CHARITY."

Tickets available through TICKETS Fore CHARITY cost $150 for a weekly grounds ticket book - good Wednesday, Sept. 23, through Sunday, Sept. 27.

Tickets may be purchased at www.theplayofffinale.com. Select SOG from the list of participating organizations. Enter charity code SOG in the TICKETS Fore CHARITY box. For more information, contact Chelsea Stewart at 404.378.8687 or at ChelseaStewart@pgatourhq.com.

Proceeds from THE TOUR Championship will benefit other local charities as well as the East Lake Foundation, (www.eastlakefoundation.com). This non-profit organization was founded in 1995 to build a better future through education, affordable housing, job readiness and connections with the broader community. In 2008, THE TOUR Championship donated $1.4 million to charities, bringing the total amount raised since 1998 to more than $9 million.

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Coweta: Fire Department Golf Tournament to Benefit American Cancer Society

The Coweta County Fire Department will hold its 13th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Friday, July 31st at Orchard Hills Golf Club. This tournament has supported various charities and efforts across Coweta County, including Special Olympics, Coweta County Food Pantry and various public safety community outreach efforts like the “Ghost-Outs” held regularly at county high schools. This year the American Cancer Society is the recipient through the yearly Relay for Life.

The tournament is a “Four Man Scramble” and the price is $70/person or $280/4 person team. Fee includes green fees, cart, range balls and two mulligans. Awards will be given for the Straightest Drive and the Closest to the Pin. To play in the tournament simply mail your check (made out to the Coweta County Fire Department) to the Coweta County Fire Department, 483 Turkey Creek Road, Newnan, Georgia 30263.

Hole sponsorships are available for $50 each and door prizes are needed. For more information, contact Captain Chuck Loftin at cloftin@coweta.ga.us or 770-254-3900.
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VSU Landscaper To Compete at Special Olympics World Games

Todd Howard, Valdosta State University landscapr, will leave Wednesday, Feb. 4, with his team to compete in the Special Olympics Winter World Games in Boise, Idaho.

Howard is looking forward to traveling cross-country with his 11 teammates to compete in floor hockey, which is similar to ice hockey, except played on a gym floor. His team has practiced every Monday and Thursday for a full year in preparation for the world games and the opportunity to join more than 4,000 of the greatest Special Olympic athletes in the world.

With more than 30 state medals, Howard has competed year-round with local Special Olympics teams for more than seven years. When coach Tammy Crosby started the team and invited him to join, he began falling in love with the sport he was first introduced to in middle school. He recently switched from center to left wing to aid the team with his speed, which will definitely be needed when facing some of the best teams in the world.

Howard is grateful to the many supporters who have given to the organization and made the trip possible. He credits coaches Crosby and Lindsay Wolfe, as well as his team members with their success and the pleasure playing has given him.

“It makes me challenge myself,” said Howard, who also speaks to schools and media outlets as a Special Olympics ambassador. “I believe in myself and have more self esteem.”

Howard said he hopes to return from his two-week trip with a medal, but most of all he’s glad to have a chance for such an amazing experience.

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Cheer on Special Olympics Athletes Competing at State Indoor Winter Games in Cobb County

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Athletes from all over Georgia will compete in Special Olympics Georgia's State Indoor Games in Marietta this weekend.

More than 2,000 participants from all over Georgia will compete in Special Olympics State Indoor Winter Games Jan. 16-18 at various locations in Cobb County. Athletes will compete in basketball, bowling, floor hockey, ice skating, power lifting, artistic gymnastics and roller skating.

The games, which are free and open to the public, begin Friday morning with the ice skating competition at The Cooler and Opening Ceremony at 7:30 p.m. at Cobb Civic Center in Marietta.

Competition will continue Saturday and Sunday at various locations, including AMF Marietta Lanes, Brunswick Zone, The Cooler, Marietta Middle School, Marietta 6th Grade Academy and Cobb County Civic Center.

The full schedule is available at www.SpecialOlympicsGA.org.

The public is invited to be "Fans in the Stands" and cheer on athletes with supportive signs and posters.

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Special Olympics Georgia Launches Project UNIFY Initiative to Energize Youth

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) received $60,000 in funding to support the overall outreach initiative of the organization as part of Special Olympics' new national program, Project UNIFY.

Project UNIFY is a year-long project to activate young people across the country in an effort to promote school communities where all young people are agents of change -- fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics believes through sports young people can make a difference in friendships, schools and communities.

Project UNIFY promotes a cultural shift and positions Special Olympics as a leading cause among youth -- as important, not just "nice," and as relevant to each of us, not just for "them." In addition, Project UNIFY leadership activities will help develop the next generation of leaders and advocates for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

"This project is an excellent opportunity for our Programs to get directly involved in a grass-roots effort to increase the number of Special Olympics opportunities for youth with and without intellectual disabilities, while increasing the number of state-wide sustained Special Olympics partnerships with schools," said Bob Gobrecht, Special Olympics North America Managing Director. "The need for programs like the ones Special Olympics offers that encourage positive school climates with safe and nurturing environments for all students is clear, especially in light of how inappropriate and discriminatory words and actions are becoming more and more common in our society."

Special Olympics Programs throughout the United States were invited to apply for funds to implement Project UNIFY activities that meet the initiative's objectives through a competitive grant process. Special Olympics Georgia will use their funding to support the Young Athletes, Get Into It, Unified and Traditional sports programs.

All of these initiatives will attract children and adults with intellectual disabilities into the Special Olympics program. "Our goal is to make all eligible individuals aware of the many year-round ways to get involved in our sports training and competition programs throughout the state," said SOGA CEO Georgia Milton-Sheats.

Project UNIFY was made possible by $4.4 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to fiscal 2008 appropriations under the authority of HR5131, "The Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act," and the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act" which Special Olympics International received in June 2008.

To kick off Project UNIFY, 17 young people from across the country, aged 14-20, with and without intellectual disabilities, assembled in Washington, D.C., on 18-20 September for the first meeting of Project UNIFY's Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). The committee met during the Department of Education's 2008 Global Summit on Education, the theme of which was "Inclusive Practices for Students with Disabilities."

In addition to forming the Youth Advisory Committee, other overall Project UNIFY goals include promoting the Special Olympics "R-word" campaign, implementing a U.S. Special Olympics grant process for local Special Olympics Programs, hosting a Global Youth Congress as part of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, and participating in national forums and conferences on intellectual disabilities and education.

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Governor to Light the Flame of Hope for Special Olympics Georgia at State Capitol Press Conference

Governor Sonny Perdue will help light the “flame of hope” for Special Olympics Georgia athletes at 9 a.m. Friday on the front steps of the state capitol on the Washington Street side.

The torch has been passed across the state by law enforcement officers for the last few weeks and will stop at State Summer Games Opening Ceremony at Emory University Friday evening at 7:30.

The torch passing is part of a press conference to announce the 2008 Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run and to accept a check from the Torch Run presenting sponsor, Publix Supermarkets.

Once the Governor and a Special Olympics Georgia athlete light the torch, they will pass it off to members of the 2008 Torch Run. The officers (represented by Atlanta Police Department, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and other agencies across the state) will take the torch and begin their final leg of the run through downtown Atlanta and make their way onto Emory’s campus.

Expected to speak at the press conference are: Governor Perdue, Marietta Police Deputy Chief Billy Grogan Law Enforcement Torch Run State Director, Brenda Reid, Vice President of Community Relations of Publix Supermarkets and a Special Olympics Georgia athlete.

The torch represents the “flame of hope” that law enforcement officers pass on to athletes before they begin competition at State Summer Games. This weekend at the games, nearly 2,000 athletes will compete in sports such as gymnastics, athletics, volleyball, soccer, tennis and others at Emory.