Special Olympics Colorado



			Don’t Miss Colorado’s First Polar Plunge November 15!!! It's been a long, hot summer. Want to know how you can beat the heat? Colorado’s Law Enforcement Torch Run® and Special Olympics Colorado invites you to the state's first-ever Polar Plunge. Join us Saturday, November 15th at Chatfield Reservoir and start Freezin’ For A Reason! Polar Plunges have raised millions of dollars across the country for Special Olympics. Proceeds from this event will directly benefit Colorado’s 8,500-plus athletes. More... Download a Registration Form here. Download a Waiver here. To create your personal fundraising web page and track online pledges, click here.



			Mark Your Calendars for Saturday, November 1st!!! Be a part of history by participating in the Chick-fil-A Charity Dodgeball Tournament, benefitting Special Olympics Colorado. This inaugural event will take place Saturday, November 1st at the Phil Long Expo Center in Colorado Springs. The tournament format includes divisions for youth and adults with great prizes to be awarded to top finishers. You do not want to miss being part of this exciting event. Registration deadline is October 15th. More... Download a Registration Form here.


	More than 200 Participate in Rockies Parade More than 200 individuals -- athletes, partners, coaches, volunteers and family members -- represented Special Olympics Colorado in a pre-game parade at the Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game Saturday, September 13th at Coors Field. After the parade around the infield, Colorado’s 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games participants – Brydie Charles and Josh Reynolds – were recognized at home plate prior to the first pitch. Thanks to the Rockies for their generosity and support!!! Click here to enlarge photos		Cole Smith Recipient of Winning Attitude Award Cole Smith, a partner in The Unified Sports® program, has been honored as the second recipient in 2008 of the Qwest, FSN Rocky Mountain and the University of Colorado “Winning Attitude” winner. Cole showed his Winning Attitude by being a Unified Sports® partner on his older brother Matty’s Special Olympics basketball team. The eighth grader and his classmates will win a trip to a home CU football or men’s basketball game. More...
	Make a Difference If you would like make a difference and help Special Olympics Colorado, tell your friends and family about Make the Difference Network. Thanks to the sponsorship generosity of First Western Trust, SOCO is featured on the Make the Difference Network web site. Make The Difference Network (MTDN) is a cause-oriented social network that connects nonprofit organizations with potential donors and increases awareness for small-to-medium nonprofit organizations. The mission of MTDN is to democratize giving by increasing the visibility of thousands of nonprofit organizations and empowering potential donors to search, select and fund these organizations’ specific “wishes” and then to see the results of their giving. Click here to MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY!!!!		Attention all SOCO Volunteers… Immediate Attention Required! Special Olympics Inc. developed the *Protective Behaviors Training* as a tool to assist with protecting Special Olympics athletes from abuse. While the Protective Behaviors Training is only a requisite for Class A Volunteers and staff, for the safety and health of our athletes and everyone involved with Special Olympics Colorado, we encourage anyone interested in taking the training to do so: families, athletes, day-of volunteers, etc. It requires the assistance of everyone involved in our organization to help keep our athletes safe from abuse. Special Olympics Colorado will keep a record of everyone who takes the training. Class A Volunteers are required to take the Protective Behaviors training once every 3 years – thank you for your cooperation. Take the online training now...
	Special Olympics Protests Movie Special Olympics, along with a coalition of national disability organizations, is mounting a grass-roots campaign to protest the film "Tropic Thunder." Its use of the inflammatory word “retard” and demeaning portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities has prompted a powerful outcry against the film. More... We ask you to help spread awareness about the R-word campaign and voice your displeasure with the hurtful content depicted in the film "Tropic Thunder." Join the R word campaign. Be a fan of Dignity! Don't say the R-word!		Wal-Mart Donation Benefits SOCO Special Olympics Colorado is the beneficiary of a $50,000 grant from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The grant is being awarded through Wal-Mart’s State Giving program, where managers and associates from across the state evaluate applications and determine the gifts. Special Olympics is the first organization in Colorado to benefit from this program. “We are absolutely delighted to be the recipient of this substantial donation from Wal-Mart,” said Mindy Watrous, President & CEO of Special Olympics Colorado. “Together we will provide a venue for health and fitness through sports to a population, which is oftentimes left on the sideline.” More... Click to enlarge photo
	Community Health CharitiesSOCO is part of Community Health Charities of Colorado (CHC) – a workplace giving program that supports non-profit health agencies. CHC is a collaborative effort of 43 Colorado based health charities. CHC offers their member charities and campaign partners the power of efficient fundraising through payroll contribution. Workplace giving lets you spread out your donation over an entire year, allowing you to be more generous without ever writing a check. Ask your company about giving to SOCO through CHC. More...		SOCO Partners with the Big 12 Conference The Big 12 Conference is enhancing its partnership with the Special Olympics organizations in each of the seven states in the league’s geographic footprint. This includes Colorado! SOCO is very excited about the partnership! More... To see the latest Big 12 public service announcement regarding its relationship with Special Olympics, click here. You can also see it during 2008 Big 12 football broadcasts.