By Erin Holloway, Special Olympics Colorado Athlete Leader

Special Olympics Colorado Hall of Fame is an annual celebration of outstanding individuals and organizations. Through their involvement in Special Olympics Colorado, they are nominated by community members to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The event takes place in the fall at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Denver.

This year’s theme was unstoppable joy. It truly was unstoppable! The joy could be felt from the beginning to the very end of the Hall of Fame program as it spread person to person throughout the entire event.

We had 5 incredible speakers – including actress, model and Special Olympics athlete, Sofia Sanchez, as the Keynote – who spoke about their involvement with Special Olympics and how important it is to be yourself. They encouraged all attendees to be true to themselves and how they feel and not let others discourage them.

I felt inspired by their stories of inclusion and belonging and how Special Olympics helped build those feelings and gave them the strength, courage and support to just believe in themselves and who they are meant to be. There is no wrong way to being ourselves. We are all important in life and we all have our own ways of showing who we are.

What I love most about Hall of Fame is how many people who believe in Special Olympics Colorado continue to come together to support and celebrate Special Olympics. This year was the largest Hall of Fame to date, with 125 tables in the room and more than 1,250 attendees, all of whom helped raise $450,000 for the event.

It brings great joy to me and many others knowing that their support continues to grow and gives life-changing experiences to those who otherwise might not have an opportunity to a better quality of life.

I believe Hall of Fame is important because it brings together so many diverse individuals to celebrate and share their belief in the positive success of Special Olympics Colorado and the joy of inclusion it brings to the athletes who are involved with Special Olympics.

I hope to see you at next year’s Hall of Fame Luncheon so you can experience the unstoppable joy this event provides!

Thank you to our Hall of Fame sponsors for helping make this event such a success!