What's inside?

President’s Desk ........ 2

In Focus .................3-4

Athlete Angle ............. 5

Good Call .................. 6

End Game ................. 7

Calendar ................... 8

Forerunners p e c i a l o l y m p i c s m i n n e s o t a / Summer 2010

Minnesota

Eight Special Olympics Minnesota athletes will have the experience of a lifetime next summer competing as part of Team USA at the 2011 World Summer Games in Athens, Greece, June 25–July 4.

The Minnesotans selected to Team USA include Jake Sawyer, 21, a swimmer from Champlin; fellow swimmer Amy Holty, 30, of Rochester; track & field athlete Kristina Fritz, 32, of Woodbury; bocce player Tyler DeVries, 24, of Underwood; Blaine Cox, 23, a bowler from North Mankato; equestrian athlete Matthew Schoenbauer, 13, of New Prague; and tennis players Richard Martin, 27, of Hibbing and Katie VandenBosch, 20, of Farmington. Eight alternates have also been named: Marcus Kellin, 17, of Cohasset; Hannah Behnken, 16, of Woodbury; Amy Weller, 24, of Roseville; Tony Kahle, 33, of Lexington; George Dedeker, 37, of Shakopee; John Conway, 20, of Mendota Heights and Katherine Strege, 27, of Nashwauk.

The eight athletes from Minnesota will be joined by nearly 300 other athletes from all 50 states and the District of Columbia to make up the Team USA. Team USA will compete in athletics, aquatics, bocce, bowling, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, powerlifting, sailing, tennis, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball. They will be accompanied by approximately 120 coaches and support staff

who represent 39 states — including two coaches from Minnesota: athletics coach Corinne Schattschneider of Perham and golf coach Nancy Schwindel of Richmond.

The athletes have an exciting year ahead of them! In March Team USA will gather for a week-long training camp in San Diego, Calif. Here they will meet their fellow teammates, train with their team coaches and bond as a team. Then on June 19 Team USA will depart for Isle of Rhodes, Greece where they will participate in the Host Town program, joining delegations from around the world for a series of sporting, cultural and artistic events introducing the athletes to Greece and its culture, natural beauty and traditional cuisine.

Between competitions at the World Games, athletes can improve their health and fitness through six Healthy Athletes disciplines. A Global Youth Summit, School Enrichment Program, Family Forum and Global Policy Summit will also coincide with the 2011 World Games. The traditional Opening Ceremonies and Special Olympics Festival will round out the special activities planned for the athletes.

WORLD GAMES 2011

Minnesota athletes selected to Team USA

AquAticsJake sawyer

Anoka County CougarsAmy Holty Rochester

Marcus Kellin Itasca County*Hannah Behnken Blazing Stars*

AtHleticsKristina Fritz Lumberjacks

Amy Weller The Bears*

Boccetyler DeVries Perham

Tony Kahle Anoka County*

BowlingBlaine cox MN Valley

George Dedeker Tri-County*

equestriAnMatthew schoenbauer

Tri-CountyGeorge Dedeker Tri-County*

tennisrichard Martin Itasca County

Katie VandenBosch South Region Stars

John Conway South Region Stars*Katherine Strege Itasca County*

* asterisk denotes alternates

Team USAMinnesota athletes

World Games 2011Location: Athens, GreeceDate: June 25–July 4, 2011Venues: 30athLetes: 7,500coaches: 2,500

QUick FAcTS

August 11 marked the one-year anniversary of the passing of the founder of Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. There was no better place to witness the effects she had on our movement than in Lincoln, Neb. this July watching more than 3,000 Special Olympic athletes compete at the 2010 National Games. It was a proud moment for Special Olympics and for the athletes, fans, staff and volunteers involved in our movement. There are so many people that help make this organization what it is, but we all have one great lady to thank for giving us the opportunity.

It is in that spirit that September 25, 2010 has been chosen to honor Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day (EKS Day) 2010 is the first of an annual celebration of her life and a global call for people to commit actions of inclusion, acceptance and unity for and with individuals with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics is one of the world’s largest grass roots movements, and to celebrate EKS Day we encourage Minnesotans across the state to create events in their communities as well as post a tribute to EKS on www.eunicekennedyshriver.org. Become an agent of acceptance and action: Embrace the spirit of EKS Day, and ACT!

Performances by each and every one of our athletes would make any of us proud to be from Minnesota. Thanks to all of the family, friends and fans who cheered on Team Minnesota. All of those at the games definitely felt the Minnesota presence and they now know that there is a big Special Olympics voice to the North!

With the completion of Fall Games we will be looking forward to our last state event of the year: Bowling. This year we will be at new venues and partnering with the Brunswick Zones of Minnesota. We are very excited for this year’s inaugural event.

We have also kicked off our year long Project Unify initiative, which is partially

funded by a grant from Special Olympics International. This initiative unifies youth with and without intellectual disabilities and is designed to plan and encourage youth to be involved in inclusive programs. As you know, most of our athletes in Minnesota are adults, so we are also forming a Youth Activation Committee (YAC) to help us become more youth friendly. We are recruiting high school students both with and without intellectual disabilities to be a part of this first-ever YAC in Minnesota!

These programs are just part of our focus to grow our youth and unified initiatives for the future. Young Athletes has been piloted successfully in several communities and we are very excited for the growth of this wonderful initiative. Many were also exposed at National Games to the potential of Unified Sports. We had a tremendous gold-medal performance by our Unified Sports volleyball team. We want to build upon that success and grow our Unified Sports initiatives in more sports across the state. Look for more information in the coming months to see how to get your kids, friends, schools and community involved in these new programs.

2010 has been a great year with more athletes and athlete experiences than ever before. We absolutely can improve in many areas and we will. We are always open to feedback on how we can better serve this great state and these great athletes and their families. We also know that these new programs will be a tremendous addition to what we can offer. Thanks to every person who touches our organization in some way shape or form, 2010 has been great and the future will be even better!

Mary BlegenU.S. Bank

Richard BrownJNBA Financial Advisors

Christine CaspersTastefully Simple, Inc.

James CristThe Travelers Companies

Mark DalrympleSchwan's Consumer Brands

Michael Denny, Vice ChairUniversity of Minnesota

John DolanSpecial Olympics Minnesota Athlete

Kip Elliott, Treasurer The Minnesota Twins

Dorothy Guanella, SecretaryCargill

Dennis Hanley

Tim LarsonMichael Foods

William McDonald Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP

Gordon Medeiros Pricewaterhouse Coopers, LLP

Leeann Metzmaker New Challenges, Inc.

Chris Neugent Malt-O-Meal

Gary Spinazze Nash Finch Company

Paul SteenersonAmeriprise Financial, Inc.

David Steinhaus, M.D. Medtronic

Tammy Suess Special Olympics Minnesota Athlete

Pamela Thein, Chair Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP

Benjamin von Haaren Special Olympics Minnesota Athlete

Christopher WrobelLand O' Lakes

2 Forerunner

Editor’s Note:fore - run - ner (fôr-run/er, for/ -) n. 1.a. One that precedes, as in time; a predecessor.

b. An ancestor; a forebear. 2.a. One that comes before and indicates the approach for another; a harbinger. b. A warning sign or symptom. 3. Sports. One who skis the course before the beginning of a race.

From the

President’s Desk

F R O M T H E D E S K

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Board of Directors

Betsy AndersonSports Program Manager

Katie AndersonCompetition & Training Associate

Mark AndersonCompetition & Training Manager

Pam BergersonVice President—Program

Pam ByrdIndividual Giving Director

Nell Coonen-KorteReceptionist

Melanie DeBaySports Program Manager

David DornPresident/CEO

Jason FarbData Management Associate

Bill FishExecutive Vice President of Development & Partnerships

Ann ForstieWebmaster

Lisa HagensOffice Manager

Emily HalburVolunteer Manager

Heather HarmerInitiatives Manager

Larry KaneDirector of Finance

Mike KaneSports Program Director

Kathy KarkulaDevelopment Director

Kristen LancasterDesign & Communications Associate

AJ MendenSports Program Manager

Kelly MonicattiSports Program Manager

Chris NelsonDirector of Corporate Relations

Nancy ParadeiseData Management Assistant

Megan PowellLaw Enforcement Torch Run Manager

Elizabeth ReddallCompetition & Camp Manager

Bronwyn Schaefer PopeVice President of Marketing & Communications

Alyssa SiechDevelopment Associate

Chad TrenchLaw Enforcement Torch Run Manager

Greg VanselowDirector of Operations

Staff

Summer 2010 3

i N F O C u S

A Minneapolis student who developed a play about Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Special Olympics was given a powerful opportunity to inspire others this summer. Olivia Heusinkveld, 14, was invited to deliver her compelling performance in Omaha, Neb. at the Special Olympics Health Symposium, a free event which examined the state of health care for people with intellectual disabilities. The event coincided with the start of the 2010 National Games, held in Lincoln, Neb.

Heusinkveld’s one-person play, or monologue, was designed to teach people about the value of Special Olympics and its monumental impact on the lives of the athletes, families, volunteers and spectators. During the play, Heusinkveld changes into many characters, but the central character in the play is the parent of a Special Olympics athlete. Heusinkveld says she chose the topic because she wanted a “topic that touched the heart.”

Heusinkveld originally prepared the monologue as an eighth-grade student at Robbinsdale Middle School for competition

at the National History Day state level in May. The theme of the competition category was “Innovation and Change Through History,” and she believed Special Olympics fit the bill perfectly. She says many people she knew decided to write about inventions or science, but she wanted to write a play that focused on human interest. Heusinkveld placed second in the Junior Individual Performance category and participated in national competition in Washington, D.C. in June.

Heusinkveld, who has been involved in theater since she was four years old, has had

an incredible experience with her play. At competitions she has seen the judges’ eyes widen as she tells the story of Special Olympics. And judges have told her how affected they are by her play. Many of her friends have said they “get chills” when they watch her perform. She has learned so much about how one person, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, made an immense difference in the lives of so many people. Heusinkveld says she learned the value of every person and that reaching out to people who are different can be an incredible experience.

Olivia Heusinkveld

Minnesotan performs monologue at Health Symposium

Dave Ryan's 5K

Lace up your sneakers

Tim Shriver, CEO of Special Olympics International, and Olivia Heusinkveld participated in a Special Olympics health symposium in July in Omaha. Shriver gave the keynote address at the symposium, which focused on improving the health of those with intellectual disabilities. Heusinkveld performed a monologue highlighting the work of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Tim Shriver’s mother.

click to watch video online >>

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It’s not too late to register for Dave Ryan’s 5K for Special Olympics Minnesota, the annual run/walk that gives support to more than 6,700 athletes. The funds raised for this event help to provide athletes from across the state with year-round sports training and competition.

The 2010 Dave Ryan’s 5K for Special Olympics Minnesota will be held Saturday, Sept. 18 at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the race will begin at 9 a.m. The cost to register is $25 prior to the day of the race and $30 on race day and includes an event T-shirt. For more information and to register, visit http://daveryan5k.kintera.org.

In the spirit of Special Olympics Minnesota, show your support by participating in a day of physical activity and friendly competition. This 5K event is family-friendly and is open to all ages and ability levels. Participants can also earn additional prizes by choosing to raise extra funds for Special Olympics Minnesota.

KDWB Radio Host Dave Ryan poses with Special Olympics Minnesota athlete Katie Timmer during the 2008 Dave Ryan's 5K for Special Olympics Minnesota.

i N F O C u S

4 Forerunner

Seventeen-year-old Breanna Terwey went home with more than just medals and memories when she competed last year in Special Olympics Minnesota’s state Summer Games — she was also alerted to an unexpected health problem discovered through the free Healthy Athletes health screenings offered there.

Healthy Athletes is a Special Olympics initiative providing free access to healthcare for individuals with intellectual disabilities, a medically underserved population. Healthy Athletes programs include vision services (Opening Eyes); dentistry (Special Smiles); podiatry (Fit Feet); physical therapy and general fitness (FUNfitness); audiology (Healthy Hearing); lifestyle (Health Promotion); and medical/sports physicals (MedFest).

Special Olympics Minnesota offers many of these programs during five annual state competitions in a welcoming, fun environment: Healthy Athletes Village. Here, athletes learn about healthy lifestyle choices and receive free screenings to identify problems that may need additional follow-up. For Terwey, follow-up was recommended after a bone density screening indicated that she had low bone density.

At the recommendation of the Healthy Athletes medical volunteers, Terwey’s grandmother Donna Terwey took her to an orthopedist who conducted blood work and a bone density scan. The scan indicated a diagnosis of osteopenia, a condition where one’s bone mineral density is lower than normal. Additionally, abnormalities in the blood work prompted the orthopedist to refer them to an endocrinologist. After further testing, Breanna Terwey was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, a condition where an overactive thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. Uncontrolled, hyperthyroidism can lead to heart problems, brittle bones, eye and skin problems and thyrotoxic crisis.

Donna Terwey attributes the discovery of Breanna Terwey’s osteopenia and

hyperthyroidism to her Healthy Athletes screenings.

“It’s something that I wouldn’t have known,” said Donna Terwey. “I wouldn’t have taken her in for a bone density test. I wouldn’t have checked the thyroid, that’s for sure. So it’s good that we caught it when we did.”

Looking back, Donna Terwey realizes that a number of symptoms of hyperthyroidism that Breanna Terwey had exhibited — such as tremors in the hands and extreme fatigue — had gone unnoticed as they had been attributed to a known seizure condition with which she had been previously diagnosed. Had it not been for the Healthy Athletes screening, Donna Terwey had no reason to think there might be another contributing factor.

The endocrinologist continues to monitor Breanna Terwey’s condition, and so far her periodic blood work has shown an improvement.

Breanna Terwey doesn’t let her diagnoses stop her from participating in Special Olympics sports activities to the full extent. She participated in walking and throwing competitions at the 2010 state Summer Games — as well as all the free activities available in the Healthy Athletes Village.

Breanna Terwey

Healthier through Healthy Athletes

matt kennedy

Special Olympics Minnesota athlete Breanna Terwey of Grand Rapids, Minn. poses with her grandmother, Donna Terwey, at the Healthy Athletes Village during the 2010 Summer Games. Terwey was diagnosed with hyperthyroid-ism after a free Healthy Athletes bone density screening indicated low bone density, prompting medical follow-up.

Minnesota athletes earn medals, make new friends at USA National GamesSpecial Olympics Minnesota athletes earned 91 medals at the 2010 USA National Games, competing as Team Minnesota in the Lincoln, Neb. event, July 18–23. The 94-member team brought back 37 gold, 34 silver and 20 bronze medals through competition in a total of 43 unique events. To view videos, results, photos, and more, visit www.specialolympicsminnesota.org/National_Games.php

National Games athletes receive free hearing aidsThe 94 members of Team Minnesota will never forget the sights and sounds of the 2010 USA National Games, but for three Minnesota athletes, those sounds were even more remarkable.

Jana Langer of Faribault, Janet Schmidtbauer of Shakopee and Mike Briddell of Duluth all received free hearing aids as part of the Healthy Hearing program in the Healthy Athletes Village at National Games. Starkey Laboratories, Inc. of Minneapolis donated the 100 hearing aids that were given away to athletes from around the United States.

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Teammates Douglas Gilder, Nick Rosen, Ken Moore and Dan Powers display their medals from bowling.

A T H L E T E A N G L E

Summer 2010 5

Young Athletes is an innovative sports play program designed to introduce children ages two through seven to the world of sports before they are eligible to compete in Special Olympics at age eight. The program is open to children both with and without intellectual disabilities and allows participants to play and learn together in a unified environment. Participants of Young Athletes are taught the fundamentals of sports, laying the foundation to learn more specialized, sport-specific skills in the future.

While the overall objective of Young Athletes is to teach children about sports in general, there are several goals the program pursues. Young Athletes strives to emphasize the physical, social and cognitive benefits that come with participating in sports. The program is dedicated to the development of its participants’ motor skills and teaches basic sports skills such as hitting, catching and throwing a ball, balance and flexibility. By bringing together children with and without intellectual disabilities, all young athletes learn the same skills alongside each other.

“This program will also serve as an introduction for new families to the

resources and support available within Special Olympics, while providing a vehicle for families to network with each other,” says Tim Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman & CEO. “Of course, these future Special Olympics athletes benefit by enhancing their skills, developing confidence and increasing their readiness to compete when they reach the age of eight.”

Opening the Young Athletes Program to children without intellectual disabilities allows them the same opportunity to develop and learn new skills. More importantly, it encourages interaction and inclusive peer participation with children who have intellectual disabilities. Young Athletes teaches the skills and structure of

sports while promoting unity between children with and without intellectual disabilities.

Young Athletes Programs are currently being offered in Alexandria in collaboration with the Northeast Family YMCA, in White Bear Lake and in New Brighton with Bethel University. For additional information about these programs, please visit http://specialolympicsminnesota.org/Young_Athletes.php. To find out more about how to start a Young Athletes program in your community, contact Emily Halbur at 800.783.7732, ext. 274 or emily.halbur@somn.org.

Nick VanDenburgh arrived at the 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games in Lincoln, Nebr. as the heavy favorite to take home gold in the top division of the most prestigious event in track and field: the pentathlon. With the support of family and fans, VanDenburgh, 19, of Oak Grove, Minn. did not disappoint, earning two gold medals as part of Team Minnesota.

When asked what it felt like to compete at National Games, VanDenburgh said, “[It was] “exciting! I was scared at first but then I got used to it.” VanDenburgh did not let the size of the stage he was competing on affect him. Treating it like any other competition, VanDenburgh stuck to his pre-game routine of putting on his trademark long socks and stretching.

VanDenburgh placed first in all five events of the track and field pentathlon. He threw 10.41 meters in the shot put, completed the 400-meter run in 57.81 seconds, ran the 100-meter dash in 12.22 seconds, and cleared 1.6 meters in the high jump and 6.08 meters in the long jump. He also earned a gold medal as part of the Division 1 male 4x400 relay team with fellow athletes Jerad Magnuson of Austin, Minn., Kievin Odero of Minneapolis, Minn., and Jesus Ortega of St. Paul, Minn.

As for why he enjoys being a part of Special Olympics Minnesota, VanDenburgh replied, “I like meeting new people. I really like the volunteers, the coaches and the athletes.”

Nick VaNdeNburgh

Minnesota pentathlete wins hearts, medals

Young Athletes progrAm

Not too young to play

Lakes Area Recreation720 Fillmore St.Alexandria

WednesdaysAug. 18–Oct. 66:30–7:30 p.m.

In CollAborAtIon wIth bethel UnIverSIty

New Brighton Family Service Center400 10th St. nwnew brighton

ThursdaysSept. 23–Nov. 116–7 p.m.

White Bear Area YMCA2100 orchard lanewhite bear lake

MondaysSept. 13–Oct. 256–7 p.m.

university of neb.-lincoln

Athlete Nick VanDenburgh raises his arm in victory during competition in the pentathlon. VanDenburgh won gold in the Pentathlon and also as part of the 4x400 relay team.

ARE YOu READY TO GET STARTED? Join an existing young Athletes Program or form your own!

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click to watch an online video of Nick at National Games >>

G O O D C A L L

6 Forerunner

This fall, Nov. 5-7, Athlete Leadership Programs Beginner Global Messenger Course will be held at Camp Friendship, located in Annandale, Minn. Camp Friendship is a 115-acre lakeside retreat center just 60 miles north of the Twin Cities. This is Special Olympics Minnesota’s second time holding an ALPs training at Camp Friendship and the first time holding a Global Messenger Course.

The Global Messenger Beginner course is a workshop that teaches athletes the necessary skills they need to execute public speaking and presentations. These workshops are led by Special Olympics Minnesota volunteers, ALPs members and staff. The workshop’s purpose is to encourage athletes to become representatives of Special Olympics Minnesota. In doing so, they determine what role they play in Special Olympics Minnesota, whether it be athlete, coach, volunteer or leader. One of the goals of the Global Messenger course is to encourage athletes to take meaningful positions of influence and leadership throughout the organization to help determine policy and set direction.

The course also allows Special Olympics Minnesota’s athletes' voices to be heard. Many of the athletes who were not involved with public speaking prior to the course are able to give a three-minute speech at the conclusion of the weekend. The public speaking that athletes participate in after the Global Messenger course is vital to Special Olympics Minnesota’s goals in recruiting athletes, volunteers and sponsors.

Along with hosting the Beginner Global Messenger course for Special Olympics Minnesota, Camp Friendship offers many opportunities for Special Olympics Minnesota athletes. The retreats that Camp Friendship provides focus on people with intellectual disabilities. Campers can enjoy fishing, camping, hiking, boating, canoeing and much more!

For more information about Camp Friendship, please visit their web site at http://www.friendshipventures.org. For more information about Athlete Leadership Programs, please visit the Special Olympics Minnesota Web site at http://www.specialolympicsminnesota.org/Athlete_leadership_pro.php.

Athlete leAdership progrAms

Beginner Global Messenger course to take place at Camp FriendshipPrior to the

January 2010 earthquake, Special Olympics Haiti provided opportunities for more than 500 athletes to participate in sports like bocce, table tennis, football and athletics (track and field). Now, with the rebuilding process underway in the rest of the region, the time has come for play to resume.

During a visit to Haiti in June, Special Olympics Chairman & CEO Tim Shriver revealed his five-year strategic plan to reconstruct Special Olympics in the region. The initial phase began July 5 with the launch of Camp Shriver in five cities across the country, where five sports over a four-week period were reintroduced. Camp Shriver served as the catalyst to providing Special Olympics to an estimated 300 Haitian children with intellectual disabilities this year, and that number is projected to grow to 2,000 within two years and 6,000 within five years.

The day camps—named after the founder of Special Olympics, the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver—provided participants with food, T-shirts and sporting equipment, at no cost.

“The unrelenting support and determination from the leadership of Special Olympics Caribbean and Special Olympics Haiti has been an inspiration as we, together, strive to bring hope to the thousands of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families through Camp Shriver,” said Shriver. “Our plan is both ambitious and, yet, crucial to the revitalization of the Haitian people as they look to rebuild their communities and grow in acceptance and inclusion along the way.”

globetrotting

Games resume for Special Olympics Haiti

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Be a fan of Special Olympics by ordering an All-American Slam® during your next visit to Denny’s. Denny’s restaurants are continuing to raise support for Special Olympics athletes at home and around the world. When you order an All-American Slam® from now through August 2011, 10-cents will be donated to Special Olympics. Proceeds will benefit Special Olympics in local communities across the U.S and will allow us to provide greater services and programs for the 3.4 million athletes who are part of the Special Olympics movement around the world.

Special promotion

Denny's partners with Special Olympics

E N D G A M E

Summer 2010 7

Media Corner

Kids with Cameras

MultiMedia for, by and about people with intellectual disabilities

“This documentary follows the progress and challenges of a group of children, aged eleven to nineteen, with Autism Spectrum Disorder as they engage in an intensive film camp. Footage of the all-immersive week is combined with revealing moments of seven Asperger Syndrome-afflicted children’s private lives, and candid interviews with their families, exploring and explaining their own coping strategies. The children’s artistic efforts-films, poems, paintings and music-combine to paint a soulful picture of how encouraging and training creativity is a necessary step to connect the exponentially increasing autistic population with the rest of the world.”

excerpted from KidswithCamerasMovie.com

“Kids With Cameras” is directed by Alex Rotaru for Ifavor Entertainment. Full-length DVD (52 minutes) available for $20 at KidsWithCamerasMovie.com

A recent study of Healthy Athletes data revealed that 61% of Special Olympics Minnesota athletes screened are considered to be overweight or obese. This figure is consistent with Special Olympics athletes around the world, and the percentage is believed to be even higher among individuals with intellectual disabilities who are not involved with Special Olympics.

Special Olympics Minnesota is committed to addressing the issue of obesity through our Healthy Athletes initiative. Efforts include surveying athlete eating and exercise habits to better pinpoint athlete obesity risks as well as providing diet and exercise education through the Health Promotion program.

For more information on Healthy Athletes and Health Promotion, visit http://www.specialolympicsminnesota.org/Healthy_Athletes.php.

Combatting Obesity through Healthy Athletes

Special Olympics Minnesota has more to offer its athletes than sports training and competition. Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs) provide leadership training and opportunities for athletes through a variety of courses. These courses focus on developing skills in areas like communicating, listening, leading teammates and public speaking. ALPs programs help athletes become more well-rounded individuals by developing new leadership skills and expanding their participation with Special Olympics Minnesota.

ALPs programs also offer volunteers an opportunity to broaden their involvement with Special Olympics Minnesota by becoming an ALPs mentor. Mentors attend ALPs courses with athletes, assisting them with activities and comprehension as needed. Upon completion of the course, mentors arrange opportunities for athletes to use their newly-learned skills such as setting up public speaking engagements.

While the duties for mentors are primarily organizational, their efforts are invaluable.

“Being an ALPs mentor is the most valuable volunteer role,” says Heather Harmer, Initiatives Manager. “Our most successful athletes are those who have good, strong mentors behind them.”

Currently, only about 150 of Minnesota’s 6,700 athletes participate in ALPs courses because there are not enough volunteer mentors. Athletes must have a volunteer attend ALPs courses with them. A mentor can be a friend, family member, teacher or other community member who would like to provide one-on-one support for an athlete while witnessing their progression first-hand.

“Becoming an ALPs mentor provides and shows great support for our athletes,” says Harmer. “Our athletes are capable individuals who want to be heard, and as a mentor, you help find opportunities for them to be [heard].”

For more information on becoming an ALPs mentor, contact Heather Harmer at heather.harmer@somn.org or (612) 604-1276 or toll-free at (800) 783-7732 ext. 276.

GET INVOLVED

Make a difference: Become an ALPs Mentor

Special Olympics Minnesota athlete Katie Timmer poses with her mom — and ALPs mentor — Pat. Athlete-mentor relationships allow volunteers to bond with athletes and rejoice in their growth, as well as allow athletes to develop new skills and grow as individuals.

8

Forerunner produced by the staff and interns of the marketing & communications department

comments and story suggestions can be directed to Kristen lancaster by email at

kristen.lancaster@somn.org or call (612) 604-1257

issue layout by Kristen lancaster

Phone: 612-333-0999 toll-free: 800-783-7732

Fax: 612-333-8782

100 washington Avenue South Suite 550

Minneapolis, Mn 55401

www.specialolympicsminnesota.org

Created by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation for the Benefit of Persons

with Intellectual Disabilities

Minnesota

fundraising

Record-setting eventsTwo recent events reached uncharted territory while raising funds for Special Olympics Minnesota. In June Minneapolis tax and consulting firm McGladrey unveiled their new brand with a unique twist on a cake reception. PGA Tour professional Chris DiMarco and distinguished guests, including Special Olympics Minnesota athlete Katie Timmer, each took turns chipping shots onto an edible putting green. The green, a 12’ x 12’ cake made by Lunds and Byerly's bakers, earned the Guiness World record for largest cake sculpture. McGladrey donated $250 to Special Olympics Minnesota for every shot that landed on the cake.

In August, skydiver Jarrod McKinney took to the skies to raise money for our athletes. With the help of experts, Jarrod attached himself to 100 6-foot helium balloons, rose to a height of nearly 14,000 feet, then released the balloons, skydiving back to earth wearing a wingsuit. The event took place Aug. 28 at Paul Bunyan Land in Brainerd and raised more than $10,000 for Special Olympics Minnesota. Jarrod was the first person in history to use nothing more than helium party balloons for the sole purpose of floating to the sky to do a skydive — a fantastic feat!

We extend our sincere gratitude to these creative fundraisers!

Upcoming EventsSEPTEMBER

Sept. 1-Oct. 6 (Wkly: Wed.)Young AthletesAlexandria

Sept. 7–Oct. 4Fall coaches meetingsDates, locations vary (see online calendar)

Sept. 9LETR golf tournamentCottage Grove

Sept. 11-12ALPs: Challenges Through ChoiceHopkins

Sept.13-Oct. 25 (Wkly: Mon.)Young AthletesWhite Bear Lake

Sept. 18Dave Ryan’s 5KMinneapolis

Sept. 23-Nov. 11 (Wkly: Thurs.)Young AthletesNew Brighton Family Service Center

OCTOBER

Oct. 1-2World’s largest truck convoyShakopee

Oct. 2–28Area bowling competitionsDates, locations vary (see online calendar)

Oct. 9Savage Protectors and PizzaBuffalo

Oct. 23Areas 1-7 regional bowling competitionDuluth

Oct. 24Areas 8-12 regional bowling competitionWelch (Treasure Island)

NOVEMBER

Nov. 5-7ALPs: Beginner Global MessengerAnnandale

Nov. 12-14State Bowling TournamentBlaine, Brooklyn Park, Lakeville, Richfield

C A L E N D A R

Above: Skydiver Jarrod McKinney soars to the skies via a harness attached to helium balloons. Above right: An edible Special Olympics golf cart rests on the record-breaking McGladrey cake.

click to watch an online video of Jarrod's flight >>