History of SOPA

Although 187 Pennsylvania athletes participated in the Mid-Atlantic Invitational in Maryland in 1969, Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) did not become an official chapter until it hosted its own competition. SOPA officially came into being in May 1970 with a track and field event at West Chester University. Organized by two volunteer directors, Dr. Ed Norris and Hank Goodwin from West Chester's Physical Education Department, and funded by a grant from the Department of Special Education in Harrisburg, this first official competition had 135 participants.

Two familiar names in SOPA lore played a role in this event: Loretta Claiborne, one of Pennsylvania's most acclaimed athletes and a member of our and Special Olympics Inc.'s Board of Directors, participated as an athlete; and Al Senavitis, our current Chairman of the Board, served as a timer. The occasion was also marked by a Proclamation from then-Governor Raymond Shafer, who designated May 24 - 30, 1970, as Special Olympics Week in Pennsylvania.

As the organization evolved through the 1970s, the competitions moved around the state, with various colleges serving as hosts, including Cheyney, Slippery Rock, and Edinboro Universities. In 1978, a milestone of significant note occurred with the appointment of Frank Dean as the first Executive Director of SOPA.

The organization grew rapidly through the 1980s as staff was added and local programs began holding events across the state.

SOPA now trains more than 20,000 athletes who participate in over 20 Olympic-type sports at more than 300 local, sectional, and state level competitions. A chapter of Special Olympics Inc., SOPA is currently the second-largest U.S. chapter.