Hall of Fame Dinner

There are no typical Special Olympics athletes. They are young and old, from across town and across the world. They do, however, share one important character trait: a competitive fire to do their personal best. Their commitment and perseverance are so intense that everyone around them is affected for the better.

That's why Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) has chosen to establish the Hall of Fame: to share with a larger audience the inspiring stories of individuals who had heard "you can't do it" all through their lives -- but proved that they could once they were given a chance.

These athletes are already Olympic heroes. And SOPA wants to accord them the highest honor available to an athlete or coach -- induction into the Hall of Fame.

These inductees, many of whom have represented Pennsylvania at state and international games, are recognized by the sports-rich state of Pennsylvania as sports personalities whose athletic feats are every bit as impressive as those of other world-class athletes. Clearly, they deserve the same recognition accorded world champions.

The SOPA Hall of Fame honors athletes and volunteers who have made outstanding contributions both on and off the field of competition. The dual purpose of this prestigious event is to raise public awareness about the talents of our athletes and raise the funds necessary to sustain the incredible growth of the Special Olympics movement here in Pennsylvania.

Conceived by the SOPA Board of Directors, the Hall of Fame has been a logical step in the organization's evolution. SOPA is now the fourth largest U.S. chapter of Special Olympics, with more than 18,000 athletes competing in 55 local programs.

Special Olympics is a never-ending story of personal courage on the part of the athletes and selfless giving by volunteers -- and the Hall of Fame is befitting of the level of talent and dedication needed to be a star among our many stars.

Inductees

We have thousands of success stories of individuals who have benefited from participating in SOPA. But each year we choose only six athletes and volunteers who have demonstrated positive integrity and continued loyalty to the Special Olympics program, thereby upholding the honor of the organization.

The athletes who are honored must have participated in Special Olympics for a minimum of eight years. They must have illustrated skill growth in a specific sport, exhibited outstanding sportsmanship, and recruited eligible athletes into the Special Olympics program. All volunteers must meet strict requirements, including 10 years of ongoing involvement in Special Olympics, participation at various levels (such as coaching, games management), and the active recruitment of athletes and volunteers.

A panel of sportswriters and sportscasters from across the state makes the selections based on these criteria.

Dinner and Ceremony

The Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony features luminaries from the sports and political world who act as presenters. In previous years presenters have included Joe Paterno, Dick Vermeil, Governor Tom Ridge, and Franco Harris.

The 2008 Hall of Fame Dinner was held on May 1, 2008 in Philadelphia. The festivities began with a reception for Hall of Fame inductees, celebrity athletes, and corporate sponsors.  The 2008 winners of the Chairman's Choice Award was Sue and Joe Paterno, who were honored along side athlete and volunteer inductees.

Each year we look forward to this annual celebration that honors courageous Special Olympics athletes and the generous volunteers who make it all possible.