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Special Olympics Pennsylvania
Invites you to take the Plunge--
The Polar Plunge
 
on January 31, 2009
at Neshaminy State Park
in Bensalem, PA
beginning at 9:30 a.m.
A Polar Bear Plunge (or Polar Plunge) is a fundraising challenge made to an individual or group challenging them to enter into a cold body of water in order to raise money for Special Olympics.
Plunge participants set a fundraising goal then get pledges from family, friends and colleagues for their commitment to "freeze their bones” off for more than 18,000 Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes.
By being a part of the Plunge experience, you are allowing thousands upon thousands of children and adults with intellectual disabilities to experience a brighter tomorrow. So Dare to Plunge! For more information, please click on the links below:
2009 Polar Plunge Brochure
2009 SOPA Polar Plunge Toolkit
2009 SOPA Polar Plunge Pledge Form
First-Timer Tips
Take the SOPA Polar Plunge

2009
Special Olympics is a never-ending story of personal courage on the part of the athletes and selfless giving by volunteers – and Hall of Fame is a place for SOPA to recognize its many deserving stars.
Special Olympics Pennsylvania accords these dedicated athletes and volunteers the highest honor available – induction into the Hall of Fame.
Now is the time to nominate your deserving athletes and volunteers for the Hall of Fame class of 2009! Each Special Olympics program can nominate once athlete and one volunteer. Nominations are being accepted from now until Friday, January 16, 2009.
2009 Athlete Nomination Form
2009 Volunteer Nomination Form
Law Enforcement Torch Run Info.
The Guardian Newsletter
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How to Volunteer
Volunteers are the backbone of Special Olympics Pennsylvania. We could not exist without the dedication of thousands of Pennsylvania citizens. The time, energy and enthusiasm of volunteers fuel our movement and make our athletes’ dreams a reality.
There is a place for everyone in our organization. The sports-minded can
find a place as a dedicated coach. The business person can lend their
talent as an event organizer. The retiree can offer support as a
coordinator and the student may want to invest their enthusiasm into a
competition event.
On the local level, a company owner can provide needed
funding, and a community leader can assist with public relations
opportunities. In the end, all of our volunteers have one thing in
common -- a sense of personal pride knowing they're changing lives of
individuals with intellectual disabilities!
Special Olympics Pennsylvania is managed through local programs, most of which
are county or city-based. All of our programs need a full complement of
talents and skills. We currently need Managers, Coaches and Assistant
Coaches, Public Relations and Fundraising Coordinators, Training and
Competition Coordinators, Outreach and Medical Coordinators, Special
Events and Family Coordinators, just to name a few.

We also offer selective opportunities for individuals
unable to make a year-round commitment through our many competitions. We
welcome and encourage families or groups (i.e. corporate employees,
civic and fraternal organizations, and high school and college classes)
to sign-up to volunteer at our local or state events!
Getting involved is easy! Just call your
local Special Olympics Pennsylvania program
or contact Special Olympics Pennsylvania at cwalshmiller@specialolympicspa.org or call us at 1-800-235-9058.
Join our winning team and experience the pride and
excitement for yourself!
Volunteer Registration Form
and
Protective Behavior Online Training
After completing the Volunteer Registration Form, your next step is to participate in a brief (15 minute) online training. This is required training for all volunteers working with Special Olympics athletes. Begin now. Thank You.
Protective Behavior Online Training link: Protective Behaviors Training
Villanova University
hosts

20th Annual
Special Olympics Pennsylvania Fall Festival
November 7 - 9, 2008
The 2008 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Fall Festival was held at Villanova University in Villanova for the 20th consecutive year! More than 1,000 athletes and nearly 400 coaches representing 35 counties participated in this statewide competition.
Competition in long distance running, powerlifting, soccer and volleyball was held at Villanova University. The Shipley School hosted our bocce competition while the International Sports & Skating Centre in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey held roller skating competition.
Many thanks to Villanova University and the Committee on another excellent year of competition and special events! Congratulations to the athletes on another outstanding performance! For more information about this year's event, visit www.villanova.edu/studentlife/specialolympics .
To see competition results for the 2008 Fall Festival, click on a link below.
Fall Fest Results by Delegation & Name: 11.9.08
Fall Festival Results by Delegation, Sport, & Name: 11.9.08

The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be held in Boise, Idaho February 7-13, 2009 and will welcome 2,500 athletes, 1,000 coaches, 3,000 family members, 6,000 volunteers, and 100,000 spectators from around the globe. For more information, go to 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Web site.
Congratulations to the five athletes and 10 alternate athletes chosen for Team USA to represent our state at the 2008 SOPA Winter Games Closing Ceremonies! SOPA has the most coaches selected by Team USA to attend the next international event! Kudos to the appointed coaches!
All questions regarding the team can be directed to Melissa Moody-White at 1-800-233-5161 or mmoodywhite@specialolympicspa.org
2009 SOPA World Games Selected and Alternate Athletes
2009 World Games SOPA Coaches
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Search the Web with www.goodsearch.com and money from advertisers will go to SOPA!
Here's a new way to help Special Olympics Pennsylvania without spending a dime! We're happy to present you with a search engine called GoodSearch. GoodSearch is just like any other search engine you're used to, but unlike those competitors, GoodSearch donates $.01 to Special Olympics Pennsylvania with every query you punch in. To get started, click on the link, and in the second window, "Who do you GoodSearch for?," type in Special Olympics Pennsylvania. Happy GoodSearching!
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