Volunteers

Last year, over 46,000 volunteers were the unsung heroes behind 300 local and state competitions in Pennsylvania and thousands of hours of training, raising money, and promoting events. The time commitment of volunteers ranges from a 1-day volunteer at an event to hours of responsibilities each week as a manager, management team member, or board member. They come from all walks of life, all age groups, and all income brackets, but they share the commitment to providing our athletes with the opportunity to showcase their skills.

Volunteers enable Special Olympics to offer sports training and competition programs to nearly 1 million individuals with intellectual disabilities worldwide. Special Olympics would not exist today -- and could not have been created -- without the time, energy, dedication, and commitment of the more than 500,000 Special Olympics volunteers.

Volunteers increase integration and socialization opportunities for Special Olympics athletes. The dedication of Special Olympics volunteers provides mainstreaming experiences for athletes with mental retardation.

Volunteers include students, senior citizens, business people, family members of athletes, amateur and professional athletes and coaches, teachers, and many others. They fill a wide variety of roles for Special Olympics programs at the local, state, national, and international levels, from the role of coach, to fund-raiser, to timer and scorer.

Following are some ways in which you can volunteer for Special Olympics:

Sports Training

• Serve as a certified Special Olympics coach.

• Help run Special Olympics sports camps.

• Organize, coach, or play on Unified Sports® teams.

• Obtain equipment for Special Olympics athletes.

• Use specific sports expertise to help set up sports clinics or Special Olympics training schools.

• Train individuals with more severe handicaps through the Motor Activities Training Program.

Competitions

• Serve as a driver or food service worker at competitions or assist with registration, computer input, or data processing.

• Serve as Games Director, certified official, or team manager at Special Olympics competitions.

• Conduct clinics or demonstrations in a new sport.

Schools

• Include Special Olympics sports training programs in an existing adapted physical education curriculum.

• Utilize the Special Olympics Sports Skills Program Guides in an after-school sports program.

• Start Special Olympics Unified Sports® teams.

• Open school facilities to Special Olympics events.

• Provide support at Special Olympics events.

• Help start Special Olympics Partners Clubs®.

• Organize members of school sports teams to become certified Special Olympics coaches or officials.

• Conduct Special Olympics sports competitions or demonstrations during regular sports events.

Fund Raising

• Support the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics through corporate sponsorship or "Adopt-A-Cop."

• Make financial or in-kind donations as individuals or through a business.

• Conduct fund-raising campaigns in schools or through a civic group, church, or other organization.

• Name Special Olympics as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, will, or employee payroll deduction.

Professional

• Establish a Special Olympics program in workplaces employing individuals with intellectual disabilities.

• Provide medical support, including free physicals and X-rays, or provide pro bono legal or accounting services.

• Contribute specific skills to help Special Olympics.

• Sponsor or adopt Special Olympics teams.

• Make donations of goods, services, or vital office supplies to local Special Olympics programs.

Public Awareness

• Write articles about Special Olympics athletes, families and coaches, or join speakers bureaus.

• Volunteer copy writing, photography or public relations skills to local, state, or national Special Olympics programs.

• Take part in telephone campaigns to inform people about Special Olympics.

• Help staff the media center or serve as a press escort at a Special Olympics event.

• Train Special Olympics athletes to give presentations through the Global Messenger program.

Administration

• Serve on area management committees.

• Help special education teachers or Special Olympics coaches prepare registration and medical forms.

• Contribute typing, filing, and computer skills as volunteers in Special Olympics offices.

• Distribute materials for a Special Olympics event.

• Help Special Olympics with mass-mailing projects.

Civic Groups

• Provide support for Special Olympics programs.

• Adopt local Special Olympics teams.

• Organize Unified Sports® teams by combining group members with Special Olympics athletes.

• Encourage group members to volunteer their professional services to Special Olympics programs.

Friends of Special Olympics Athletes

• Serve as greeters, escorts, and cheerleaders at Special Olympics Games.

• Take part in recreational or social outings such as a hike or a picnic with Special Olympics athletes.

• Transport athletes to practice and competitions.

• Work as a volunteer at a group home or institution.

For more information about volunteering, contact Special Olympics Pennsylvania, 124 Washington Square, 2570 Boulevard of the Generals, Norristown, PA 19403, or call (800) 235-9058 or (610) 630-9450.