Lawrence County

Get Involved

Volunteers

The entire Special Olympics Lawrence County (SOLC) program is run by volunteer effort. Volunteers come from all walks of life, all age groups, and all income brackets. Some volunteer for a single day at an SOLC event, while others commit hours each week as a coach, management team member, or site coordinator. Volunteers include students, senior citizens, business people, family members of athletes, amateur and professional athletes and coaches, teachers, and many others.

New volunteers are always welcome. Following are just some of the ways you can get involved in SOLC:

• Become a certified Special Olympics coach.

• Serve as games director, certified official, or team manager.

• Act as a greeter, athlete escort, or cheerleader at SOLC events.

• Transport athletes to practice and competitions.

• Obtain equipment for SOLC athletes.

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

• Sponsor or adopt SOLC teams.

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

• Make donations of goods, services, or office supplies.

Contributions

All funding to support training and competition comes from the generous residents, companies, and foundations of Lawrence County. All monies donated to SOLC stay within the county.

As a nonprofit organization, Special Olympics relies on corporate and individual support. It is not funded by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation or the U.S. government.

Your support has a direct, positive effect on individuals with mental retardation who compete as part of SOLC. A 1995 Yale University study showed that Special Olympics enhances the lives of athletes by improving their self-image and their ability to function in society.

Contributing to Special Olympics is the ultimate gift that gives back to you. For every dollar and for every hour that you donate to SOLC, the rewards and gratitude of helping our athletes reach new goals far outweigh your contribution. Many volunteers and contributors find that once they become a part of our movement, they are members for life!

Athletes

Participation in SOLC training and competitive events is open to all people with mental retardation. To participate, a person must be at least eight years old and be identified by an agency or professional as having mental retardation, cognitive delays as measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay that require or have required specially designed instruction.

Families are an important part of SOLC. The dedication of a family who supports, transports, and offers daily encouragement to SOLC athletes is the reason so many of them thrive in our program. In turn, SOLC provides families a place where they can come together with opportunities for sports, social interaction, and fun.

For more information, contact:
Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Lawrence County
P.O. Box 5505
New Castle, PA 16105
(724) 652-4747
E-mail: vmccracken@specialolympicspa.org
 

For more information, contact:
Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Lawrence County
P.O. Box 5505
New Castle, PA 16105
(724) 652-4747
E-mail: vmccracken@specialolympicspa.org