Program Manual

Special Olympics

One of our programs under State Charities is Special Olympics. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic type sports for children and adults with learning and/or a closely related development disability, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community.

There are local, regional, state, national and world events held throughout the year. It takes a lot of manpower and funding to conduct these events. The Texas Special Olympics does not receive any type of federal funding or financial assistance from Special Olympics International. Donations are solicited from various private companies and organizations like the Knights of Columbus. The State Charities donated $22,000 to the Texas Special Olympics last year. We hope to exceed that amount this year. We need your help by purchasing Special Olympics pins, submitting donations and by helping personally when the regional or state Special Olympic events are held in your area. Once you have been a hugger at the end of a track meet or had the pleasure of giving a medal to one of the winners and see the smile on their face and the bright twinkle in their eyes, you will want to return again and again. Remember the Special Olympic Oath:

“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

We get “matching” funds from our Supreme Council based on information received from Form 4584, Partnership Profile Report with Special Olympics. It is very important that all councils submit this form by January 31, 2012. Form 4584 gives every council the opportunity to report their involvement in Special Olympics and at the same time help generate additional funds for Texas Special Olympics. Whether you did have some involvement or not, made a donation or not, please submit Form 4584. The form can be found in the Star Guide Manual.

For information on upcoming Special Olympics events in your area, please
click on the following link, http://www.tkofcso.org/upcoming.htm