Seasons Greetings!

On behalf of the athletes and staff of Special Olympics Wisconsin, we'd like to wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!

Artwork by Special Olympics Athlete Tyler Howard

Fall Sports Tournament takes place in Milwaukee for the 28th year

More than 1,000 athletes were striking bowling pins and spiking volleyballs at the 2008 Special Olympics Wisconsin State Fall Sports Tournament.

Click here to read full story

• Bowling & Volleyball results
• Volleyball results brackets
• Event photo album

Sports Illustrated honors Eunice Kennedy Shriver with the first Sportsman of the Year Legacy Award

In December, Sports Illustrated honored Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver with the first Sportsman of the Year Legacy Award at the 2008 Sportsman of the Year celebration in New York City. 

The Sportsman of the Year Legacy Award was created to recognize those who have, over the course of their lifetime, demonstrated the ideals of sportsmanship.

Click here to read full story

Wisconsin's World Games Athletes attend training camp in Colorado

Six Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes just returned from Copper Mountain, Colo. for the Special Olympics Team USA Training Camp. The athletes spent five days meeting their World Games coaches, taking part in team-building activities and training for the upcoming Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho this February. Wisconsin’s “super six” joined 329 other athletes and 85 coaches on Team USA from around the nation.

Click here to read full story

National Games Quota assigned to Wisconsin

Special Olympics Wisconsin has been asked to send athletes and coaches to the 2010 National Games in Nebraska from several sports including athletics, golf and soccer.

Click here for more information about the 2010 National Games quota

raises over $147,000 for Special Olympics Wisconsin through Icon Sales

During November, Kwik Trip stores sold $1 paper icons to raise money for Special Olympics. Because of the tremendous efforts of Kwik Trip employees and their customers, this promotion raised over $147,000 for Special Olympics Wisconsin -- 4 1/2 times more than what was raised in last year's icon sales. Next time you stop in to Kwik Trip for gas, coffee or a bite to eat -- be sure to thank a Kwik Trip employee for all they do for Special Olympics.

Southeastern Area 7 News: New address and new Regional Director of Sports

The Special Olympics Wisconsin Area office in Racine has moved to a new address:

Southeastern Area 7 Special Olympics
6150 Taylor Avenue
Racine, WI 53403
(262) 598-9507
(800) 924-4320

Also, Special Olympics Southeastern Area is pleased to welcome Troy Anderson to the staff as the new Regional Director of Sports. Troy has spent several years in the Park and Recreation Field as an Assistant Recreation Supervisor, a Recreation Center Supervisor and most recently has acted as the Athletic Supervisor for the City of Coralville, Iowa.

Number of athletes screened by Healthy Athletes disciplines from 2006-2008

The Healthy Athletes Program provides health screenings and education to athletes at no cost during. The goal of the program is to improve, through better health and fitness, each athlete's ability to train and compete in Special Olympics. Below is a chart of how many Wisconsin athletes benefited from this program from 2006-2008.

“Letters to Brett Favre” book sales to benefit Special Olympics

Looking for a “Favre” better holiday gift for your loved one this year? For $14.95, purchase the BRAND NEW “Letters to Brett Favre” book, as 10% of all proceeds go back to Special Olympics Wisconsin, Mississippi and New York.

Visit www.letterstobrettfavre.com to place an order.

Select a 2009 Polar Plunge near you

Make it a New Year's resolution to make a difference in the lives of 10,000 athletes and have a breathtaking experience at the same time!

• February 7, 2009 - Stevens Point
• February 7, 2009 - Pleasant Prairie
• February 8, 2009 - Muskego
• February 21, 2009 - Oshkosh
• February 21, 2009 - Madison
• February 21, 2009 - Whitewater
• February 22, 2009 - Eau Claire
• February 28, 2009 - Wausau
• February 28, 2009 - Green Bay
• March 7, 2009 - La Crosse
• NEW Plunge March 7, 2009 - Milwaukee

President's Column

by Dennis Alldridge, President of Special Olympics Wisconsin

Challenging times…

There is no doubt that we are experiencing very difficult and uncertain times with economic challenges mounting and organizations like Special Olympics bracing for difficult times ahead. But it is also a time when the services we provide are in greatest demand.
Click here to read full story

Special Olympics Wisconsin
5900 Monona Drive, Ste. 301
Madison, WI 53716
608.222.1324
www.specialolympicswisconsin.org