Thank you to the approximately 9,350 individuals who Plunged into Wisconsin’s freezing cold bodies of water and raised more than $1.8 million in support of our athletes this winter! Our first Polar Plunge was held 15 years ago in the La Crosse area with 315 Plungers raising just $30,000. Since then, approximately 89,000 Plungers have been Freezin’ for a Reason at one of 134 Plunges and have raised around $16 million.
Law Enforcement Torch Run
What is the Law Enforcement Torch Run?
For those of you who have never been involved, you don't know what you're missing! The LETR is a global movement and was founded in 1981. In Wisconsin, events are held year-round and include our Final Leg Run, which kicks off the State Summer Games each June, our twelve statewide Polar Plunge® winter fundraisers, Tip-A-Cop® events; motorcycle rides, raffles, other miscellaneous events, the World's Largest Truck Convoy® for Special Olympics Wisconsin and Over The Edge events.
The Torch Run is held in all 50 United States, 12 Canadian provinces and territories, and 40 nations, and involves more than 85,000 law enforcement participants from all over the world. In 2011, this international program raised more than $42 million to support Special Olympics.
In 1986, compassion, joy and hope ignited a movement among law enforcement to spread awareness of individuals with intellectual disabilities. That eternal flame burns with even more vigor today as Special Olympics Wisconsin celebrates the 27th annual Law Enforcement Torch Run. In 2012, the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Torch Run® raised over $2.4 million with 1,000 registered participants representing 170 law enforcement agencies.
Mission
The mission of the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Wisconsin is to raise funds for and awareness of the Special Olympics movement. Special Olympics is a program which daily reaffirms our belief that with hope and dedication we can see achievement and self-worth realized by any individual. It is our belief that persons with intellectual disabilities, by their involvement in Special Olympics, show the community at large there are no limits to human potential or the human spirit.
Law Enforcment Torch Run Memorial Tribute
World's Largest Truck Convoy
Join us for the World’s Largest Truck Convoy® on Saturday, September 21, 2013
The World’s Largest Truck Convoy® is a national one-day
celebration of the trucking industry, its allied partners and
law enforcement all working together to help raise money
for Special Olympics. In Wisconsin, the Convoy will be escorted by law enforcement to the EAA Grounds for a celebration recognizing truckers and the support of the trucking industry. It is our way of saying thank you for your commitment to Special Olympics athletes and for keeping America moving!
What type of trucks can participate?
Trucks welcome in the Convoy include semi-trucks,
truck/trailer combinations, fire trucks, dump trucks,
flat beds, buses, large tow trucks, large box trucks, etc.
All trucks must be 10,000 lb GVW or larger.
Hazardous materials (bobtail OK) or trucks with
alcohol/tobacco names or logos are not permitted.
Over the Edge
Here’s a chance to rappel down or send someone you know rappelling down a tall building. All for a great cause - Special Olympics Wisconsin - a wonderful organization that touches so many lives throughout our state.
Choose an event below
Over the Edge Milwaukee
Location: The City Center at 735, 735 N. Water Milwaukee, WI
Friday, September 13, 2013
Capers provide planned community events that raise funds for Special Olympics Wisconsin-Greater Milwaukee Region while enhancing the spirit of volunteerism and fellowship.
What is Capers?
Capers is a partnership of companies that meet year-round to plan, implement, and compete in a series of sporting events. Member companies each field teams of 20-100 employees, family members and friends to participate. Special Olympic athletes serve as Honorary Head Coaches and compete along side the corporate participants. Competition among the Capers companies is both fierce and friendly. Top finishers in each event receive medals, and the corporation accumulating the most points at the end of all Capers events receives an impressive traveling trophy at the Capers Day Closing Ceremony which includes a video presentation of the Capers highlights. Capers are unusual because it is planned, organized, and implemented by representatives from each Capers Company who meet monthly as a Steering Committee from September to May. Additional company representatives serve on event sub-committees and helping in the planning and recruitment within their individual companies for each event.
2013 Events
CAPERS BILLIARDS TOURNAMENT Saturday, February 2nd, 2013
Romine’s High Pockets – Milwaukee, WI
CAPERS BOWLING Saturday, April 27th, 2013
AMF West Lanes – Milwaukee, WI
CAPERS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Sunday, April 21st, 2013
MSOE Kern Center – Milwaukee, WI
CAPERS SOCCER TOURNAMENT Friday, April 26th, 2013
Brookfield Indoor Soccer Complex – Brookfield, WI
CAPERS GOLF OPEN - Register Online Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
Geneva National Golf Club – Lake Geneva, WI
***Special Room Rate*** Rate for Inns of Geneva (on property) and Geneva Ridge Resort – $99. $69 for Capers golfers that golf the day before the outing.
http://www.genevanationalresort.com/ Click on Accommodations to view the rooms available.
Rooms should be booked through KariJo at kwysocki@genevaridge.com. Mention Capers at time of booking.
CAPERS DAY Saturday, June 29th, 2013
Eagle Village Park – Eagle, WI
- The largest of the multiple Capers events is the signature event, at which corporate teams compete in a variety of athletic and non-athletic events including Bocce Ball, Croquet, Trivial Pursuit, darts, and Bingo, among others. Companies are encouraged to enter at least five of the offered activities during Capers Day. Points are awarded in each event. A traveling trophy is presented during Closing Ceremony to the company accumulating the most points.
What companies are involved?
AT&T, American Family Insurance, Eaton Corporation, Humana, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, GE Energy, Waukesha Electric, Wells Fargo, and We Energies.
What are the benefits to the participating companies?
Goodwill and company spirit are generated through friendly competition as well as sense of accomplishment in setting and exceeding goals. Each company benefits from the partnership with Special Olympics, rated the nation's #1 most credible charity. It's a tremendous opportunity to enhance corporate image, strengthen camaraderie among employees, promote volunteerism, and celebrate corporate and community values.
Who benefits?
Special Olympics Wisconsin-Greater Milwaukee Region – serving Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Waukesha and Washington Counties - has been the designated beneficiary of funds raised by Capers since 1985. Since 1985 Capers has raised over 1.8 million dollars for Special Olympics. Special Olympics Wisconsin is a statewide organization providing persons with cognitive disabilities year-round sports training and competition. Special Olympics Wisconsin-Greater Milwaukee Area serves over 2,200 athletes. Capers is the largest single source of revenue for the Special Olympics in the Greater Milwaukee Area. Funds are raised through multiple sources - member company's sponsor fees ($700), event auctions, t-shirt sales, event participation fees and pledges, concessions and golf outing fees.
For more information about Capers contact
Amber Flanagan
Regional Director of Development
Special Olympics Wisconsin, Greater Milwaukee Region
262-241-7786 Ext. 14 aflanagan@specialolympicswisconsin.org
2013 Summer Games Results & Photos 2013-06-12 16:16:17 - By: Kristina Rozenbergs Nearly 2,000 SOWI athletes participated in the 2013 State Summer Games last week at UW-Stevens Point. Coaches, volunteers and fans cheered on athletes competing in Athletics (Track & Field), Aquatics, Powerlifting and Soccer. Click here for results. For photos of this year’s State Summer Games, visit Flickr .
Athlete Keeps his Eye on the Ball After Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® Volunteer Discovers Rare Corneal Anomaly 2013-06-12 12:49:46 - By: Christina Harris Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) athlete, Daniel Janulewicz, 22, is like many young men his age. He’s a baseball junkie, a basketball fanatic, a team player, and doesn’t make medical appointments a priority.
“He is stubborn and doesn’t like to go to the doctor or dentist,” said Bonnie Janulewicz, Daniel’s mother. “He only went to the doctor because he had to get a physical to participate in Special Olympics!”
Special Olympics Wisconsin Athletes Go for the Gold at the State Summer Games! 2013-06-03 09:18:00 - By: Christina Harris Nearly 2,000 athletes will compete in aquatics, athletics (track & field), soccer and powerlifting at the 2013 Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) State Summer Games. The event officially kicks off on Thursday, June 6 at the new time of 6:00 p.m. with athletes and officers running in the Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) parade.
SURG Restaurant Group Partners with Special Olympics Wisconsin 2013-06-03 08:15:00 - By: Christina Harris Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI)-Greater Milwaukee Region is pleased to announce that SURG Restaurant Group recently signed on as a Regional Games Partner. Through the partnership, SURG Restaurant Group will support local regional, district, and sectional competitions which bring together hundreds of athletes from across the community to compete in Olympic-type sports.
Family Health Forum Brings Communities Together 2013-05-14 00:00:00 - By: Christina Harris On April 17, Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) families and their community members gathered to broaden their knowledge of health and wellness and learn more about the support SOWI provides to people with intellectual disabilities (ID) at a Family Health Forum in Sparta.
Special Olympics Wisconsin Athletes Victorious at 2013 State Indoor Sports Tournament 2013-05-14 00:00:00 - By: Christina Harris Overcast and rainy skies didn’t stop nearly 1,000 Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) athletes from winning big at the 2013 SOWI State Indoor Sports Tournament (IST) on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Hundreds of coaches, volunteers and fans cheered on SOWI athletes competing in team basketball, basketball skills and gymnastics.
Independent Care Health Plan (iCare) Partners with Special Olympics Wisconsin 2013-05-14 00:00:00 - By: Christina Harris Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) is pleased to announce that Independent Care Health Plan (iCare) recently signed on as a multi-regional partner for the Greater Milwaukee, Northeastern, and Southeastern Regions of the state. As a Regional Games Partner, iCare will align with an organization that shares its goal of empowering individuals in an underserved population and will be a part of all of our local competitions.
Special Olympics Wisconsin Welcomes New Board Members 2013-05-14 00:00:00 - By: Christina Harris Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) is proud to announce that four new individuals recently joined the Board of Directors.
Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) Final Leg and T-Shirt Contest 2013-05-14 00:00:00 - By: Christina Harris Help us recruit Just One More officer, sell Just One More T-shirt, raise Just One More dollar and make Just One More community member aware of how the Law Enforcement Torch Run works to provide year-round sports competition and training opportunities to more than 10,000 Special Olympics athletes in Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers Women’s Basketball Team Shows Support for Athletes at the Special Olympics Wisconsin-Greater Milwaukee Region 8 Basketball Tournament 2013-05-14 00:00:00 - By: Christina Harris On Sunday, March 10, Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) athletes from Greater Milwaukee Region 8 competed in the Regional Basketball Tournament at Homestead High School in Mequon. One lucky athlete was met with enthusiastic cheers from some very special fans – the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers Women’s Basketball Team.
11 Months and 12 Teeth Extractions Later…Checking Up on Special Olympics Wisconsin Athlete Kenny Canon 2013-05-08 00:00:00 - By: Andrew Klossner Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) basketball player Kenny Canon, 34, was smiling ear to ear when he found out his team had no losses that season and had qualified for the SOWI State Indoor Sports Tournament the first weekend in April. Judging from Kenny’s smile, it’s hard to believe that just 11 months ago, this all-star athlete couldn’t focus on the game because he was nearly paralyzed by tooth pain.
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