Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) is pleased to announce Matthew Harper has joined the staff as the Regional Director of Development for Northeastern Region 5 which includes Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Shawano and Sheboygan counties. Harper’s responsibilities include: developing fundraising opportunities, recruiting and managing volunteer committees, writing grants, preparing budgets, participating in public relations efforts and serving on the Polar Plunge and Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) committees.
Harper started volunteering with SOWI 10 years ago. When he was a police officer at the Hortonville Police Department in 2003, he joined the Law Enforcement Torch Run, a volunteer movement with the mission of increasing awareness and raising funds for SOWI through various fundraisers such as the Polar Plunge, Lock-Up-A-Cop, and the World’s Largest Truck Convoy®. Over the past decade, he has developed a passion for SOWI’s mission and even created an event, Bowl for Champions, to raise more than $65,000 for the organization.
“Over the past decade, I don’t think about what I have done for Special Olympics, but what Special Olympics and the wonderful athletes have done for me,” said Harper.
Harper has worked in many Law Enforcement positions since 2002 including Patrol Officer, Police School Liaison Officer and Lieutenant. Harper received an Associates Degree of Police Science from the Fox Valley Technical College in 2000.
