Statements
Mission
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Special Olympics transforms lives through the joy of sport, every day, everywhere. We are the world's largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities: with 4.4 million athletes in 170 countries -- and millions more volunteers and supporters. We are also a global social movement.
For the past 50 years, Special Olympics has been spreading the message: people with intellectual disabilities can - and will - succeed when given the chance.
With training and competitions in 17 Olympic-style sports, SOTN athletes push hard and play harder. They strive to beat their personal bests, defying the odds again and again. From the local fields and courts to the shining stage of World Games, from swimming to snowboarding, our athletes showcase the talents, abilities, and triumphs of people with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics Tennessee is a registered 501(c)(3), non-profit organization supported by private donations from individuals, corporations and organizations throughout the state. Special Olympics is "the most credible charity in America" according to a survey in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
Background
Special Olympics was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver when the first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held at Soldier Field in Chicago. Since that time, Special Olympics has grown to include over 2 million athletes in more than 170 countries world-wide.
Special Olympics Tennessee participated in the first games in 1968 with a small delegation of athletes and coaches from Clover Bottom Developmental Center in Nashville and Orange Grove Center in Chattanooga. Today, Special Olympics Tennessee offers training and competition in 17 different sports throughout the year. The program includes 36 area programs managed by volunteer leadership teams that encompass all the counties in the state. Combined, these area programs reach more than 17,000 registered athletes each year. In local communities, athletes are recruited, trained, and provided local competition opportunities. Eight state-level games and tournaments, which include all 17 of the sports, are held annually.
In addition to 'traditional' Special Olympics sports, 'Unified Sports' divisions are offered in 8 sports whereby athletes with and without disabilities play as teammates. This inclusive program fosters understanding, acceptance, and friendship as the players practice, travel, and compete together.
Today, Special Olympics conducts Healthy Athletes activities including screening programs in vision (athletes are given glasses if needed), dental and hearing screenings (all programs are donated by professional organizations), and fitness and nutritional education. Athlete Leadership programs conducted by Special Olympics empower athletes by offering opportunities to become coaches themselves through certified coaches training schools, public speakers training, and serving on local management teams as well as the state's Board of Directors.
A Special Olympics youth movement in public and private schools bring together students with and without disabilities to advocate for greater community inclusion of all persons with disabilities. The Young Athletes program is offered to families with children ages 2 to 8 years who have intellectual disabilities.
Impact
Special Olympics addresses inactivity, injustice, intolerance, and social isolation by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities to be productive citizens in their communities which leads to a more welcoming and inclusive society.
For every organization there is a body of practice that becomes foundational for impact. In Special Olympics, that has always been built around programs in sports, training, competition, leadership development, and inclusion at the community-based level, led by volunteers from all walks of life. Special Olympics is focused on long-term impact; wherein each subsequent generation of athletes will have greater opportunities to advance in developing healthy sports and recreational habits, develop person skills and self-confidence, and affect change in their communities. Understanding, acceptance, and respect are promoted, which results in greater opportunities for inclusion in education, housing, work, play, and social interaction.
Needs
1. Develop new and long-term partnerships with corporate and organizational contributors to sustain needed annual financial growth of 6% in the coming three years - an increase of a 225,000 new dollars.
2. Partnerships with public and private educational institutions who have athletic facilities capable of hosting Special Olympics local and regional competitions.
3. Partnerships with corporations willing to fund activities as well as provide volunteers to lead and conduct those activities with staff guidance/training.
4. Expand our successful Young Professionals Board, founded in 2012, to involve a total of 50 participants.
5. Developing additional financial assistance to fund our new Unified Champion Schools program statewide in public schools.
CEO Statement
While Special Olympics has always kept true to its original mission to provide positive and life-changing experiences through sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, it has become much, much more in shaping a more welcoming and accepting society. Today, Special Olympics addresses inactivity, injustice, intolerance and social isolation by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities to be productive citizens in their communities which leads to a more welcoming and inclusive society. In 2017 Special Olympics joined TSSAA in a formal relationship establishing a Unified Track and Field Championship in conjunction with other high school state championships. This is now an official part of TSSAA for years to come and we are excited to expand to other sport championships. In 2018 Special Olympics launched a new Unified Champion Schools program for high, middle and elementary public schools statewide to promote inclusion and unified participation and friendship. Special Olympics has also expanded it's efforts into health care issues that affect people with disabilities and now provides many of it's athletes with medical and special exams they otherwise would not receive. Take a closer look at Special Olympics and see how it is changing the world! Adam Germek President & CEO
Board Chair Statement
As Chairman of the Board of Directors, I welcome your support of a program that is as important today as when founded in 1968. Generation after generation, Special Olympics has proven to change the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing fitness, skills, and a great sense of self-confidence. We hope you will find this grass-roots organization, its 17,000+ athletes and 4,000 annual volunteers worthy of your support. Hailey Wielgus, SOTN Board of Directors Chair
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Human Services - Developmentally Disabled Services/Centers |
| Secondary Category: | Recreation & Sports - Special Olympics |
| Tertiary Category: | Health Care - Health Support |
Areas Served
All counties within Tennessee are served by one of the 36 established area programs.
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