2017 Polar Plunge Season is Underway!
The 2017 Polar Plunge season is underway for our 22 locations across the state! The athletes and families of Special Olympics Illinois encourage you to gather your family, friends, classmates and co-workers to join us for the official event of winter!
 We've also added some new additions to the 2017 Plunge season. Plungers will now have the opportunity to brave the icy waters in Mendota or participate in the inaugural 5K Donut Dash in Carlyle.
Can't wait to plunge? Individuals who register and raise $100 online by midnight Sunday, Nov. 20, are eligible to win one of three $100 Visa gift cards.
Also new this year is the chance to be the first team to take an icy dip at your local Polar Plunge. Special Olympics Illinois will be raffling off this exciting opportunity for our Early Bird Plungers! Entry is easy - simply meet the following criteria by midnight Dec. 11 and be entered to win. Groups must register a team of 5 or more online and raise a combined $500 by midnight, Dec. 11. Individuals not on a team can enter by register and raise the minimum $100 by midnight, Dec. 11, and plunge alongside our VIP Plungers the day of the Plunge.
Special Olympics athlete Jacob Cross of Bloomington has raised nearly $250 so far by collecting and recycling aluminum cans. Read his story here.
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From the President & CEO
As we near the end of the year, I want take this opportunity to thank everyone for all
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Dave Breen |
your
efforts in 2016 and share some of the many positives that have happened within Special
Olympics Illinois. We will end this year with our 18th
consecutive year of growth in athletes served and saw record revenue from both the Illinois Lottery Ticket and Inspire Greatness Gala, while conducting more than 300 events. Special Olympics athletes continue to lead the way in giving speeches to record audiences and foster athlete leadership through their work on the Board of Directors.
Key volunteers like the Special Olympics Illinois Board of Directors and Foundation Board are providing thought leadership and resources necessary to sustain our growth as we navigate an ever-changing world.
Read More
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New Venue, Date for Skating Championships
year's event will now be held on a Saturday, Feb. 18, and Sunday, Feb. 19, instead of
mid-week. Skaters will also compete in a new venue - Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge will now host the championships.
The Skating Championships is one of 9 state sports competitions. It is the culminating competition for those participating in figure skating and speed skating.
Volunteer recruitment is now underway. Special Olympics Illinois is looking for volunteers to serve as judges, on ice athlete escorts, timers, recorders, result runners, awards distribution and fans in the stand. To register as a volunteer on Feb. 18, please
click here; to register for a shift on Feb. 19, please
click here.
If you would like to volunteer as a judge, or have any questions, please contact
Brianna Beers at 847-845-6481.
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November 29 is #Giving Tuesday
 There's a day for meals, a day for deals and a day for feels!
On Tuesday, November 29, we're counting on you to get involved in #GivingTuesday so more athletes can get involved in Special Olympics.
#GivingTuesday is a day for you to volunteer your time, make a donation or use your voice to help connect new fans and athletes with Special Olympics. We don't view #GivingTuesday as just a day of asking and receiving. Rather, it's a day where we celebrate what all of us, working together, are able to give to our athletes.
Follow us - your charity of choice - on
Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram throughout the day to hear from our athletes how your support is transforming their lives. And don't forget to share those posts, and your own endorsements, with friends and family.
Of course, you don't have to wait until #GivingTuesday to support Special Olympics Illinois. Click
here to make an online donation right now or download a mail-in donation form, or
here to volunteer for upcoming events.
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Raffle Winner Finally Gets His Harley
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Mike Cochran reacts after winning the 2017 Harley-Davidson Raffle
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Mike Cochran of Oak Brook had grown up always wanting to get a Harley-Davidson motorcycle but never doing so because of an agreement he had with his parents.
"We have a family business and the rule is if I ever wanted to work here, I couldn't get a motorcycle," Cochran said. He is Director of Finance for Stoelting Co. of Wood Dale which manufactures instruments and assessments for basic scientific research and practice, including lie detectors and polygraph training and developmental disabilities testing.
Cochran found a loop-hole in the family agreement when he bought 10 tickets for the Kane County Chiefs of Police Harley-Davidson Raffle to benefit the Law Enforcement Torch Run and Special Olympics Illinois. "I said 'You never said anything about winning a Harley' and they agreed thinking what are the chances of me winning?"
Pretty good, it turns out.
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Unified Sports Expanded for High School Students
Special Olympics Illinois is teaming up with the Illinois High School Association to expand Unified sport opportunities for high school students. The expansion is the result of a renewed effort to work more closely with the IHSA.
 Two years ago, the IHSA ran a pilot Unified State Bass Fishing Tournament. Last year, the IHSA expanded the tournament. This year's tournament featured 8 Unified boats consisting of Special Olympics athletes and their Unified partners.
Read more about bass fishing.
Now, the IHSA and SOILL are moving forward with Unified basketball. Unified basketball will be offered as single-elimination tournaments for qualification to the IHSA State Finals. All Unified basketball tournaments in Illinois are following the competitive model, meaning Special Olympics partners and their Unified Partners equally contribute to the team.
Read more about Unified basketball.
"SOILL and IHSA have a strong partnership based on a common interest in competitive sports," said Marty Hickman, SOILL Chief Operating Officer.
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SOILL Teams With IHSA, IBCA to Attract Officials
This basketball season, Special Olympics Illinois will be using a full-court press to attract volunteers for its Area, district and state events.
With support from both the Illinois High School Association and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, Special Olympics Illinois is directly reaching out to IHSA member officials with the goal of raising awareness and increasing volunteerism across the state in all Special Olympics Illinois activities.
"The IHSA stands in full support of Special Olympics Illinois and strongly encourages IHSA licensed officials to do the same," said Craig Anderson, executive director. "Much like the programs offered to our IHSA member schools, the programs sponsored by Special Olympics Illinois generate life-changing experiences for the participants and those who support those activities. I am confident that these volunteer efforts in support of Special Olympics Illinois will be with great reward."
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9th Annual Gala Reaches $1 Million Milestone
Special Olympics Illinois held the 9th Annual Inspire Greatness Gala at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park on Oct. 22. This event was chaired by Kristi Savacool, CEO, Aon Hewitt, and the evening included dinner, a high-end live/silent auction and dancing to the sounds of the City Lights Orchestra.
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John Henley speaks to the crowd at the Inspire Greatness Gala
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Special Olympics Illinois Board Member and CBS 2 Chicago evening news anchor Rob Johnson emceed the event with special co-host Bree Bogucki, a Special Olympics Illinois athlete and Global Messenger. More than 500 guests were in attendance.
Mike Withers, President, Jewel-Osco, was honored as the recipient of the Inspire Greatness Award for his dedication to supporting Special Olympics Illinois.
For the first time in the Gala's history, funds raised exceeded $1 million. Special Olympics Illinois thanks everyone who made this milestone possible.
Since its inception, this event has raised more than $6 million.
Guests had the opportunity to hear from John Henley, the featured Special Olympics Illinois athlete of the evening. They were introduced to John through a short video entitled "You're Always a Champion." Following his video, the self-proclaimed "Famous John Henley" from Marion gave a speech that brought the room to its feet in a standing ovation.
To view his video online, please click here.
If you are interested in learning more about Gala or you are interested in joining the planning committee, please contact Shelley Chenoweth
. View photos from the evening.
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Growing the Emerging Sport of Flag Football
Hundreds of athletes across the state are experiencing the joy of competition as they embark on a new journey with an emerging sport. Special Olympics flag football has
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Athletes try their hand at flag football during a training school held at Fall Games
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become widespread throughout the state of Illinois.
In 2015, Special Olympics hosted two Flag Football Tournaments, including the first-ever Special Olympics Illinois Flag Football Tournament held in northern Illinois at Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire.
This year, Special Olympics Illinois doubled that, hosting four flag football tournaments throughout the state, and in its second year, the northern Illinois tournament saw more than 150 athletes and coaches compete from 11 different teams. Read More
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What's Happening in Your Area?
Find out what's happening around you by reading news from the following Areas in the November News:
- Area 1
- Area 2
- Area 3
- Area 5
- Area 6
- Area 9
- Area 13
- Area 18
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What's Coming Next?
We hope you'll find an event of interest to attend, cheer, volunteer or sponsor:
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Thanks to Our State Partners!
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