In June 1962, Eunice Shriver hosted a summer camp in her backyard in Maryland for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Following this idea, in 1968, the first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held in Chicago at Soldier Field. 6 Kansas athletes were represented at the games! Special Olympics Kansas (SOK) hosted their first event in Parsons in 1970 and have only grown since then!
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The beauty of Special Olympics
“We provide over 20 different sports and opportunities for our athletes to increase availability and accessibility,” said SOK Senior Director of Development Erin Fletcher. “We also provide learning and leadership opportunities for area students to promote inclusion.”
Fletcher has been with Special Olympics professionally for 8 years but has been a supporter since her daughter was young and wanted to help raise money for the group. Fletcher recalled one of her first events on staff, seeing a group of young Saint Mary’s Colgan students cheering for an athlete they didn’t even know from a different school. “It showed me not just the impact it had for that athlete, but on everyone in the room! That’s the beauty of Special Olympics, everyone feels special!”
Grants’ lifelong impact
When asked about the impact grants have on Special Olympics Kansas, Fletcher talked about the addition of new programs. “When I got here, we had no unified teams where an athlete with IDD is paired with a local student to form a team and compete together. Now, we have over 50 unified teams across several school districts!” Grants help SOK purchase shirts for volunteers, meals, and help support the games themselves. “Grants give us the ability to promote new programs and opportunities for our athletes and communities!”
Get Busy Livin’ grants focus on youth volunteerism, which Fletcher says is a vital part of SOK programming. “Our youth volunteers are amazing! We have at least 100 at every event, often more! Volunteering allows these young people to see the impact of volunteering and, hopefully see the world in a different way. “It’s impactful now, and it’s impactful for their whole lives,” she said.
Special Olympics Kansas Southeast Region also hosted the world’s first Senior Unified Games, which paired athletes with seniors from area residential facilities to compete in games, an idea that is spreading quickly around the country! “We are always trying to find new programs for our athletes! It’s about breaking down barriers,” Fletcher said. “There’s always something going on at Special Olympics Kansas! We aren’t just a track meet.”
Learn more
You can learn more about Special Olympics Kansas on their website at SOKS.org and follow their Facebook page, “Special Olympics Kansas Southeast Region” for content that will bring a smile on your face and a tear to your eye!
Applications for the Get Busy Livin’ grant cycle are available until March 31st at SoutheastKansas.org/Grant-App. You can learn more about the GBL grants at SoutheastKansas.org/GBL.
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas awarded over $2 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2024 and has facilitated over $25 million in total granting to Southeast Kansas since its founding in 2001. CFSEK serves the region by encouraging charitable giving to address present and future needs in our area. The Columbus, Fort Scott, and Girard Area Community Foundations are affiliates of CFSEK.