March 2016

Still Time to Take the Plunge! 3 More This Weekend


	Athlete Dustin Dickens takes the Plunge at Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club

Don't miss your chance to take part in the coolest event of the year - the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge presented by GEICO! You can still register for the Lincoln and Joliet Polar Plunges on Saturday, March 19, and the Rock Island Polar Plunge taking place on Sunday, March 20.

Too chicken to Plunge? Support this statewide event and the thousands of warm-hearted individuals who #PlungeFor the athletes by clicking here.

View photos and results from this year's Plunges.

11 Illinois Athletes Nominated to World Games

Special Olympics Illinois is proud to announce that 11 athletes have been nominated as athletes and alternates to Special Olympics USA. The national team will represent the null

United States at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games being held March 14-25, 2017, in Austria.

The following athletes have been nominated to represent Illinois at the 2017 World Winter Games: cross-country skiing - Lisa Menichino of Bartlett and Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association, alternate Julie Hilger of Oswego and Kendall County Comets; speed skating - Thomas Shimoda II of Chicago and Mt. Greenwood Park, alternate Seth Schultz of Princeton and Gators Sports; snowshoeing - Danielle Lanxon of Belleville and PTOEC, Jamiah Shepard of South Holland and Thornwood High School, James Wireman of Washington and Tri-County Independents, alternate Colleen Costello of Millstadt and PTOEC, alternate Robert Wade of Chicago and Gage Park; and alpine skiing - Steve McVoy of Arlington Heights and Northwest Special Recreation Association, alternate Miguel Morales of Chicago and Kosciuszko Park.

The nominated Illinois athletes and alternates will attend a Special Olympics USA training camp in Killington, Vt., in December 2016 or January 2017 during which they will be evaluated for final acceptance for the national team. Read More

Schools Around State Celebrate R-Word Day

On March 2, people all across the nation celebrated Spread the Word to End the Word


	Students at Limestone High School take the pledge to remove the R-Word from their vocabulary.

Day - an ongoing effort by Special Olympics and their supporters to inspire respect and acceptance through raising the consciousness of society about the R-word and how hurtful words and disrespect can be toward people with intellectual disabilities.

Athletes, corporate sponsors, sports stars, families and more shared photos and videos on social media in support of this campaign.

Dozens of Illinois Project UNIFY schools participated on March 2 including Neuqua Valley High School and Pontiac Township High School, while others like Edwardsville schools are planning events in April. Read More

Illinois Sends Delegation to Capitol Hill Day

Special Olympics athletes, leaders, and family members from 39 states including Illinois converged on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 10 for Special Olympics'


	(L-R) Kevin Corrigan, Penny Sylvester, Courtney Illum, Kacie Lalumendier, Linda Wunder and Jim Corrigan

14th annual Capitol Hill Day. Special Olympics athletes from across the nation held face-to-face meetings with their Congressional representatives to advocate for continued federal support for critical health and education services provided by Special Olympics.

Special Olympics self-advocates educated lawmakers and their staff about the significant consequences that arise from the stigma and stereotypes that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face and how that impacts their lives in the areas of sports, health care, education and employment.

The Illinois delegation to Capitol Hill Day included an athlete, Unified Partner, teacher/coach, volunteer, board member and staff member. Read a first-person account of the day from Kevin Corrigan, a Special Olympics Illinois volunteer and high school student.

Nominations Sought for SOILL Outstanding Awards


	Megan Clodi was Outstanding Coach of the Year in 2015

Do you know of a Special Olympics Illinois athlete, coach, volunteer, family, organization or media outlet that goes above and beyond? How about someone who has been involved in Special Olympics for more than 25 years? Then show them you recognize their extra efforts by nominating them for an Outstanding Award!

Winners will be recognized at a reception before the Opening Ceremony at Summer Games on June 10. The due date for nominations this year is April 15. Please submit any nominations by this date for any outstanding individuals that you know of for the categories of: athlete, coach, family, media, organization, volunteer or lifetime service. Anyone can submit a nomination!

The nomination form can be submitted online and you can also find a list of criteria for each category online.

Certified Coaches a Vital Piece of Quality Experience

The Coaches Education System was developed by Special Olympics Inc. to improve the training experience for Special Olympics coaches. Through coaching education and

certification, coaches are able to enhance their skills while helping athletes reach their sport potential.

The system was designed with options for individuals with and without sport experience. Depending on the coaching background, a training program is available to fit an individual's coaching needs. A variety of basic education courses are available in Illinois. More information on coaches training.

Completion of coach certification for each sport is highly recommended but not yet required. However, the Coaches Education System is also a means of tracking certification and rewarding those who continue their sport education. Coaches interested in serving as a USA Games or World Games coach for Team Illinois or Special Olympics USA must be certified in the sport they are applying for.

Support Special Olympics Illinois at Tax Time

This tax season, do something special by making a donation when you complete your Illinois Income Tax. Your contribution helps a current or future Special Olympics Illinois athlete participate in a variety of Olympic-style sports at no cost to them or their families.

Donating to Special Olympics Illinois by making a designation on your state income tax form, Schedule G can help us bring the power of sport to one more individual with an intellectual disability. Read More

Excitement at State Basketball Tournament

A record number of athletes - nearly 1,700 - competed on the courts at the 2016 State Basketball Tournament March 11-13 in Bloomington-Normal.

The weekend saw amazing feats of sportsmanship including a buzzer-beating win by the Tri-County Independents, a busload of fans traveling from Downers Grove to watch the District 99 Hoops 2 team, a Young Athlete following in his older brother's footsteps and the gold-medal Effingham County Lightning team returning home to a parade.

View photos from the State Basketball Tournament.