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SO Brief
SONM's Bi-Weekly Newsletter
December 4, 2013
In This Issue
Athlete Profile
Thoughts From Randy
Posole Ole
Holidays Take Flight
Great Way to Give
LETR News
Finish Line Campaign
Athlete Art
Athlete Profile
Name: Jordan San Miguel 
Team: Special Olympics Academy Chargers
Sports: Volleyball, Poly Hockey, Aquatics, Basketball
Highlights: Jordan was honored as the November 19th French Athlete of the Game at the Lobo Women's Basketball Game! 
Join Us Online
Thoughts From Randy
One Kind Act

The other morning I had a breakfast meeting at Tim's Place.  As I left the restaurant my arms were full of bags and binders.  I literally threw everything on the front seat of my car and headed for the office.  As I was driving I noticed my purse wasn't in the pile, so I went back to see if I had left it at our table.  The moment I heard the waitress say she had not seen it - my heart went into early stage panic mode.  My phone - my checkbook - my credit cards - gone.  Ugh.

 
Last chance to sign up for Posole Ole 5K and Fun Walk! 
 
This year's Posole Ole Fun Walk and 5K will be merrier than ever - don't miss out! The
 Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum will be bustling with holiday cheer this Saturday as runners and walkers take over both the inside and outside of the museum. Check-in for both events begins at 7:30 am and both will begin at 9 am! 

For the Fun Walk participants, there will be a craft table to decorate ornaments, pictures with Santa and Orbit, a raffle with tons of prizes, and of course posole!! Outside, the 5K runners will have their share of fun activities, like a "Red, Green, and Christmas" Costume contest, a Splash and Dash Polar Plunge in freezing  water, and a donut eating contest! There will be plenty of posole for all of the participants! 

The deadline to sign up online for the 5K is tomorrow. Click HERE to complete the registration information! You can also come to the Balloon Museum on the day of the run and sign up then!

For more information about how to get signed up for the Posole Ole Fun Walk, click HERE or call Christine Sandoval at 505-856-0342. 

Balloon Museum's annual Holidays Take Flight event!
 
If you're craving a little more holiday cheer after Posole Ole, attend the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum's annual Holidays Take Flight event on December 8th from 11 am to 3 pm! Join fellow attendees for musical entertainment, including Enchantment Handbells, the caroling group Los Primos, and much more. Throughout the day, you can also visit Santa, decorate holiday cookies, and visit the art table. Don't forget to purchase your delicious and festive holiday drinks and crepes by Toasted Bean! All activities are included in paid museum admission. For more information, see the flyer below! 
 
A great way to give! (For those over 70 years old)
 
The IRA charitable rollover is available for 2013! Direct gifts to Special Olympics New Mexico from your IRA can:

a. Be an easy and convenient way to make a gift 
b. Be excluded from your gross income: a tax-free rollover 
c. Count toward your minimum distribution

For the gift to qualify for benefits:

1. You must be 70 1/2 or older at the time of your gift 
2. Transfer must go directly from your IRA to Special Olympics New Mexico 
3. Your total IRA gift(s) cannot exceed $100,000 
4. Your gift must be outright 
5. Must be made by December 31, 2013 
 
Your gift will mean more than our words can say.  
 
Law Enforcement Torch Run News!

Two LETR Regions combine to carry on honor and tradition at the 2013 SONM Holiday Classic

 

There's power in numbers.

 

That rang true last month when over a dozen LETR officers from Otero County Sheriff's Department, Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department, and Las Cruces Police Department brought the mission of Torch Run to the 2013 Special Olympics New Mexico Holiday Classic in Las Cruces on Nov. 15-16.

 

On Friday, Nov. 15th the DACSD Honor Guard presented colors at the Holiday Classic Opening Ceremonies to a crowded ballroom at the Las Cruces Convention Center. The ceremonies concluded with the lighting of the Flame of Hope torch by LETR State Director Michelle Ugalde, who was joined by SONM athlete/LETR Ambassador Van Pexa (ABQ) and SONM athlete Mike Garcia (Cibola County).

 

The next day, officers from all three agencies were staged at both the basketball and the bowling venues-awarding medals all day to SONM athletes and posing for pictures with teams and family members.  As another successful SONM State Competition came to an end, SONM Executive Director Randy Mascorella made a lasting announcement at Closing Ceremonies:

 

"While today we cap the torch to close these Games, the Flame of Hope burns ever brighter in the hearts of our LETR officers as they commit year-round to raise awareness and funds for our Special Olympics athletes and families."

 

Special thanks to our SOUTH AND SW Region LETR agencies/officers for their presence at the Holiday Classic. Click HERE to view photos of our SONM athletes and LETR officers from the 2013 SONM Holiday Classic.

  

 

The Mighty Mighty Torch Run - Blog 

Holiday Classic 2013: Many thanks to our LETR Officers & Community Partners

 

This time of the year brings special meaning to what we are thankful for.  I want to take a minute to thank each and every Holiday Classic Michelle U.officer for every minute you give to help Special Olympics New Mexico through our Law Enforcement Torch Run program.  I'm very blessed to be part of this great team of law enforcement officers.    

 

MORE>>>

Finish Line Holiday Campaign!           
     
The Finish Line Holiday Campaign is in full swing as enter the month of December. As a part of the Finish Line Youth Foundation partnership with Special Olympics, Finish Line customers will be asked to make donations while checking-out, and the first $1 million raised will be donated to Special Olympics, Inc.! 
 
This year, you have an even more incredible opportunity to double the impact of your support. Now through Dec. 31st, your donation will be matched by Finish Line, up to a campaign total of $250,000. Shoppers only have until December 31st to meet this goal. Make your year-end donation to Special Olympics New Mexico and help us get one more person onto the playing field!

Be sure to visit one of your neighborhood Finish Line stores or click HERE to make a donation that Finish Line will match dollar-for-dollar!

Call for athlete art!
 
Art by Sarah Wilson

As we near the end of the year, it is time to create recognition plaques for our 2014 community partners. We need art from our athletes! If you are an athlete who likes to draw or paint, or if you know an artistic athlete, send us your artwork. We will choose one or two of these pieces to adorn our sponsor recognition plaques! These plaques are a great way to show our community partners how talented SONM athletes are off the playing field. 

Please submit your artwork by January 10th to Erin Gallegos at eringallegos@sonm.org or call 505-856-0342 for more information! 
Upcoming 2013 Events

EVENT                                DATE                                  LOCATION
Posole Ole                                         Dec 7                                                Albuquerque Balloon Museum  
SONM Board of Directors
 
Executive Committee : CHAIRMAN, Tom Padilla; VICE CHAIRMAN, Jack Eichorn; VICE CHAIRMAN, Bob Scanlon; SECRETARY, Suzanne Frazier; and TREASURER, Steve Pino

Board Members: Shaylene Stephens, Nestor Romero, Suzanne Fields, Ryan Garcia, David Harnick, Jim Reist, Sharen Hart,  Brad Hutchins, Walt Bolic, Darren Wilkins, Trish Stuart, Craig Amundson, and Karen Hudson
Contact Us
Special Olympics New Mexico
6600 Palomas Pl. NE Ste. 207
ABQ, NM 87109
 
Email: sonm@sonm.org