ANNUAL
REPORT
2014
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 friendships with their families,
other Special Olympics athletes and the
community.
Table of Contents:
3 - To Our SOLA Family
4 - On the Playing Field
6 - In the Community
8 - Fun for a Good Cause
10 - Guardians of the Flame
12 - Sponsors
13 - Highlights
14 - 2014 Stand Outs
16 - Financial Position
18 - 2014 Key Leaders
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If you would like to receive copies of the
2014 Special Olympics Louisiana Annual
Report or the annual audit, please call 1-800-345-6644. You may also request current lists of
Area Team Leaders, Board of Directors, and
Staff.
Created by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation
Authorized and Accredited by Special Olympics, Inc., for the
Benefit of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
- Special Olympics Athlete Oath
Dear Special Olympics Friends: 2014 was one of the most exciting and rewarding years for our athletes in Special Olympics Louisiana history! Lake Charles athlete, Jacob Majors, participated in the Special Olympics NBA All Star game during NBA All Star Weekend in New Orleans, LA through the NBA Cares program. In February, SOLA launched a redesigned and user friendly website. State Indoor Games in Baton Rouge played host to 532 athletes and 203 coaches. The State Summer Games were held at Southeastern Louisiana University with 592 athletes and 194 coaches. SOLA sent a total of 108 people (56 athletes, 21 coaches, 23 unified partners and 8 additional staff) to the 2014 USA Games in New Jersey. Our athletes brought home 47 gold medals, 36 silver medals, 34 bronze medals, 43 fourth place ribbons, 10 fifth place ribbons, 6 sixth place ribbons, 3 seventh place ribbons and 3 eighth place ribbons for a grand total of 182 awards. Officer James Virgil represented LA in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg. SOLA’s Flag Football team won gold at USA Games and was featured on NBC’s Today Show. Athlete, Theodore Bazile, was also featured in Celebrating Champions, a television special that followed him throughout the USA Games. SOLA hosted the International Law Enforcement Torch Run Conference in New Orleans September 9-12. SOI partnered with WWE and SOLA athletes and staff attended WrestleMania in April. SOLA hosted the LSU vs. BAMA Unified Flag Football game in Baton Rouge on November 8 and were victorious. The event gained national attention when aired on the television show, “SEC Nation.” There were 1,213 Healthy Athletes examinations this year, more than 90 sports competitions were offered, and six Camp Shriver were held throughout the state. Quite an accomplishment for one year. Thank you to those of you who helped us achieve our goals! Sincerest Thanks, Pat Carpenter Bourgeois President and CEO of Special Olympics Louisiana
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Special Olympics Louisiana offers numerous Olympic-type individual and team sports that provide meaningful training and competition opportunities for persons with and without intellectual disabilities. In 2014, 103 competitive events were held. We added 388 new athletes to the program and now serve 14,235 people with intellectual disabilities across the state. In 2014, we held 43 training schools for over 200 coaches.
Aquatics Athletics Basketball
Bocce Bowling Cycling
Equestrian Flag Football Golf
Horseshoes Powerlifting Softball
Tennis Volleyball Soccer
Special Olympics Unified Sports® is
an initiative that combines Special Olympics athletes and
athletes without intellectual disabilities (called Unified
Partners) on sports teams for training and competition. Unified Sports athletes
improve their physical fitness, sharpen their skills, challenge the competition and
have fun, too. In 2014, we increased the number of unified events and added 3 new
unified teams.
Camp Shriver brings together people with and without intellectual disabilities for
training and competition each summer. The primary goals are to provide another
level of challenge and promote inclusion. In 2014, 6 Camp Shrivers were hosted in
different cities throughout Louisiana.
Volunteers play a vital role in our movement and we are proud to announce that we have approximately 15,000 volunteers across Louisiana. In 2014, We recruited 5,099 new general volunteers. This number includes 2,335 youth volunteers and 1,110 college aged volunteers.
“It’s more than just a
medal. It represents
friendship, sportsmanship,
and happiness.”
- Robert Eagle, SOLA
athlete
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Off the playing field and in the community, Special Olympics Louisiana offers programs to promote health, education, inclusion, and leadership.
Healthy Athletes currently offers health screenings in six areas: Fit Feet (podiatry), FUNfitness (physical therapy), Health Promotion (better health and well-being), Healthy Hearing (audiology), Opening Eyes (vision) and Special Smiles (dentistry). The screenings educate athletes on healthy lifestyle choices and identify problems that may need additional follow-up while educating health care professionals as well. In 2014, 1,213 athletes were examined through Healthy Athletes.
Project UNIFY is a movement to initiate inclusion in all schools with the purpose to promote school communities that exercise all young people as agents of change - fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities. Project UNIFY incorporates several programs. This year 133 schools in Louisiana were engaged in the program as well as 6 colleges. For the second year, we also partnered with ESPN and hosted a unified flag football game between SO Colleges LSU and Alabama.
Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Program empowers athletes to explore opportunities for greater participation in our movement beyond sports training and competition: as coaches, officials, spokespeople, and Board and committee members. Athlete leaders are an integral part of the Special Olympics Movement and help Special Olympics leaders stay in touch with athletes’ interests. In 2014, 8 leaders served on the Youth Activation Committee.
Young Athletes is an innovative sports play program for children with intellectual disabilities, designed to introduce them to the world of sports. It strengthens physical development and self-esteem for children ages 2 through 7 by building skills for future sports participation and socialization. The skills learned will increase the participant’s motor tracking and eye-hand coordination. In 2014, 645 young athletes participated.
Family Support Network helps families help each other. With the assistance of similar agencies, families have a support system within Special Olympics. Families have the opportunity to mentor, learn, and provide resources and emotional support to one another.
““I’m glad my daughter was
able to get her teeth checked out
before more oral problems
started. The examination at LSU
dental school through Healthy
Athletes was worth it.”
-Cynthia Bernucho (Parent &
Coach)
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Special Olympics Louisiana works hard each year to provide unique programs. To sustain the programs and keep them growing, FUNdraising plays a vital role. Fundraisers allow people in the community to support our mission in a fun and interactive way, as well as, share the message of Special Olympics. In 2014, numerous fundraisers were held across the state. The 6th Annual Polar Plunge was held with great success. The plunge took place in three locations, Gonzales, Lake Charles and Shreveport. Overall more than 247 people took part in “Freezin’ for a Reason” raising more than $56,038 for Special Olympics Louisiana. This year was the second time Polar Plunge was held in Lake Charles. The 5K Foam Fest was held for the second time in Denham Springs at Tiki Tubing. Special Olympics Louisiana was honored to be the charity of choice for the “Foam is the New Mud” event in which more than $800 was raised. SOL Bowl was held for the 12th year. More than 13 businesses took part in this event and raised over $19,000 for Special Olympics Louisiana athletes.
“I will rappel from the tower to
help show my support for these
awesome athletes that I am
blessed to coach and work with.
Being able to be a small part of
this wonderful project is
humbling and a great honor.”
- UNO Men’s Basketball Coach,
Mark Slessinger
The 9th Annual Rotary Club of Lafayette South Golf Tournament was held in May of 2014. Numerous people participated in the 4 person scramble and over $17,000 was raised. Special Olympics Louisiana was chosen to host the 2014 International Law Enforcement Torch Run Conference in New Orleans. Over 1,500 LETR Officers from around the world attended to reignite their passion, learn more about the movement, and share progressive ideas in order to grow their local programs. The event raised over $75,000. In the fall, New Orleans Over the Edge: S.W.A.T. Edition was held once again. There were 46 participants who rappelled down the side of Benson Tower, flew in a helicopter and became Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team members for the day. This year’s Over the Edge brought in more than $59,000! For more information on these fundraisers, or to see when they will happen in 2015, visit our website at www.laso.org.
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The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics Louisiana, or LETR, unites officers from law enforcement agencies and corrections departments across the state in an effort to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics Louisiana. Torch Run efforts to raise funds include collecting corporate sponsorships, selling T-shirts, running, and hosting unique fundraising events.
Each summer, law enforcement officials carry the Flame of Hope across the state culminating with the Torch Run Final Leg, and the lighting of the cauldron to officially open the Special Olympics Louisiana Summer Games in Hammond. The members of the LETR are aptly named “Guardians of the Flame”. The Torch Run involves more than 1,600 law enforcement officers and personnel representing more than 200 law enforcement agencies across Louisiana. The Louisiana Law Enforcement Torch Run celebrated its 30th year in 2014 and raised over $345,000.
Law Enforcement Torch Run Honorary Committee Colonel Michael Edmonson Louisiana State Police Colonel Jeff Mayne Louisiana Department of Wildlife Enforcement Fire Marshal H. "Butch" Browning, Jr. Office of the Louisiana State Fire Marshal Executive Director Fabian Blache, Jr. Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director Michael Ranatza Louisiana Sheriffs' Association Secretary James LeBlanc Department of Corrections
Law Enforcement Torch Run Executive Council Torch Run State Director, Chief Carl Dabadie Baton Rouge Police Department Executive Council Vice-Chair, Major Ward Webb Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office Officer Ninoska Guggenheim Kenner Police Department Officer Garet Aucoin Slidell Police Department Officer James Virgil Kenner Police Department
“In Law Enforcement you spend most
of your time correcting bad behavior
from bad people. Special Olympics has
brought light to a world of darkness
that law enforcement deals with
everyday. We are able to express our
hearts and souls for a very special
group of TRUE heroes.” - Chief Carl
Dabadie, Baton Rouge Police
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2014 Louisiana LETR Sponsors Medallion Sponsors Valero Energy Louisiana Masons Gold Medal Sponsors AT&T Finish Line Stores Silver Medal Sponsors IREM Louisiana - Chapter 55 Hammond Smokin’ BBQ Challenge Bronze Medal Sponsors Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association Marshalls Stores McCranie Sistrunk Anzlemo Hardy
McDaniel & Welch LLC Louisiana Lottery Corporation Louisiana Wildlife Agents Association
2014 State Games Sponsors Champion Sponsors Walmart Medallion Sponsors Knights of Columbus Smitty’s Supply Rotary Club of Lafayette South Gold Medal Sponsors The Fred B. & Ruth B. Zigler Foundation Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Orleans The P&G Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Silver Medal Sponsors Southern Oilman's Tennis Tournament Bronze Medal Sponsors Winn Dixie MidSouth Bank ExxonMobil
Special Olympics Louisiana is truly grateful to all of our donors and sponsors who give financially to support the movement. We especially would like to recognize our Mission Partners.
Mission Partners:
26870
WordPress
views
14235
athletes
5099
3304 11985
new
volunteers
YouTube
views
followers
18 NEW
Project Unify
Schools
388
new athletes
1501
followers
2 new
Unified
teams
6 Camp
Shrivers
1213
athletes
examined
through
Healthy
6 Special Olympics
colleges
43 training
schools
165
followers
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Special Olympics Louisiana held two “Champions Together” breakfasts. The breakfast in Lafayette, LA was held for the second year and the breakfast in Hammond was held for the first time. The events raised awareness and engaged the local community by showcasing some of the unique programs Special Olympics Louisiana has to offer. Participants met our athletes and heard stories of how Special Olympics transforms lives every day. The events were a huge success and brought in over $47,870 (over the next five years).
Special Olympics Louisiana sent a delegation of 101 athletes, coaches and unified partners to the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in New Jersey. Team Louisiana did phenomenal at the Games and we couldn’t be more proud of them! They brought home 47 gold medals, 36 silver medals, 34 bronze medals, 43 fourth place ribbons, 10 fifth place ribbons, 6 sixth place ribbons, 3 seventh place ribbons and 3 eighth place ribbons. That is a grand total of 182 awards!
In February 2014, 12 Special Olympics athletes from across the world competed in front of a standing-room only crowd at NBA Jam Session in New Orleans. The unifying power of sport shined as they demonstrated their basketball skills in a Unified Sports game alongside NBA and WNBA players and legends. In a competitive game that came down to the wire, Team West started out with an early lead, but Team East slowly chipped away at the gap, to take the lead in the second half and emerge victorious, with a final score of 63-53. A member Team West was our very own, Jacob Majors of Lake Charles, Louisiana, who hit 3-pointer after 3-pointer and even secured a bit of air time on ESPN’s “Top 10!” The NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Sports basketball game took place at Jam Session Center Court, prior to the 63rd NBA All-Star Game.
“My experience was great! I’ve
played with some of the best
basketball players in the
world, I travelled to places I
have never been, and I have
met many wonderful friends….
I’m living my dream.”
- Jacob Majors, SOLA athlete
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Special Olympics Louisiana 2014 Team Leaders Acadiana Area: Teri Perkins Bayouland Area: Theresa Theriot Capital Area: Charles Guilliory Cenla Area: Vacant Delta Area: Paul Frey (St. Bernard) Florida Parishes Area: Diana Brownlee Jefferson Area: Pudge Doucet North Central Area: Sherman Simon Northeast Area: Kenny Johnson & Amy Keifenheim Northwest Area: Charlene Boles Orleans Area: Gabe Feldman Red River Area: Donna Ward Southwest Area: Julie Montague
Special Olympics Louisiana 2014 Board of Directors Charles Trent - Chair, Lafayette John Saye - Vice-Chair, Monroe Suzette Yokem- Secretary, Shreveport Kathleen Quatroy – Treasurer, Slidell Virgil Atkinson– Special Olympics Athlete, Livingston Joe Alleva - Baton Rouge Mike Edmonson - Baton Rouge Dustin Guessfield - Baton Rouge B.J. Guzzardo– Baton Rouge Gayle Horaist - Carencro Emily Jeffcott– New Orleans John Majors - Jarreau Ricky Ouber– Alexandria
Special Olympics Louisiana 2014 Staff
President & CEO Pat Carpenter Bourgeois
Vice President of Finance Sylvia Alaniz
Director of Program & Fund Development Chardon McCoy
Director of Sports and Competition Brock Banos
Director of Program & Fund Development Carlos Alessi
Executive Assistant Celeste Fox
Director of Outreach & Area Mgmt. Charlie Courville
Director of Volunteer & Program Mgmt. Johnny Braud Director of External Relations Craig Oser
Director of External Relations Fay Harris
Office Assistant Glenn Drude, Jr.
Director of Special Projects Southwest Whitney Cancienne
Director of Special Projects Southeast Maria Sanchez Shepherd
Office Assistant Roxann Balado
Director of Family & Health Initiatives Doiron Nelson
Assistant Accountant Sharon Bravata
Office Manager Sharon Lambert
Director of Internal Communications & Marketing Casey Minton
Special Olympics Louisiana 1000 East Morris Avenue
Hammond, LA 70403 1-800-345-6644
Fax: 985-345-6649 www.laso.org