August 2010
Feature Story
Important News
Upcoming Events
Sports Department News
Development Department News
Law Enforcement Torch Run News
Northwest Regional News
Southwest Regional News
Eastern Regional News
Advancement
Board of Directors
Feature Story
Rev Up Your Engines for the Dream Ride 2010
Special Olympics Connecticut is once again part of an exciting charity motorcycle ride
throughout the Northeast supported by Bozzuto's, Inc. and The Hometown Foundation, Inc.! On Sunday, August 22nd the Dream Ride 2010 and Dream Cruise will bring together thousands of supporters of people with intellectual disabilities as well as motorcycle and car enthusiasts. The ride will depart from the following 9 satellite locations in Connecticut:
- Bridgeport Harley-Davidson, Stratford
- Brothers Harley-Davidson, North Branford
- Danbury Harley-Davidson, Danbury
- The Farmington Club, Farmington
- Gengras Motorcycles, East Hartford
- Guilford Police Department, Guilford
- Mike’s Famous Harley-Davidson, Groton
- TSI Columbia Harley-Davidson, Columbia
- TSI Harley-Davidson, Ellington
- Yankee Harley-Davidson, Bristol
The Dream Ride destination location is The Farmington Club in Connecticut.
At the end of the ride there will be food, live music, a raffle and an opportunity to meet the Special Olympics Athletes.
Bozzuto's, Inc. will donate 100% of the funds raised for Special Olympics Connecticut
as part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which will allow us to provide greater services and programs for our Special Olympics athletes.
The minimum pledge for Dream Ride drivers is $30 and for passengers it is $20. For more information and to register please click on the following link: www.hometownwheels.com.
Important News
Congratulations Team Connecticut!
On Saturday, July 24th, 67 athletes, partners and coaches returned from Lincoln, Nebraska with 33 Gold medals, 14 Silver medals, 20 Bronze medals, 20 Fourth Place Ribbons and 2 Fifth Place Ribbons.Team Connecticut even flew Olympic-style in private Cessna jets. Special Olympics Connecticut athletes proved their abilities on a National level, and succeeded! We are so proud of the aquatics, athletics, unified bocce, bowling, powerlifting, tennis, golf, unified volleyball and unified basketball participants. Competition was fierce and Team Connecticut didn’t give up. Great job! 
For additional pictures of Team Connecticut in Nebraska click here to visit our Facebook page.
Special Olympics Connecticut 40th Anniversary Video Wins 2 Telly Awards
Congratulations Special Olympics Connecticut for taking home two Telly Awards
Special Olympics Connecticut received awards in both Charitable/Non-profit and
Fund Raising categories for the Special Olympics Connecticut 40th Anniversary video.
The Telly Awards honor outstanding commercials and non-broadcast videos.
Our video was judged by the Silver Telly Council which is comprised of top industry
professionals and past winners. “Special Olympics Connecticut 40th Anniversary” was
selected out of 13,000 entries from the finest ad agencies, production companies,
TV stations, cable companies, interactive agencies and corporations in the world!
This video recognized the growth, obstacles, miracles and effort that has so
drastically changed attitudes and changed lives for the intellectually disabled
community over the past 40 years. Multiple Special Olympics athletes and Global
Messengers spoke in the video. All shared their thanks and experiences with the
Special Olympics organization and its sponsors for granting their community
opportunities that did exist 40 years ago.
Thanks to our producer, photographer and editor Ray Wolters of KWB Media for working so hard to make this video award winning!
Congratulations to all who were involved, especially the brave voices that were heard
and honored the most among 13,000 entries. To watch the award-winning video click here.
My Hero
In the Spirit of the 2010 US National Games, The My Hero Project is
“Celebrating the Volunteers, Athletes, Coaches & Staff of Special Olympics”.
Visit the link below to meet the people making a difference for Special Olympics
including:
- SOCT President Beau Doherty
- LETR Founder Richard LaMunyon
- SOCT Torch Run Director Luis Rosa
- Volunteer Lisa Markham (currently staff member Lisa Carlone)
- And many more….
- Plus an area honoring our Founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver
For more information on the My Hero Project... Click here
Upcoming Events
August 8
Hot Dog Eating Contest: Leo's Restaurant, Southington
August 12
Corporate 5K: Bushnell Park, Hartford
August 14
2010 Softball Divisioning Tournament: Pragemann Park, Wallingford
August 15
Paintball Challenge: Hogan's Alley Paintball, Meriden
August 22
Dream Ride 2010 & Dream Cruise 2010
Click here for more information.
August 28
Tip-a-Cop, Coventry Police Department: Lake View Restaurant
Uncork Something Special in CT: Dallace Elizabeth Winery
September 6
Unified Long Distance Running, New Haven 5k/20k
September 11 & 12
2010 Fall Sports Festival
September 12
Susan Saint James Poker Tournament: Foxwoods Resort Casino
September 13
Bender Financial Golf Tournament: Country Club of Darien
September 22
2010 Holiday Sports Classic Coaches Meeting
September 25
Unified Long Distance Running: Bigelow Tea 5k
October 17
Unified Sports Long Distance Running: Special Olympics RI 3k/5k
October 23
2010 Unified Basketball Divisioning Tournament
October 24
2010 Unified Volleyball Divisioning Tournament
October 30
2010 Northwest Region Bowling Qualifier: Spare Time, Bristol
Unified Sports Long Distance Running: Marine Corps 10k
October 31
2010 Eastern Region Bowling Qualifier: Holiday Bowl, Groton
2010 Northwest Region Bowling Qualifier 2: Lore's Lanes, New Milford
2010 Southwest Region Bowling Qualifier: AMF Circle Lanes, East Haven
November 6
2010 Eastern Region Bowling Qualifier: Friendly Bowl, Brooklyn, CT
November 19
Unified Sports Long Distance Running: Ragnar Relay Across Florida (Clearewater to Daytona Beach)
November 20 & 21
2010 Holiday Sports Classic
December 5
2011 Winter Games Coaches Meeting
For more Special Olympics Connecticut competitions and special events click here.
Sports Department News
USA National Games 2010
Congratulations to all of the members of Team CT who recently returned from a week
of competition in Lincoln, Nebraska. Everyone had the experience of a lifetime and
came home with wonderful memories and new friendships within our state and with so
many from around the country. Read more information in this month’s featured story
about Team CT.
Unified Flag Football
We are currently looking at holding an invitational tournament on the weekend of
October 16. Final date, location and time to be determined. A coach’s clinic will
also be held in the fall. If you have any individuals or a team that is interested
in participating please contact Laurie-Jean at extension 235. We have just received
a small grant and will be able to provide some equipment for a number of teams on
a first come, first served basis. We have also been invited to send a team to the
New England Invitational at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on
November 14. Teams must also let Laurie-Jean know if they are interested in
possibly attending this event. If too many apply, this may become a composite team
for the November event.
Fall Sports Festival
Please have all registrations in on time for the 2010 Fall Sports Festival.
For information call, Sara Pierson at extension 229.
Development Department News
Giving Can Actually Cost You Nothing.
Save up to 20% on the cost of your electricity
while generating on-going donations to
Special Olympics Connecticut.
Special Olympics Connecticut has teamed up with Discount Power, one of Connecticut’s leading low-cost electricity suppliers, to create a program that generates on-going donations to Special Olympics Connecticut while you save on the cost of your
electricity.Enroll now and, for as long as you remain enrolled in our program, your
participation generates a monthly donation directly to Special Olympics Connecticut.
Every kilowatt hour supplied by Discount Power to program participants will generate
a $0.002 donation to Special Olympics Connecticut. Discount Power has just introduced an exciting new variable rate with a cap program. It affords you the low rate of a traditional variable but provides the stability of a fixed rate program. The current
rate, one of the lowest in the state, is $0.0897 with a cap of $0.0999. That means
that your rate cannot increase above the cap which is fixed for the remainder of 2010.
With this program you can save up to 20% on electricity – no catch, no strings attached.There are no fees, no commitments. Your bill and service still come from CL&P or UI. Enrollment is FREE. It’s easy and takes just a couple of minutes. Grab your Connecticut Light & Power or United Illuminating bill and enroll here
to start saving.
Law Enforcement Torch Run News
Upcoming Events
August 22
Dream Ride
Farmington Club
December 4th
Penguin Plunge
Coventry Lake at Patriots Park
Coventry PD and ECSU PD
2010 Law Enforcement Torch Run
Congratulations and thanks to all who participated in this year’s Torch Run! Over 3 days,530 miles, law enforcement personnel and Special Olympics athletes carried the Flame of Hope Southern Connecticut State University, It was an awesome three days, culminating with an inspiring Final Leg into Jess Dow Field with athlete x and Department of Correction Commissioner Brian Murphy lighting the cauldron! Thank you to all who made this such a wonderful event.
Special thanks to our Leg Coordinators
Officer Ron Jenkins
Captain Terry Penn
Sergeant Don Crabtree
Lt. Jim Kanios
Rec Supervisory Jeff Beiler
Officer Lisa Scannell
Detective Dave Marinelli
Sergeant Jim Gosselin
Detective Sandy Brooks- Coppolla
Counselor Supervisor Stacey Marmora
Detective Pete Howard
Sec II Pam Neuendorf & Jeff Nielsen
And our support team . . . . . .
Sgt Luis Rosa
Captain Joe Carlone
Detective Sgt. Paul Zarnetske
Connecticut State Police Traffic Unit
Sergeant Kelly Walsh
Lt. Kelly Meeker
JN Phillips Auto Glass
Lt. Eric Dessaules
Officer Tom Madera
Motorcycle raffle tickets for sale!
As part of the 2010 Dream Ride, the Hometown Wheels Foundation will
be raffling off great prizes. All proceeds from this raffle go to Special Olympics
Connecticut and the Law Enforcement Torch run program.
Please help us to support Bozzuto’s in their efforts as they continue to support us in
our efforts! Contact your regional coordinator or Lisa Carlone at SOCT HQ if you would
like to get tickets to sell.
Northwest Regional News
Development
LETR Upcoming Events
Cop on Top – August 6th and 7th at Warner Theater hosted by Torrington Police Department and Police Explorers.
Hot Dog Eating Contest – August 8th – Leo’s Restaurant in Southbury, 4 p.m.
Hot Dog Eating Contest Registration Form
Cop on Top – Waterbury Police Department at Frankies Hot Dog – Sept date TBD
Cop on Top – Troop A – Southbury Plaza, Sept. 24th – 25th.
Avon Tip a Cop a success. Lt. Kelly Walsh and her team of officers raised over $600 at their Tip a Cop at Bertuccis on Tuesday, July 20th. Congrats …..job well done!
Officer Daniel Pietrafesa and Officer Mike Roy from Winchester Police Department raised over $500 selling motorcycle raffle tickets on July 16th at the Comcast Theatre.
Special Thanks to Officer Daniel Pietrafesa and his crew for working the Cop on Top at
Yankee Harley Davidson in support of the Dream Ride on July 30th & 31st! Awesome Job!!!!!
Great effort!!!
2010 International Law Enforcement Conference – Long Beach California
Congratulations to the following officers from the Northwest Region for being
chosen to attend this years International Law Enforcement Conference in
Long Beach, California – October 19th – October 22nd: Officer Daniel Pietrafesa – Winchester Police Department, Detective Ethan Mable – Danbury Police Department,
Lt. Kerwin Anders – Torrington Police Department and Officer John Moreno – Connecticut State Police – Troop A.
Penguin Plunge Season Coming soon!
With all this hot weather, there’s no better time to start thinking about the Penguin
Plunges. The Northwest Region has set our dates for our plunges and they are as follows:
Farmington – January 30th
Middlebury – February 13th
Danbury – March 13th
Let’s make this our biggest plunge season ever!!!!
PROGRAM:
NWR Athlete Dance:
The 3rd annual Northwest Region Athlete Dance was held under sunny skies at Veteran’s Park in Watertown on July 17th. This year’s theme was “Beach Party” and over 160 athletes, coaches and families from local programs around the Northwest Region came sporting an array of fabulous colors and Hawaiian Shirts and Grass Skirts.
Many had fun dancing to beach tunes and modern pop music presented by Special OlympicsConnecticut athlete and DJ, Josh Mears. Thanks Josh… you were fantastic!
The pavilion area of the party and dance were popping with festive and fun beach theme
décor compliments of a very talented team of volunteers led by Dawn Gray and her family.
This fun annual event was made possible by the support and sponsorship of
Emerson, Watertown Special Citizens, LaBonnes, UNICO club and the Watertown Park and Recreation, Lion’s Club and Fire Department. Thank you all for making this a fun and successful event!
Danbury Softball Invitational:
Danbury Softball Invitational will be held on Saturday, August 7th at Rogers Park in
Danbury. We are excited about another great event. This year we have
20 teams (t-ball, traditional, and unified) registered from all over Connecticut,
including two from New York. If you have any questions or would like more information
please contact Morgan at morganr@soct.org or 203-267-6566. We look forward to seeing everyone for a great day of competition!
Southwest Regional News
Special Olympics Connecticut Southwest Region
Special Olympics Connecticut Southwest Region receives Business In Bloom Award for 2010.
For the third year the Trumbull Chamber of Commerce, an affiliate of the Bridgeport
Regional Business Council, and the Trumbull Economic Development Commission presents a Business In Bloom Award. Businesses that have “bloomed” in Trumbull over the past year by opening, relocating, expanding or beautifying in Trumbull. Special Olympics Connecticut Southwest Region is an honoree this year and was honored at the O Bar and Grill in Trumbull on June 29, 2010.
Trumbull Corporate Park Walk to
Benefit Special Olympics Connecticut
Special Olympics Southwest Region held its first Trumbull Corporate Office Park Walk
with over 70 walkers from offices located in the complex. The walk took place on
Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 101 Merritt Blvd, Trumbull, CT. Sponsors for the walk
were Field Brothers, Mutual of Omaha and Home Instead Senior Care. Other companies participating were Fidelity National Title Insurance, On Deck Mortgage Services, Select Business Solutions, Unilever and Vendor Surveillance Corporation. A special thank you to Eli’s of Hamden for providing the lunches. Everyone had a nice walk and got to know their neighbors. The walk raised $5,000.
Bender Financial Group Golf and Tennis Tournament
This year’s tournament will be held at the Country Club of Darien on September 13, 2010. The registration fee for golf is $400. Registration forms are available at the Special Olympics Connecticut Southwest Regional Office by calling Marie
at 203.380.9990, ext 602. Lunch is at Noon with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. followed
by cocktails, buffet reception, and auction at 6 p.m.
Tennis registration, warm up is at 1:30 p.m. and start time is at 2 p.m. Awards will
be at 5 p.m. Fee for tennis is $100. If you would like to attend the cocktails, buffet
reception and auction the fee is $100.
Click here for Golf Registration Form
Click here for Tennis Registration Form
Event Sponsors include:
Gold Sponsor
J. Philip Bender Financial Group
Bronze Sponsor
Wunder Financial
Fairfield County Bank
Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Torch Run
Norwalk Police Department will host a Tip-a-Cop on August 25 during lunch and dinner
at the Ash Creek Saloon in Norwalk.
Ahoy Mates, Fayerweather Yacht Club will host its Coastal Cook-off to benefit
Special Olympics Connecticut. The event will be open to the public and take place
on Saturday, September 25th beginning at 2 p.m. at the Fayerweather Yacht Club, 51 Brewster Street, in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport with a rain date of Sunday, September 26th. A team from Fayerweather and other area yacht clubs will compete in grilling different samples to compete for awards in best taste and presentation and theme to be presented at 4:30. Area restaurants will be on hand as well. Tickets are $10.00 per adult and $5.00 per child. Live music from The Navel’s and CNTRL-Z bands. For more information contact lisav@soct.org.
Eastern Regional News
Development:
Enfield Police Department Cop-on-Top
The 2nd Annual Enfield Police Department Cop-on-Top at Enfield Square exceeded
fundraising goals and raised nearly $6,800 on June 24th and 25th. A special thank you goes out to Sgt. Mark Squires and Officer George Marusak of the Enfield Police Department,Enfield Square, T-Mobile, Green Monster E-Cycling, Rotary, and our event supporters and our volunteers for all of their efforts.
Click here for an online photo album with some great pictures from the 2-day event!
SOCT Night with the New Britain Rock Cats
Special Olympics Night with the New Britain Rock Cats was again a huge success.
SOCT Cheshire athlete and global messenger Brian Drexler threw out the first pitch,
accompanied by Sgt. Don Crabtree of Wethersfield Police Department.
Other News
Visit Margarita’s of Mystic on August 24th for Full Moon Madness! A portion of
proceeds from lounge sales will benefit Special Olympics Connecitcut – Eastern Region.
For more information, check out Margarita’s website here.
Like to bowl? Love hockey?
The Eastern Region is currently seeking individuals to serve on the planning committee
for the 2010 Bowl-a-Thon with the Hartford Wolf Pack. Duties will include marketing/
promotions, bowler recruitment, and event organization. Please contact Jackie at
jackiet@soct.org for more information.
Advancement
Planned Giving
An athlete's future can begin today… Create a legacy of acceptance & inclusion. Please consider Special Olympics in your will or estate plan. For more information about Special Olympics Planned Giving opportunities click here.
Board of Directors
BOARD UPDATE
NEXT FULL BOARD MEETING
A reminder that the next full Board Meeting has been rescheduled for
Tuesday, August 10th at 7:00 pm at the SOCT State Office in Hamden. Please RSVP with Kelli at kellib@soct.org or (203) 230-1201 ext. 276 if you have not done so
already.
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