Inclusivity, joy at heart of Special Olympics Alaska

A long-running nonprofit with a huge international footprint continues to thrive in this state.

Special Olympics was founded in 1968 on the premise of creating a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of all people. It is a grassroots movement that empowers people to reveal their inner champion.

Despite its high profile internationally, local programs are the heart of the organization. Special Olympics is a community-based movement that transcends nationality, race, creed, gender, age or social status. It creates a place for people of all abilities.

Around the state, including in the Mat-Su, local volunteer community management teams work with Special Olympics Alaska staff to oversee local programs, including operations, fundraising, sports training, and competition.

Jackie Smith is the volunteer community director in the Valley. A recent grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation, which has supported the local group with grant funding for several years, will make her job easier.

“This grant supports our mission to provide sports training and competition on a year-round basis,” Smith said. “Without grants like this we would not be able to serve the number of athletes we do in the Mat-Su Valley. The health foundation is instrumental to the growth of our program.” Similar to previous grants from the health foundation, the $15,000 awarded to Special Olympics Alaska is targeted to support training for athletes, as well as support services like health screening, travel, and other costs associated with operating the Mat-Su program.

“We are grateful to have such support from a local organization,” Smith said. “It is important to us that our athletes and families recognize that this support is local and is from members of their own community.”

Since 2008, the Mat-Su Health Foundation has invested in a healthy community through grants, scholarships, and sponsorships totaling more than $130 million. As co-owner of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the health foundation invests its share of profits into scholarships, programs, and grants with the goal of improving community health.

The current grant will help offset the costs of the bowling program in the Mat-Su. Bowlers represent the largest contingent of both athletes and unified partners – individuals who have no intellectual disabilities. Smith said the current roster of 126 will require expenses in the range of $25,000 for the year.

Since its founding, Special Olympics has grown from a competition involving 1,000 athletes to a worldwide movement with more than 5 million athletes and 220 accredited programs. Each of these programs reflects the culture, customs and diversity of their local communities while sharing a reputation that defines Special Olympics and celebrates the courage of its athletes and the challenges and barriers that they overcome every day.

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https://specialolympicsalaska.org/