PINE BLUFF – Want to do something daring to help others? Well, if so, wrap up in some warm “wash-and-wear” clothing and head out to Regional Park here at noon Saturday for Polar Bear Plunge ’09, a fundraiser for the state’s Special Olympics.
White Hall is the host city for the Area IX Special Olympics, which serves Jefferson, Arkansas, Grant, Lincoln and Prairie counties. The city first hosted the event in April 2008 at White Hall High School’s Bulldog Stadium.
Nippy temperatures are forecast for the Polar Bear Plunge, but the event won’t be “unbearable,” according to Area IX Special Olympics Director Travis Chisom.
The fundraiser is an opportunity for individuals, businesses and organizations to support local Special Olympics by jumping or diving into or crawling through frigid waters. Those who don’t care to make a splash – literally – can sponsor a participant or serve as a support volunteer.
A minimum fee of $50 is required per swimmer at the time of registration, which gets underway at noon. Registration can be completed as a team or individually.
Monies raised in the event will provide funding for training and competitions of Special Olympics athletes and their certified coaches.
Assorted prizes will be given.
All “plungers” receive a T-shirt. Persons collecting donations of $150 will receive official T-shirts, boxer shorts or coolers. Those collecting $250 will receive the same loot and a sports duffle bag. Those collecting $500 will receive the same along with a chair, and those collecting $1,000 will be given the same bounty along with a picnic basket.
Awards will be presented to the individual and team with the best costumes and the individual and team raising the most money.
Checks are to be made payable to Special O-lympics Arkansas.
Special Olympics began in 1968 with Eunice Kennedy Shriver's vision to bring sports training and competition to people with intellectual disabilities, so that they might break free of society’s expectations and have fun, earn respect and be accepted in their communities.
Over the past 40 years, millions of athletes have done just that. They’ve competed in marathons, broken weight lifting records, hit home runs and overcome impressive obstacles to achieve their personal bests, from throwing a shot put for the first time to completing an Iron Man Triathlon.
Many athletes, like Florence Nabayinda of Ug-anda, have become valued voices for people with intellectual disabilities in their home countries. Some, like Kevin Erickson of the United States, have inspired millions by playing alongside nationally-known, elite athletes. Thousands of others have become athlete leaders, coaches and officials in the Special Olympics movement, and have given back by speaking to the public about the remarkable changes Special Olympics has brought about in their lives.
The remarkable personal transformation, confidence and optimism of Special Olympics athletes have been surprising people and winning fans worldwide for 40 years – opening eyes and minds in communities worldwide and inspiring all of us in the Special Olympics family to recommit daily to our mission and vision: to transform more lives through the power of sport.
Among Special Olympics’ success stories is Ka-ci Ellison, a fifth grader at Moody Elementary School here. A daughter of Jeff and Deana Ellison, Kaci is a champion athlete.
She earned gold medals in the recent statewide Special Olympics bowling competition in Little Rock following Area IX Special Olympics bowling competition in Pine Bluff. She also competes in track and field events and was a torch runner in last year’s annual competition at WHHS.
“Kaci loves to get her medals,” said Deana Ellison. “She gets so excited when she wins one and then she loves showing them off to her friends.
“Special Olympics makes Kaci feel special, because it’s all about her.”
PINE BLUFF – Want to do something daring to help others? Well, if so, wrap up in some warm “wash-and-wear” clothing and head out to Regional Park here at noon Saturday for Polar Bear Plunge ’09, a fundraiser for the state’s Special Olympics.
White Hall is the host city for the Area IX Special Olympics, which serves Jefferson, Arkansas, Grant, Lincoln and Prairie counties. The city first hosted the event in April 2008 at White Hall High School’s Bulldog Stadium.
Nippy temperatures are forecast for the Polar Bear Plunge, but the event won’t be “unbearable,” according to Area IX Special Olympics Director Travis Chisom.
The fundraiser is an opportunity for individuals, businesses and organizations to support local Special Olympics by jumping or diving into or crawling through frigid waters. Those who don’t care to make a splash – literally – can sponsor a participant or serve as a support volunteer.
A minimum fee of $50 is required per swimmer at the time of registration, which gets underway at noon. Registration can be completed as a team or individually.
Monies raised in the event will provide funding for training and competitions of Special Olympics athletes and their certified coaches.
Assorted prizes will be given.
All “plungers” receive a T-shirt. Persons collecting donations of $150 will receive official T-shirts, boxer shorts or coolers. Those collecting $250 will receive the same loot and a sports duffle bag. Those collecting $500 will receive the same along with a chair, and those collecting $1,000 will be given the same bounty along with a picnic basket.
Awards will be presented to the individual and team with the best costumes and the individual and team raising the most money.
Checks are to be made payable to Special O-lympics Arkansas.
Special Olympics began in 1968 with Eunice Kennedy Shriver's vision to bring sports training and competition to people with intellectual disabilities, so that they might break free of society’s expectations and have fun, earn respect and be accepted in their communities.
Over the past 40 years, millions of athletes have done just that. They’ve competed in marathons, broken weight lifting records, hit home runs and overcome impressive obstacles to achieve their personal bests, from throwing a shot put for the first time to completing an Iron Man Triathlon.
Many athletes, like Florence Nabayinda of Ug-anda, have become valued voices for people with intellectual disabilities in their home countries. Some, like Kevin Erickson of the United States, have inspired millions by playing alongside nationally-known, elite athletes. Thousands of others have become athlete leaders, coaches and officials in the Special Olympics movement, and have given back by speaking to the public about the remarkable changes Special Olympics has brought about in their lives.
The remarkable personal transformation, confidence and optimism of Special Olympics athletes have been surprising people and winning fans worldwide for 40 years – opening eyes and minds in communities worldwide and inspiring all of us in the Special Olympics family to recommit daily to our mission and vision: to transform more lives through the power of sport.
Among Special Olympics’ success stories is Ka-ci Ellison, a fifth grader at Moody Elementary School here. A daughter of Jeff and Deana Ellison, Kaci is a champion athlete.
She earned gold medals in the recent statewide Special Olympics bowling competition in Little Rock following Area IX Special Olympics bowling competition in Pine Bluff. She also competes in track and field events and was a torch runner in last year’s annual competition at WHHS.
“Kaci loves to get her medals,” said Deana Ellison. “She gets so excited when she wins one and then she loves showing them off to her friends.
“Special Olympics makes Kaci feel special, because it’s all about her.”
