Latest news with #SpecialOlympicsPennsylvania
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Volunteers needed for Special Olympics Pennsylvania summer games
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — The summer games are almost here, and thousands of athletes will be making their way to State College. From June 5 to 7, athletes, coaches, family and friends will be at Penn State University to participate in a multitude of sports and events. But with the influx of athletes, the Special Olympics Pennsylvania is searching for volunteers. There are three types of volunteering: sports volunteering, local programming volunteering and event volunteering. Each one works to provide support in specific ways to make sure that the event goes off without a hitch. Over $2.8M raised for Centre County nonprofits Sports volunteering gives people to opportunity to work directly with athletes at practices and competitions by helping them develop their skills. Local programming volunteers help staff through fundraising and serve on a local leadership team. Event volunteers help make sure that competitions or fundraisers happen by doing things like scorekeeping, setup and cleanup. Here are some volunteering requirements: Head Coaches and Local Program Team Managers are 18 and older. Assistant Coaches are 16 and older. Unified Partners are 8 and older. Anyone can volunteer to be One Day Event Volunteers and General Team Volunteers (volunteers outside the 1:4 ratio who have no chaperoning responsibilities), but volunteers who are 14 and younger must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Volunteers who are under 18 must have a parent/guardian sign their volunteer application form. Sign up to volunteer here. 'Volunteers are essential to Special Olympics Pennsylvania! We could not exist without the dedication of thousands of volunteers. There is a place for everyone in our organization, and your commitment can range from an afternoon to a lifetime.' Learn more about the upcoming Summer Games on the Special Olympics Pennsylvania website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Law Enforcement Torch Run stops in Altoona, continues to State College
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — More than 350 runners representing over 40 law enforcement agencies will end the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run in State College on Thursday. It's for the 14th annual Special Olympics Pennsylvania's 'Be A Fan' torch run. Law enforcement, who are the Guardians of the Flame, are bringing the Flame of Hope to Penn State University, where Special Olympics Pennsylvania's Summer Games will take place next month. The Special Olympics Pennsylvania torch started its journey at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. It's a 150-mile trip to Penn State. Central Cambria students 'brighten the 'burg' through cleanup project The runners made a stop at Sheetz Headquarters on 6th Avenue Thursday morning, where Altoona police officers continued the journey. 'Every year we do this for the athletes to promote, to promote them, to promote inclusion, and really to show that law enforcement likes to give back to the community, and really how important the athletes are to us,' Matthew Porter, Director of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, said. Several agencies from Central PA are participating, including Altoona Police, Blair County Crime Solvers, FBI State College, Ferguson Twp. Police, Patton Twp. Police, State College Police and Tyrone Police. The torch run ends when the Torch arrives at the Lion Shrine on Thursday evening. 'Rain or shine, we'll reach there this afternoon. And when we come into the opening ceremony for Summer games, it really is an amazing thing when you hear the athletes and their enthusiasm and their excitement for the games. It truly is amazing,' Porter said. The Be a Fan Torch Run also serves as a run-in memory of fallen officers from across the state. Over the past nine years, more than $15 million has been raised from Law Enforcement events in support of 15,000 Pennsylvania athletes. Special Olympics Pennsylvania will host the Summer Games at Penn State from June 5-7. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Special Olympics Pennsylvania's torch run returns for 14th year
A long-running tradition returned to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. This is the 14th year for Special Olympics Pennsylvania's "Be A Fan" torch run. Now, the Special Olympics Pennsylvania torch is on its journey away from PNC Park through its three-day, 150-mile trip to Penn State University. Over 350 runners representing nearly 40 law enforcement agencies are Guardians of the Flame on the torch as it's passed off every two and a half to four miles until it reaches State College for the 2025 Pennsylvania Special Olympics Summer Games. The competition officially starts on June 5, but on Tuesday, runners like Pennsylvania State Police's Tabitha Jacoby are accompanied by local Special Olympics program athletes. "They'll say, time and time again, 'We love you guys, you're our heroes,' when really, they're our heroes," said Jacoby. Organizers said this torch run brings the community together like no other event. "If you have a chance to meet one of the athletes, they're always smiling, they're always happy to see you. And the general public can learn a lot from these athletes," said State Law Enforcement Torch Run Director Matt Porter. "We have law enforcement; we have people out on the streets supporting our law enforcement. We have athletes running alongside," said Special Olympics Pennsylvania Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Andrew Fee. Fee added that the games are "highly competitive, good sportsmanship, a lot of fun when you're not on the field." These athletes compete to represent Pennsylvania in the Special Olympics USA Games. Athletes like swimmer Gianfranco Schiaretta said he's ready for this statewide competition, "feeling confident, feeling strong." He said it takes a lot of hard work, and to him, this torch, with the Flame of Hope, represents so much. "Desire, devotion, and discipline is the biggest thing," said Schiaretta. It's a symbol of what our athletes with special abilities accomplish every day.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run returns for 16th year
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (WTAJ) — The 2025 Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run returned for its 16th year on Sunday. More than 3,000 runners and walkers participated in the 5K run or the 2-mile family fun walk. Registration started at 7:30 a.m., the run started at 11 a.m., and the fun walk started at 11:10 a.m. Last year's Beaver Stadium Run was the most successful one ever, raising more than $497,00 for Special Olympics Pennsylvania athletes. 'I think it's a great organization. They do great things for the community, so I'm glad that they are getting the funds,' Joe Mazzarella, one of the runners, said. The race started near the Bryce Jordan Center on Curtin Road and participants followed a scenic route through campus. To end the race, runners went through the Beaver Stadium Tunnel, onto the field and finished at the 50-yard line. Erika Vandyke also participated in the Family Fun Run with her daughter Rylee. She said, 'Being you know, physically active and moving is really important for us and our family. A wonderful thing about this race is that all the money does get to go there. I spent a lot of time when I was growing up volunteering with the Special Olympics. It's something that's important to us and hopefully that she'll enjoy doing as she gets older too.' Juniata College holds groundbreaking for new healthcare education facility Proceeds from the Run benefit Special Olympics Pennsylvania and continue to support over 13,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. 'It feels it's really heartwarming for all of us. That's why we do it. You think you're going to come and help people, but you're here maybe a week, with them, and you're hooked for life. Which I've been hooked since the mid-80s. They won my heart, and they have been a big part of my heart,' Sue Paterno, a Board Member of Special Olympics PA said. This year's run raised approximately $530,000. However, participants can continue to raise money for the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games in June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
19-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Robert Morris University partners with the Cleveland Cavaliers to host a basketball clinic
Robert Morris University's men's basketball team will take the floor Friday for its March Madness opener in Cleveland. Today it was time for some youth basketball athletes to take the Colonials home court in a unified basketball clinic. GameChanger, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Special Olympics Pennsylvania hosted the event. For Johnathon Oaks, it's as if the court is a canvas. "You get to bring everybody together," Oaks, a GameChanger Stay and Play Champion and Special Olympics athlete, said. That's where his plan comes to fruition. "I thought it was a great opportunity to get all the kids together and have some fun," Oaks said. Oaks helped lead Thursday's clinic and it was one of unity. "Remove the labels, remove the barriers and we're highlighting abilities, not disabilities," Andrew Fee, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for Special Olympics Pennsylvania, said. It's all happening as RMU men's basketball is prepping for Friday's March Madness first-round game in Cleveland. "We had this planned for months so it's just weird serendipity that it ended up like that," Melanie Seiser, Vice President of Youth Sports and Community Development with the Cleveland Cavaliers, said. It's while the Cleveland Cavaliers Academy was here today helping out. "It's gonna be a lot of things like shooting and dribbling," Seiser said. "We'll do some defensive drills." Cavs Academy has been doing things like this in Ohio for years. "We had the opportunity to expand here in working with Pennsylvania," Seiser said. With no NBA team in the Pittsburgh area the Cavs are filling that void. "We're crossing state lines, but it's still so near and dear to us," Seiser said. The athletes shot, dribbled, practiced and had fun Wednesday. "We're all about fierce competition, but while you do that, experiencing joy," Fee said. For Jonathan Oaks, it's a delight to see it all come together. "I'm really excited everybody's here," he said. "And I'm really excited that everybody's gonna get the chance to learn and play some basketball." Fee said while it's the first time, these partners are doing this clinic and it won't be the last.
