Special Olympics Wisconsin News

Dennis Alldridge, President & CEO of Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) presented plaques to Senators Galloway, Lassa, and Representative Nygren on Wednesday, February 15th to thank them for their support of the income tax check-off bill. The bill, signed on Wednesday, November 16th, enables taxpayers to make a contribution to state programs on their personal state income tax form.

The Medical College of Wisconsin held a free sports physical day on Thursday, January 26 for Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) athletes from Milwaukee Public Schools. Twenty-seven athletes attended, 18 of which were brand new to Special Olympics.

Physical Day not only provided athletes with free check-ups, it also allowed 30 volunteer medical students, residents and physicians to gain invaluable experience with the special population.

Special Olympics Wisconsin is excited to announce that Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) has donated $21,000 to fund the Healthy Habits initiative, a program which provides resources to advance the health, fitness and lifestyles of the 10,000 Special Olympics athletes in Wisconsin.

After over 30 years volunteering with Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI), Mark Wolfgram has been named the head of the Special Olympics Inc. (SOI) Basketball Sports Resource Team. This team advises the International Sports Rules Advisory Committee on all matters regarding development of basketball and basketball rules. Mark was nominated for the role by members of the SOI Sports Resource Team for his experience and assistance to previous chair, Suzy Chainey of Australia.

Walking into the Union Grove High School field house on Thursday night, you would have thought the Broncos had changed their team colors from red and white to black and green. The jam packed student section was flooded with Spread the Word to End the Word™ T-shirts in support of the school-wide effort to raise awareness of the hurtful effects of the R-Word.

When a 53-year-old graphic designer from Appleton, Wisconsin embarks on a 4,300 mile hike across the country, one might wonder if he’s having a mid-life crisis.

David McHolland admits while this is his “Forrest Gump” moment, it’s also a chance for him to take a step in the right direction for millions of individuals with cognitive disabilities— including one very special woman—his younger sister Peggy.

Nearly 700 basketball players and gymnasts will travel across the state to attend the 36th annual Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) State Indoor Sports Tournament at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh April 14-15, 2012.

As in the past, the Healthy Athletes Program will have medical professionals on-site Saturday in Gruenhagen to complete free eye, ear, dental, and fitness screenings for all athletes.

Special Olympics Wisconsin congratulates athlete and Global Messenger, Martha Hill, on her recent induction into North High School’s Wall of Fame in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. This well-deserved honor was given to Martha for her athletic success and for continuing to be a positive role model and leader in her community.

On Wednesday, January 25th, a dozen Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) athletes and staff members joined together with representatives from the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities and People First Wisconsin to speak in favor of substituting the phrase "intellectual disability" for the R-word ("mental retardation" or "mentally retarded") in Wisconsin statutes. The bill is expected to pass this spring.

Individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families visited members of the U.S. Congress to share the importance of Special Olympics and Best Buddies International programs in their lives on February 8th, 2012.