SPECIAL OLYMPICS ARIZONA INC
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Mission Statement
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Special Olympics Arizona’s (SOAZ) goal is to empower the over 180,000 Arizonans with intellectual disabilities to be healthy, productive, and respected members of society through SOAZ’s year-round sports training, competitions and support programs.
About This Cause
In 1962, Eunice Kennedy Shriver began a summer day camp at her home in Maryland for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This camp was designed to allow these special individuals a chance to explore their capabilities in a variety of sports and physical activities. The idea quickly took off, and in 1968 the first International Special Olympics took place at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL, with 1,000 athletes from the US and Canada competing in Track & Field and Swimming. In 1975, the hard work and good will of Eunice Kennedy Shriver reached Arizona. The first Special Olympics Arizona competition consisted of a one-day Track & Field event with 100 athletes and 20 volunteers. Since 1975, SOAZ has been addressing the need for people with I/DD to receive lifelong access through age-appropriate programs starting with Young Athletes (ages 2-7 ½) into Unified Champion Schools® (8-22) and adult Unified programs (22+) which includes through sports, health, arts, and inclusive leadership. SOAZ continues to engage communities year-round by hosting inclusive activities (including 20 sports, 675 regional competitions, four statewide competitions, four art curriculums, and eight health screening disciplines) and empowering 25,074 athletes and 24,743 active volunteers annually. SOAZ accomplishments include hosting over 19,535 free inclusive health screenings in eight disciplines with 1,654 referrals to local care for 24,359 people with and without disabilities in Arizona.