Thursday, March 11, 2010
Announcements
Are You Freezin' for a Reason? 2010 Polar Plunge Schedule Announced! - Monday, January 11, 2010
ARE YOU FREEZIN’ FOR A REASON?
2010 POLAR PLUNGE SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
 
February is Polar Plunge month!
 
INDIANAPOLIS – Special Olympics Indiana announced today that the 2010 Polar Plunge event to benefit Special Olympics Indiana will include 10 sites throughout the state of Indiana.
 
As Special Olympics Indiana’s signature fundraising event, the Polar Plunge invites Hoosier residents to be “freezin’ for a reason” and “take the plunge” for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. For the last decade, brave souls and warm hearts have jumped into bodies of water in February to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Indiana. For the second year in a row, Special Olympics Indiana will hold 10 Polar Plunge events throughout the state—one for each of its 10 Program Areas.
 
In order to plunge, participants must raise a “bear” minimum of $75 ($50 minimum with a student ID). Awards are given for those who raise the most funds for Special Olympics Indiana. This wet and wacky event also includes prizes for the best costume, incentives for dollars raised and an After Splash Bash.
 
As the Plunge will be held on four college campuses this year, the 2010 program also features a Campus Challenge, in which a special award will be given to the largest campus group of Plunge participants (i.e., fraternity, sorority, sports team, club, etc.). Another prize has also been introduced in honor of the Indiana Knights of Columbus’ continued support of Special Olympics. An award will be given the Indiana Knights of Columbus district(s) in each of the following categories—most Plunge participants overall and most funds raised overall.
 
2010 Polar Plunge Dates & Locations:
 
Muncie (Ball State University)  Saturday, January 30, 2010

Registration:  1 – 1:45 p.m. at the Worthen Arena Concourse 
Plunge:  2 p.m. Lafollette Field outside Worthen Arena
After Splash Bash:  Worthen Arena Lounge  

Fort Wayne
(University of St. Francis)  Saturday, February 13, 2010

Registration:  10:30 – 11:30 a.m. at Mirror Lake Park
Plunge:  12:00 p.m. (Noon) at Mirror Lake
After Splash Bash:  Hutzel Athletic Center
 
Terre Haute (Indiana State University)  Saturday, February 13, 2010

Registration:  8 – 9 a.m. Hulman Center (south side)
Plunge:  9:30 a.m. outside Hulman Center
After Splash Bash:  Hulman Center
 
Versailles  Saturday, February 13, 2010

Registration:  11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. at the boat ramp
Plunge:  1 p.m. at Versailles State Park
After Splash Bash:  South Ripley Elementary School
 
Boonville  Saturday, February 20, 2010

Registration:  11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. at the pavilion
Plunge:  1:15 p.m. at Scales Lake
After Splash Bash:  St. Clement Social Center
 
Borden  Saturday, February 20, 2010

Registration: 9 – 10:45 a.m. at Deam Lake Beach House
Plunge:  11:00 a.m. at Deam Lake
After Splash Bash:  The Center at Providence Retirement Home
 
Kokomo  Saturday, February 20, 2010

Breakfast Program:  9 – 10:30 a.m. at the Kokomo Event Center
Registration:  10:45 – 11:15 a.m. at Kokomo Reservoir Park
Plunge:  11:30 a.m. at Kokomo Reservoir
After Splash Bash:  Kokomo Reservoir Park
 
Merrillville  Saturday, February 20, 2010

Registration:  9 – 10 a.m. CST at the Social Center
Plunge:  10:30 a.m. CST at Hidden Lake
After Splash Bash:  Hidden Lake Park Social Center
 
West Lafayette (Purdue University)  Saturday, February 20, 2010

Registration:  8:30 – 10 a.m. at the North Side of the Stadium
Plunge:  10:30 a.m. outside Ross-Ade Stadium
After Splash Bash:  Ross-Ade Pavilion
 
Indianapolis  Saturday, February 27, 2010

Registration:  8 – 10 a.m. at Eagle Creek Beach
Early Bird Plunge:  8:30 a.m.
Opening Ceremonies:  10 a.m. at Eagle Creek Beach
Plunge:  10:30 a.m. at Eagle Creek Reservoir
After Splash Bash:  Pike Freshman Center
 
* Carpooling is encouraged for all Plunge sites!
 
ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS INDIANA
Special Olympics Indiana is a not-for-profit organization that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in more than 20 Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, reaching more than 10,000 athletes across Indiana. The organization receives no federal- or state-appropriated funds, is not a United Way agency and relies entirely on corporate, civic and individual donations. For more information about Special Olympics Indiana, call (317) 328-2000 or visit www.soindiana.org.
 
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Special Olympics Indiana Mourns the Loss of Eunice Kennedy Shriver - Tuesday, August 11, 2009
SPECIAL OLYMPICS INDIANA MOURNS THE LOSS
OF EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER
 
Movement founder, visionary remembered
 
INDIANAPOLIS — Special Olympics Indiana is mourning the loss of the movement’s founder and long-time champion for people with intellectual disabilities, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who died early this morning at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Massachusetts, surrounded by her family. She was 88 years old.
 
“Today is a sad day for members of the Special Olympics movement around the world,” said Michael Furnish, Special Olympics Indiana President & CEO. “Mrs. Shriver was a remarkable person. She was the visionary and driving force behind an idea that has touched the lives of so many. She set the standard for how all Special Olympics leaders would move forward, determined to create a world where people with intellectual disabilities are accepted, included and respected.”
 
”As members of the Special Olympics family throughout the world celebrate the life of the woman who created our movement and mourn her loss, I am reminded of a specific moment when Mrs. Shriver’s work had a great impact on Indiana,” said Jeff Mohler, Special Olympics Indiana vice president of programs. 
 
“At the 2006 National Games that were held in Ames, Iowa, we were preparing for Opening Ceremonies, and I had the opportunity to witness Mrs. Shriver stop and talk to Steven Hamilton, a Special Olympics Indiana athlete from Montgomery County who uses a wheelchair. She spoke to him for several minutes while thousands of people waited for her to enter the arena so that Opening Ceremonies could begin. Even as someone who was responsible for a global movement, she always made time for people with intellectual disabilities. In her eyes, there was never anything more important than the athletes.”
 
Mrs. Shriver founded Special Olympics 41 years ago, holding the first ever sports competition for people with intellectual disabilities at Soldier Field in Chicago. One year later, Hoosiers that were inspired by her efforts to change the world brought Special Olympics to Indiana, holding the first Summer Games on June 5, 1969 at Bush Stadium, former home to the Indianapolis Indians, in Indianapolis.
 
“This year, as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary, we see a world that has changed dramatically since the 1960s, thanks, in-part, to the Special Olympics movement,” said Furnish. “In Indiana, we cannot measure our success as a program without paying tribute to the amazing vision of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the infinite passion with which she executed that vision, ultimately transforming the lives of thousands of Hoosiers with intellectual disabilities.”
 
 
Special Olympics Indiana is developing a plan for how Mrs. Shriver’s accomplishments can be memorialized for future generations. In the meantime, the public is encouraged to visit www.eunicekennedyshriver.org. This is a new and inspirational Web site that has been in development for several months, designed to chronicle the life of Mrs. Shriver and the impact that she has made on the world. The site also features information about Mrs. Shriver and her life’s work and a section where people can post tributes and share personal and inspirational messages and stories about Mrs. Shriver’s impact on their lives. 
 
The site also includes a comprehensive press room with additional information for the media. Funeral details and other memorial information will be posted at the site as they become available.
 
ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS INDIANA
In 2009, Special Olympics Indiana is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. For the past four decades, Special Olympics Indiana, a not-for-profit organization, has been providing year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. From a gathering of a few dozen individuals in 1969, the program has grown to reach nearly 10,000 athletes and 7,000 volunteers statewide. The organization receives no federal or state-appropriated funds, is not a United Way agency and relies entirely on corporate, civic and individual donations. For more information about Special Olympics Indiana and its 40th Anniversary celebrations, call (317) 328-2000 or visit www.soindiana.org.
 
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