Kidz Clubz donates to Cops on Doughnut Shops

Sunday morning, the Kidz Clubz of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Gladstone descended upon the SE 82nd Street Krispy Kreme to complete their latest community service project. The children, ranging in age from 2 to 11 years, had been collecting money for weeks for Special Olympics Oregon. They chose our Cops on Doughnut Shops fundraiser at Krispy Kreme as the specific project to support. Kidz Clubz coordinator, Karen O’Neil said the children donated $340 that day.

They raised the money by doing extra chores and asking people at church to donate to their cause. Krispy Kreme threw a little celebration for them at the store when they dropped off their donation. The Clackamas Sheriff's Office, which managed the event for LETR, wants us to send out a big "THANK YOU!!!!' to the Kidz Clubz members and everyone else who donated to Cops on Doughnut Shops. We also want to thank Dylan Drake, the photographer who took the photo of the children, for his contributions. Nearly $7,500 was raised between the Clackamas County and Washington County locations.

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Have a Krispy Kreme with Drew Carney!

Our LETR program makes it so darn easy to donate that it's almost criminal. What could be more fun than the Polar Plunge? More satisfying that Red Robin Tip A Cop? And yummier than Cops on Doughnut Shops? And that's the next opportunity to support Special Olympics Oregon while pampering your sweet tooth.

Cops on Doughnut Shops kicks off Friday morning, May 2, at area Krispy Kremes, continuing through to Sunday afternoon. If you want to be way cool and hang with a local celeb, get yourself over to the Krispy Kreme at 9950 SE 82nd sometime after 5 a.m., and you can get in on KGW Morning Star Drew Carney's A.M. act. Drew's a huge fan of LETR and fairly leapt at the chance to report live from the KK on 82nd again this year to promote Cops on Doughnut Shops. Drew has cooked up some new bits for this year's report, he says, and he's also guaranteeing much better weather. So if you want to impress your friends and relatives by being on live TV, mark Friday morning May 2 on your digital calendar right now!

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2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games SOOR Delegates

Congratulations to the Special Olympics Oregon snow sports athletes who have been selected to compete in World Games next year in Idaho! One of them--Jenny Deras--is pictured with another World Class athlete, Drew Bledsoe, and Pride in Performance Award winner Jeff Lowry prior to this year's Polar Plunge.

Here are the lucky Oregonians who will be part of Team USA:

Selected Alpine Skiers:
Advanced Male - Nolan Carlson, Wasco/Sherman
Intermediate Male - Jamie Ingraham, Eugene/Springfield
Advanced Female - Jennifer Deras, Washington
Intermediate Female - Jocelyn Christin, Clackamas

Selected Snowboarders:
Male - Dylan Brace, Multnomah
Female - Ashley Medlock, Multnomah

Selected XC skiers:
Male 1 - Tommy Hamilton, Jr., Milton-Freewater
Male 2 - Gerald Grisham, Multnomah
Female 1 - Jillian Smalley, Hermiston
Female 2 - Elizabeth Bostrom, Clackamas

Selected Snowshoers:
Male - Callan Campbell - Eugene/Springfield
Female - Elizabeth Davis-Medlin, Eugene/Springfield

Alternate Alpine Skiers:
Advanced Male - Richard Bledsoe, Eugene/Springfield
Advanced Female - Molly Looney, Multnomah
Intermediate Female - Mandi Durfee, Union

Alternate Snowboarder:
Male - Ty Rains, Washington

Alternate XC skiers:
Alternate Male - James Parent, Washington
Alternate Female - Marla Kleinheinz, Clackamas

Alternate Snowshoers:
Male - Joshua Caccavano, High Desert
Female - Kori Barnett, High Desert

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A dad, a fan and a terrific piece of writing

Came across a very engaging column written by Paul Daugherty (pdaugherty@enquirer.com)of the Cincinnati Enquirer. You can read it here. Paul captures the essence of Special Olympics' mission in his column.

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Safeway “Helping People” Campaign to benefit Special Olympics

Next time you head out to your neighborhood Safeway store for the weekly grocery trip, be sure to set aside some spare change for charity. Throughout the month of April, Safeway’s Portland Division, which includes 116 stores in Oregon and Southwest Washington, will be collecting donations to benefit Easter Seals and Special Olympics. It’s part of Safeway’s “Helping People with Disabilities” fundraising campaign, which continues through Saturday, May 3.

There will be several options available in stores for donors. Perhaps the best place to give is at the check stand, where Safeway customers are offered the opportunity to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar. “We are honored to be part of Safeway’s 2008 campaign in support of people with disabilities. This new partnership will help us in our mission to bring Special Olympics Oregon to the next generation of Oregonians while continuing our work with our current athletes”, said Marc Bourret, Senior Vice President, Marketing, for Special Olympics Oregon.

Full Press Release after the cut.


SAFEWAY CELEBRATES 20 Years of Support for People with Disabilities and
Announces New Partnership with Special Olympics to Expand Reach

Local Safeway Stores and Special Olympics Oregon Partner to promote and benefit people with intellectual disabilities

PLEASONTON, CA – Safeway Inc. (NYSE:SWY), one of the nation's leading retailers with a commitment to supporting people with disabilities, announced today that it has joined with Special Olympics, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with intellectually disabilities.
"Safeway is proud to lead by example to support people with disabilities," said Safeway Chairman, President and CEO Steve Burd. "Over the past 20 years, Safeway has raised over $100 million in support of people with disabilities through organizations such as Easter Seals and Muscular Dystrophy. Safeway wants to serve even more people with disabilities and believes that if we work with Special Olympics we will reach more people, especially those with intellectual disabilities, the largest disability population in the world. "
“We’re honored to join with Safeway and commend its dedication to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities,” said Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver. “This year, Special Olympics celebrates 40 years of changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, along with creating more harmonious communities in Oregon and around the world. This partnership shows how local businesses and communities can come together to create a place where each person, regardless of ability or disability, is accepted and welcomed and where every individual contributes to the strength and vibrancy of the whole.”

Special Olympics Oregon will be part of a national partnership that covers 21 states in the U.S. in which Safeway does business. Local members of the community will be able to support Special Olympics Oregon at their local Safeway in April as part of a customer fundraising campaign where Safeway shoppers will be asked at checkout if they would like to donate $1 or more to support people with disabilities. Last year’s campaign raised $5.5 million nationally.

About Special Olympics Oregon
Special Olympics is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition to over 2.5 million adults and children with intellectual disabilities across more than 170 countries. The Special Olympics movement offers one of the world's greatest platforms for acceptance and inclusion for all people--regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or cultural differences. Be a fan and visit www.specialolympics.org.

About Special Olympics Oregon
Special Olympics Oregon, founded in 1972, is a statewide organization serving thousands of individuals with intellectual disabilities through participation in Olympic-style sports. Special Olympics offers people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate year-round in safe, supervised athletic competitions at no cost to the athlete. Through our signature sports programs, athletes gain self-confidence, social competency and other enhanced skills, both physical and social. For more information on how to volunteer, coach, donate or become an athlete please visit www.soor.org

About Safeway
Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 100 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America, based on sales. The company operates 1,738 stores in the United States and western Canada and had annual sales of $40.2 billion in 2006. Safeway supports a broad range of charitable and community programs and in 2007 donated more than $172 million to important causes, such as cancer research, education, food banks and programs focused on assisting people with disabilities. The company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY. For more information about Safeway, visit www.safeway.com.

CONTACT: Safeway Inc.
Brian Dowling, 925-467-3787
Special Olympics Oregon
Dan Cook, 503-248-0600, ext. 23
SOURCE: Safeway Inc.

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Winter Games Pride in Performance Winners

Courage, determination, dedication and, above all, pride in one's self and one's work. That's what it takes to be named a winner of the Les Schwab Tire Centers Pride in Performance Award. At State Winter Games in Bend and Springfield, four outstanding members of the Special Olympics Oregon family were recognized with Pride in Performance awards. Indoor PIP awards were given to Jennifer Mosley, a Linn County athlete, and volunteer Marie Cabler of Jackson County. In Bend, the winners were Jeff Lowry, a Washington County athlete, and volunteer Fran O’Brien of Sherman County. Congratulations from all of us for showing the world what it means to be part of Special Olympics Oregon!

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Winter Games 2008

photos by Cathy Cheney

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photos from Cooper Spur regionals

Lt. P. J. Steigleder poses with Clackamas athlete Jodi Powell, showing off her silver and gold medals from the day's cross-country races.


Competitors and teammates alike cheer on Ricardo Cule (Clackamas) as he crosses the finish line after the Nordic 500M race.


Multnomah Nordic Coach Kelly Valade surrounded by athletes Jenny Engel (Washington), Erin Dever (Washington) and Marla Kleinheinz (Clackamas)

photos: Erin E. Houlihan

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Bledsoe Featured Speaker, Plunger in Bend!

BEND, OR—Former New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe will be the featured speaker at Special Olympics Oregon’s Winter Games Ceremonies in Bend on March 1.
Bledsoe, a native of Washington, graduate of Washington State University and veteran of 14 years in the National Football League, has also committed to participate in The Polar Plunge on the evening of Feb. 29. The Polar Plunge is a fundraiser for Special Olympics Oregon, through its Law Enforcement Torch Run program.
Bledsoe is a resident of Bend, where he lives with his wife Maura and four children. Since his retirement a year ago from pro football, Bledsoe has focused on his Walla Walla, Wash., vineyard, The Flying B Vineyard, and a coffee roasting business. He is active in many philanthropic organizations, including his Drew Bledsoe Foundation.
During his long NFL career, Bledsoe led the Patriots into post-season play and even to the Super Bowl, mostly on the strength of his throwing arm. Few quarterbacks in the history of the game have thrown more passes or completed more than Bledsoe. He holds the career NFL record for most touchdown passes in overtime periods. Complete details of his football career can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Bledsoe, the Wikipedia entry on Bledsoe. His personal website is at http://www.DrewBledsoe.com.

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Our coaches are the greatest!

When you sign on to coach for Special Olympics, the basic coaching skills are a must. But resourcefulness and a love of problem-solving come in very handy too, since our coaches often face unusual challenges.

Take the case of the Multnomah County snowboarders. This season, two hearing-impaired teenage girls joined head coach Chad Marcus’s squad. On the mountain, what with wind, snow and frozen faces, lip-reading and signing don’t always work. Fortunately, the girls, Ashley Medlock and Kendra Liebe, each came with a translator/volunteer. Working through the translators, Chad and his coaching team have been able to make substantial progress this season. “The challenges of coaching for Special Olympics bring out the best in you,” Chad says. “I love it when a new one arises.”

This snow season saw another breakthrough with a veteran hearing-impaired skier. Jerry Grisham of Multnomah County had difficulty with communications during the winter season. Then Coach Shelly Simpson noticed that Jerry and another athlete were passing notes. “Once Shelly saw that, she got an inspiration: Let’s use flash cards to communicate with Jerry!” says head ski coach Kelly Valade. (The above photo shows Shelly and Jerry after a training session at the Cooper Spur ski area on Mt. Hood.)

Now, Jerry has one set of laminated flash for his coaches (“I’m cold.” “I’m hungry.”), and the coaches have another set they use to communicate with Jerry (“Go!” “Wait.” “Lunch time.”). Jerry’s skiing smoother and safer, and the Multnomah program has a new coaching tool that others can adopt.

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