28
stories just waiting to be told. You can invite reporters out to the competition, email results after the
event, or take photos and send them into the local newspaper.
What about the rest of the year? Athlete outreach, volunteer recruitment and fundraising are ongoing
challenges for any Special Olympics program, and the primary reasons you seek press coverage. With
some creative thinking and an awareness of what is happening around you, there are ways to keep
Special Olympics at the front of peoples’ minds from January 1 through December 31.
January: New Year’s Resolutions
How many times have you heard friends or family members resolve that this is the year they are
going to become more active in their communities? Help them along by giving them an outlet for
that volunteer spirit! Post volunteer recruitment flyers on community bulletin boards. Place a call for
volunteers in the community page or upcoming events column in your local paper. Better yet, set
up a meeting with the advertising director and see if the publication might be willing to donate some
ad space to Special Olympics!
February: Winter Games/Activities
Here’s the first of those big competitions mentioned above. Invite a reporter to a training session to
see how Special Olympics athletes get ready for statewide competition. This is a great time to explain
the strong emphasis your program places on training and coaching. After Winter Games ends, send
results and some good photos from the week to local reporters.
March: Spread the Word Inclusion as a part of Intellectual Disability Awareness Month
During the first week of March, it’s time to Spread the Word to End the Word. Use various
media outlets to inform supporters of our movements to eliminate the use of the r-word in
everyday speech. Invite followers to take a personal pledge to stop using the word
themselves. Also, the media love “awareness month” activities, because it gives them a
chance to put a local spin on a nationwide campaign. Consider sending a letter to the
editor explaining the history and life-changing benefits of Special Olympics. Also, arrange to have your
program’s Global Messengers do talks at schools, community organizations and Intellectual Disability
Awareness Month activities to tie-in this theme.
April: Volunteer Recognition Month
This provides a great opportunity to thank your volunteers publicly and encourage others to inspire
greatness through volunteerism. Submit a letter to the editor to your local program newspaper
celebrating the contributions of your volunteers. Almost every program that submits it to the local paper
gets it placed, so give it a try!
May: Local Spring Games
Most local programs have a large spring competition in preparation for the statewide Summer Games.
Judging from the press clippings we receive in the state office, these events almost always generate
some good coverage. Invite media to attend, set up interviews with athletes and coaches and take lots
of photos to send out to local reporters who can’t make it to your Games.
June: Summer Games
This is SOPA’s largest competition of the year, and we get many calls from local
reporters wanting to talk to local athletes who will travel to Penn State. An event
like this really demonstrates the scope of the Special Olympics program here in
Pennsylvania. Don’t be afraid to call the media and let them know that a
delegation from your community is going to compete at the state level. It’s a big
accomplishment.
July: Independence Day
Although most programs enjoy a bit of a break after Summer Games, there’s no rest for the
weary PRC! While freedom and independence are at the front of everyone’s mind, remind
your community that individuals with intellectual disabilities deserve the same freedoms that
we all enjoy. Write an editorial explaining how far this population has come since the
founding of Special Olympics in 1968. Cite specific examples from your area, like Global
Messengers, USA and World Games athletes, athletes on the local management team or