The Torch - Winter 2014 - Special Olympics North Dakota

The Torch
Winter 2014
Welcome to The Torch
The Torch will be a quarterly newsletter dedicated to highlighting the
committed efforts of the volunteers of the Law Enforcement Torch
Run®, and the many successes of the athletes of Special Olympics.
Each day, those committed to LETR® see first hand the relentless pursuit Special Olympics athletes have to being the best person and best
athlete they can be. In the fast paced world we live in, it can be too
easy to forget to celebrate the many accomplishments of Law Enforcement Torch Run and the doors it has helped open for children
and adults with intellectual disabilities. The Torch will serve as a
sounding board to cherish the successes of Special Olympics and the
Law Enforcement Torch Run, as well as bring focus to even greater
goals of Special Olympics.
Sam Rankin selected to represent North Dakota in
2015 World Games Torch Run Final Leg
Deputy Sam Rankin of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office has been selected to represent North Dakota at the 2015 World Games Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg. Rankin will be one of 78 Law Enforcement Torch Runners from 23 Nations to raise awareness for Special
Olympics and the World Summer
Games by carrying the Flame of
Hope to many towns and communities throughout California. With 10
Special Olympics athletes from
across the World leading the way,
this Unified Final Leg Runners will
leave a lasting legacy of the Torch
Run and Special Olympics throughout California!
Please Consider a Year-End Donation
All of us at Special Olympics are thankful
for caring friends like you who support
our efforts and help transform the lives
of people with intellectual disabilities.
Tip-a-Cop raises $22,700 for
Special Olympics!
On September 23-24, the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) teamed
up with Applebee’s Grill and Bars
across North Dakota for the 8th annual Applebee’s Tip-a-Cop. Local Law
Enforcement in Bismarck, Devils
Lake, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks,
Jamestown, Minot, and Williston volunteered to help serve tables and
receive “tips” to raise funds for Special Olympics. The 2014 Tip-a-Cop
campaign proved to be the most successful in history, raising more than
$22,700 to support athletic programs
for children and adults with intellectual disabilities!
Please help us reach out to one more
person who wants to participate. Make
a tax-deductible gift to Special Olympics
North Dakota by December 31st, and it
will be matched dollar for dollar by our
partner Finish Line, up to a campaign total of $200,000. Donate today
Special Olympics North Dakota
2616 So. 26th St, Grand Forks, ND 58301
Tel 1.701.746.0331 Fax 1.701.772.1265 www.specialolympicsnorthdakota.org
Email [email protected] Facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsND Twitter @SONorthDakota
Special Olympics North Dakota
Clemenson wins Flame of Hope at SOND Annual Awards
Special Olympics North Dakota held it’s Annual Awards Banquet on November 15
at the Ramada Plaza & Suites in Fargo. Each year, SOND recognizes one LETR individual, agency, or sponsor for their dedication to raising awareness and funds for
the athletes of Special Olympics North Dakota. SOND is honored to present the
2014 Flame of Hope award to Erik Clemenson, US Air National Guard Security Forces. Clemenson has been a Torch Run volunteer since 2007. He serves as a restaurant coordinator for the annual tip-a-cop
fundraiser. Since 2012, Erik has been the
promotional voice of the event by joining
many of the local radio shows. This added
awareness has raised an additional $8,500
in just the last three years! Erik has grown
a communications group for the Law Enforcement Torch Run to more than a 100
members. Erik has also been a consistent
plunger at the Polar Plunge.
Additional LETR Flame of Hope nominees were:
 Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar
 Dan Bower, US Air Force, Minot
 Cass County Sheriff’s Office
 Chad Johnson, ND Parole & Probation, Grand Forks
 Chris Smith, Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Office
 Ramada Plaza & Suites, Fargo
 Sam Rankin, Cass County Sheriff’s Office
23-24
24
7
8
12
21
29
13-14
28
14
JANUARY
Basketball Coaches Training
School-Fargo
Winter Sports CompetitionValley City
State Winter Games-Bottineau
Winter Park
Polar Plunge-Minot
FEBRUARY
Area Basketball TournamentGrand Forks
District IV Basketball TournamentDickinson
Giving Hearts Day
Polar Plunge-Jamestown
Area Basketball TournamentMinot
Area Basketball TournamentMandan
Polar Plunge– Fargo and Grand
Forks
MARCH
State Basketball TournamentMinot
Polar Plunge-Dickinson
APRIL
Dancing For Special StarsGrand Forks
29-30
MAY
State Summer Games-Fargo
9
19-20
22
25
JUNE
Golf Tournament- Oxbow
Unified Run Across America
Golf Tournament-Minot
Golf Tournament-Grand Forks
JULY
25-Aug 2 World Games-Los Angeles, CA
The Games will be held from July 24-August 2 and will be the
world’s largest sports and humanitarian event in 2015. The campuses of UCLA and USC will host many of the events as well as
housing for the delegations. Competition will be held in 22 official Special Olympics sports along with demonstration sports:
Beach Volleyball, Open-Water Swimming, and Triathlon.
12-13
22-23
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have committed to serve as Honorary Chairs of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.
Josh Jerome of Grand Forks and Adam Maresh of Valley City will represent Team USA at the
Games. Josh will compete in Athletics and Adam in Power Lifting. Julie Blehm of Fargo is a
member of the Team USA medical team and Cindy Schopper of Valley City is the sports manager for Athletics for Team USA.
For more information about the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, go to www.la2015.org
Adam Maresh,
Powerlifting
11
28
For the first time since 1999, the Special Olympics World Summer
Games will be held in the USA. Los Angeles, the world capital for
media and entertainment, will host the Games which will include
7,000 athletes from 170 nations. Thirty thousand volunteers,
3,000 coaches, and 500,000 spectators are expected to take part
in the Games.
Josh Jerome,
Athletics
4
22
North Dakota athletes selected to Team USA for the
2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games
Dr. Julie Blehm,
Medical
Upcoming Events
Cindy Schopper,
Athletics
Interested in helping raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics?
Each LETR fundraiser is organized by a volunteer organizing committee made up of LETR volunteers
and community business leaders. We are always looking to add committee members to our existing
events, or to create new fundraising opportunities. Are you interested or do you know someone that
would be great for one of our committees?
Contact Reid Huttunen at SOND; 701.746.0331 or email [email protected]
1-3
SEPTEMBER
State Soccer Bocce TournamentGrand Forks
Applebee’s Tip-a-Cop
statewide
OCTOBER
LETR International Conference
Special Olympics Athletes Become Homecoming Royalty
Special Olympics athletes teach us daily the value of friendship, compassion, and joy. Our
athletes have electric personality, and an uncanny ability to lead their peers through the
tough times, finding the positive in every situation. This fall three local High School students were recognized for their compassion, being voted by their peers as Homecoming
Royalty! Devils Lake High School voted King Alex Paulson and Queen Cassidy Shereck as
their homecoming heroes, and at Grand Forks Central, student Baylee Bjorge was voted by
her peers as the schools Homecoming Queen. Congratulations to each of you on this inspiring honor!
Truck Convoy Raises more than $13,000
Fifty trucks, each with 18 wheels – all with one mission – to raise awareness and funds to support Special Olympics North
Dakota. On September 20th, the trucking industry, escorted by local law enforcement teamed up to form the truck convoy, and raise more than $13,000 to support Special Olympics North Dakota. The Lead Dog Auction, was won by Kyllo
Trucking from Larimore, ND. At the Truck Convoy, each driver had the chance to meet Special Olympics athletes and
challenge them to a friendly game of bocce. The event, in its 10 th year, has become a great celebration of the trucking
industry, and their ability to celebrate the champions of Special Olympics!
2014 World’s Largest Truck Convoy sponsored in part by:
Silver Sponsor: Britton Transport, Jim’s Towing, Wanzek Construction
Bronze Sponsor: E.W. Wylie Corp.
2014 State Soccer & Bocce Tournament
2014 State Bowling Tournament
On September 13-14, more than 350 Special Olympics
participants from 10 programs gathered in Grand
Forks to compete in the State Soccer & Bocce Tournament. More than 475 volunteers that made the State
Soccer & Bocce Tournament a huge success. Along
with, the City of Grand Forks, Grand Forks Park District, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks Public
Schools, University of Minnesota-Crookston. Congratulations athletes on an incredible Soccer/Bocce
Season!
The State Bowling Tournament, held on November 1st
- 2nd at Midway Lanes in Mandan, saw 573 bowlers
from 15 programs across North Dakota competing for
the Gold Medal. Singles and ramp singles competition
was held for males and females in all age categories.
High Scratch Games from the tournament included
Female - Carol Bobb of Dickinson, 161 Male – Timothy
Johnson of Fargo, 211. Midway Lanes and Horizon
Middle School graciously provided host facilities for
the weekend events, and University of Mary athletics,
Aetna, RSVP+, and Bismarck Bobcats hockey team
provided more than 340 volunteers to support the
competition.
Freezin for a Reason! Take the Plunge for Special Olympics!
2015 Polar Plunge Locations
January 24
February 21
February 28
February 28
March 28
Date TBA
- Minot
- Jamestown
- Fargo
- Grand Forks
- Dickinson
- Bismarck (New plunge in 2015)
We’re getting warmed up to get our chill on! It’s almost Polar Plunge Season!
The Polar Plunge is an annual fundraiser organized by community volunteers and is part of the year-round Law
Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) to raise awareness and funds to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics
North Dakota! Polar Plunges offer a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, and businesses to support Special Olympics athletes by raising money and taking the plunge into icy North Dakota waters.
For more information and to register for a plunge, visit
www.specialolympicsnorthdakota.org
“Cool Cash” Calendar Raffle raise’s funds for SOND
Law Enforcement Torch Run volunteers across North Dakota
sold calendar drawing raffle tickets for the annual “Cool Cash”
Calendar raffle, raing more than $11,000 in gross proceeds to
support the athletes of Special Olympics North Dakota. The Calendar drawing was held daily from November 28th through December 20th, with winning tickets taking home $200 on weekday
drawings and $500 on weekend drawings. To view the complete
list of raffle winners, visit www.specialolympicsnorthdakota.org
Thank you to all the law enforcement that helped sell tickets and
participated in the raffle!
Trooper Travis Nelson and a Special Olympics athlete running the Final Leg at the 2014 USA Games
Thank You Law Enforcement Torch Run® for your support of
Special Olympics North Dakota!
Special Olympics North Dakota · 2616 S 26th St · Grand Forks ND 58201
Email: [email protected] · Phone: 701-746-0331 · Fax: 701-772-1265
www.specialolympicsnorthdakota.org

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