Special Olympics New Hampshire Newsletter

The Summer Games Opening Ceremonies are an opportunity for Local Programs, families, friends and fans to celebrate the athletes of SONH! Law Enforcement officers will honor our athletes as well as they participate in the Cruiser Parade as part of Opening Ceremonies. We urge our athletes to visit, and ask their local police department to send a cruiser or specialty vehicle to the Cruiser Parade on Friday, June 3rd. The vehicles participating in the parade will meet in parking lot A at UNH by 7:00 pm and one will win Best Cruiser. Law Enforcement officers can contact UNH PD Deputy Chief Paul Deen with any questions via phone (603) 862-1427 or email him at PHD@unh.edu.

Local Programs

Fundraising Opportunity

The Big Scoop Book, is an ice cream book with everything you need to find the best ice cream in New Hampshire. The Big Scoop Book - is the ideal book for anyone looking to find the best place for their next delicious, locally made ice cream cone, sundae or frappe. The book will be sold at the SONH store at Summer Games and 40% of the proceeds go to SONH. Local Programs have the opportunity to sell the book as well. A Local Program can have as many books as they would like to sell, and 40% of the sales will be credited to their Local Program. If you are interested in this fundraiser for your Local Program please contact Katie (Diggins) Closs at KatieC@sonh.org

Local Program Coordinator Needed

The Manchester Local Program is looking for a new Local Program Coordinator (LPC). As the LPC, you would coordinate all activities of the program including practice sites, athlete registrations, compliance and fundraising. If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity please contact Katie (Diggins) Closs at KatieC@sonh.org.

Applebee's and SONH

Restaurant Supports SONH with Promotion

Special Olympics and Applebee's restaurants have teamed up to help raise money and awareness for Special Olympics! The money raised through our partnership with Applebee's will help cover costs associated with running the Summer Games. Each restaurant will sell torch icons to raise funds for SONH. Additionally, local Applebee's restaurants will be running various promotions, which include pancake breakfasts, Dining to Donate, Tip-A-Cop and even a silent auction! Visit our calendar to find an event at your local Applebee's.

New Hampshire Police Sergeant Heads to Greece

Rindge Police Sergeant Frank Morrill will join 100 police officers from across the United States and more than 35 countries in Athens, Greece this June as part of the Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Ten Special Olympics athletes from throughout the world have been selected to join with these members of law enforcement as they run through communities in Greece to promote the 2011 World Summer Games and Special Olympics.

Every two years, law enforcement officers from around the world gather to carry the "Flame of Hope" in a Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg� in honor of the Special Olympics World Summer or World Winter Games. The Torch Run Final Leg is not only a salute to the athletes who compete in the Special Olympics World Games, but also an honor for the participating law enforcement officers who make up the Torch Run Final Leg Team.

The Final Leg starts when, in the ancient Olympic tradition, the flame for the Special Olympics World Games is ignited by the rays of the sun opposite the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. This symbolic flame, protected in miner's lamps, travels to the site of the World Games, where law enforcement officers, representing their state, province or nation, act as "Guardians of the Flame" and carry the "Flame of Hope" (Special Olympics torch) to the Opening Ceremonies of the Games.

Read the Keene Sentinel article about Sgt. Morrill and his involvement in LETR.

Soccer Jamboree

May 21 - Epping

The State Soccer Jamboree is this weekend! Thirteen teams will compete in four divisions at the Seacoast United outdoor fields in Epping. Games will begin at 9:30 and spectators are welcome.

Game Schedule

Seacoast United

TD Bank & TD Ameritrade Partner with Special Olympics

During the months of May and June, TD Bank and TD Ameritrade are partnering with 12 Special Olympics programs in an effort to raise $1,000,000 for Special Olympics! Locations across New Hampshire will raise funds for SONH athletes through the sale of wristbands and Silly Bandz. To learn more click here.

Summer Games

June 3 - 4

The Summer Games at UNH are just two short weeks away and the management team is working hard to put the final touches on the event. The general schedule has been updated and a draft is available on the Summer Games page of our website. In addition to the schedule update, we have also posted the nomination form for the David Storace Award on our website. Nominations for this award must be athletes competing in Aquatics at the 2011 Summer Games and must be made by an Aquatics coach.

Please Note:

The Thursday night Lead Person meeting is at the Whittemore Center.

Athletes should be in competition appropriate attire while competing (no jeans).

Summer Games page

General Schedule (Draft)

David Storace Award nomination form

Eunice Kennedy Shriver's Special Olympics Inspiration

As the Special Olympics New Hampshire Summer Games approach, we hope you will take time to watch this video of Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver as he helps tell the story of his mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and what inspired her to found Special Olympics.

Special Olympics Invites your agency to the State Summer Games!

Your role as Guardians of the Flame are very important to the athletes so we hope to see you there! Participate in one or all of the following:

Run and fundraise for the Torch Run - meet at the metered parking lot next to the UNH PD at 2:30 pm on Friday, June 3rd. Be part of bringing the Flame of Hope to the Summer Games! www.sonh.org
Bring a Cruiser or Specialty vehicle to the Cruiser Parade on Friday, June 3rd by 7:00 pm - Parking Lot A at UNH, Durham. Can your vehicle win Best Cruiser in 2011? Contact Deputy Chief Paul Dean at UNH PD with any questions at 862-1427 or PHD@unh.edu
Enjoy good food and good company at the Durham PD BBQ from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Be a Hero and hand out medals to athletes on Friday, June 3rd and Saturday, June 4th. Contact Tim Acerno at 419-8563 or tjace@vzw.blackberry.net
Come join the Law Enforcement Display on Saturday, June 4th from 10 am to 2 pm that will include Marine Patrol Boats, NHSP Helicopter and much, much more! Contact Amy Bossi at 496-4484 or hpd.abossi@tds.net

About Us

The mission of Special Olympics New Hampshire 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.