SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INC
1600 FORBES WAY NO 200, LONG BEACH, CA 90810 www.sosc.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE MISSION OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 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. OUR VISION IS TO PROMOTE ACCEPTANCE, INCLUSION, AND WELL-BEING FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES THROUGH SPORTS.

TO ENABLE INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TO LIVE BETTER LIVES THROUGH SPORTS.

SPORTS AND HEALTH PROGRAMSCOMPETITIONS:SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PROVIDES 231 COMPETITIONS IN 12 SPORTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. ATHLETES HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPETE AT THE LOCAL, REGIONAL AND CHAPTER LEVEL. THE SUMMER GAMES AND FALL GAMES ARE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF COMPETITION AT THE CHAPTER LEVEL WITH THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND SPECTATORS ATTENDING THE GAMES. ATHLETES MAY ALSO PROGRESS TO COMPETITIONS AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS. IN 2019, 6 SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ATHLETES COMPETED IN ABU DHABI AT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD SUMMER GAMES. THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ATHLETES COMPETED ALONGSIDE 7,500 ATHLETES FROM 170+ COUNTRIES. THROUGH THE POWER OF SPORTS, ATHLETES BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT, BUILD SELF-ESTEEM, AND LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES. THEY INSPIRE PEOPLE TO OPEN THEIR HEARTS AND CREATE MORE ACCEPTING AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES.TO ENSURE THAT OUR ATHLETES CAN CONTINUE TO PERFORM AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVELS, SPECIAL OLYMPICS OFFERS A VARIETY OF HEALTH PROGRAMMING. ONE OF THEM IS HEALTHY ATHLETES, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT COMPETITIONS. VOLUNTEER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS PROVIDE PODIATRY, HEARING, OPTOMETRY, DENTAL, DIETARY, AND FITNESS SCREENINGS IN A WELCOMING, FUN ENVIRONMENT. MANY OF OUR ATHLETES WALK AWAY WITH NEW GLASSES, VOUCHERS FOR HEARING AIDS, OR HEALTH REFERRALS TO A SPECIALIST IN THEIR COMMUNITY. ANOTHER PROGRAM IS TEAM WELLNESS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, ATHLETES CAN LIVE A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER, AND MORE ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. IT EDUCATES INDIVIDUALS WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING HEALTHY AND HELPS BUILD LIFE-LONG HEALTHY HABITS THROUGH FITNESS, NUTRITION AND HEALTH EDUCATION. PARTICIPANTS WALK AWAY WITH VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO FOLLOW AND SUSTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.SPORTS TRAINING:SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF YEAR-ROUND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATHLETES, COACHES AND OFFICIALS. THE ATHLETES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN IN 12 SPORTS. SPECIAL OLYMPICS PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED FREE TO OUR ATHLETES AND INCLUDE UNIFORMS, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, EQUIPMENT AND HOUSING WHEN APPROPRIATE. FEW PEOPLE IMPACT OUR ATHLETES' SUCCESS MORE THAN THE COACHES. COACHES NOT ONLY PROVIDE SPORTS SKILLS AND OVERSEE PRACTICES, BUT THEY ARE ROLE MODELS WHO TEACH SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES ABOUT CHARACTER, SPORTSMANSHIP, COURAGE, ABILITY AND PERSONAL GROWTH. SPECIAL OLYMPICS COACHES OFTEN FIND THAT THE PERSONAL REWARDS RECEIVED ARE EQUAL TO OR EVEN OUTWEIGH THE BENEFITS THEY OFFER THE ATHLETES. THAT IS WHY SOSC ENSURES THAT COACHES ARE PROVIDED THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN COACHING INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. IN ADDITION, OUR COACHES HELP TO OBTAIN QUALITY FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY FOR TRAINING. ALL OF OUR COACHES ARE BACKGROUND-SCREENED AND MANY OF OUR COACHES ARE CERTIFIED BY NATIONAL SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS. SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES MAY ALSO BECOME COACHES AND PURSUE OTHER LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. SPECIAL OLYMPICS ALSO PROVIDES CLASSES, CLINICS AND ONLINE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT OUR COACHES.

SCHOOLS PROGRAM:SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S SCHOOLS PROGRAM IS SHAPING A GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WILL LEAD US INTO A FUTURE OF INCLUSION. THE PROGRAM SPREADS ACCEPTANCE, INCLUSION, AND AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE FOR MORE THAN 30,000 STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND REDUCES BULLYING IN NEARLY 900 SCHOOLS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.29 RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR PEERS AND GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, AND A GLIMPSE AT HOW SPECIAL OLYMPICS CAN LEAD TO A LIFETIME OF SPORTS PARTICIPATION, FRIENDSHIPS, AND HEALTHY HABITS. THIS PROGRAM IS ALSO KEY TO ACHIEVING OUR STRATEGIC GOAL OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF ATHLETES WHO PARTICIPATE IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS. WE HOSTED 68 COMPETITIONS, 34 MOTOR ACTIVITY TRAINING PROGRAM FESTIVALS, AND 29 YOUNG ATHLETES FESTIVALS AT SCHOOLS. STUDENTS, TEACHERS, CLASSMATES, AND FAMILIES HAVE ALL BENEFITED FROM THE PROGRAM. PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN SCHOOL UNITY AS THE ENTIRE SCHOOL POPULATION HAS EMBRACED THIS EXPERIENCE AND COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS ALSO PUT IN PLACE PROGRAMS SUCH AS WHOLE SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT, UNIFIED SPORTS, AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP. WHOLE SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT CREATES AWARENESS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE INCLUSION THROUGHOUT SCHOOLS. EXAMPLES INCLUDE RESPECT CAMPAIGNS, PEP RALLIES, FANS IN THE STANDS INITIATIVES, AND STUDENT FUNDRAISING. YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONTINUES THE INCLUSION BY HAVING STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES WORK TOGETHER TO LEAD AND PLAN ADVOCACY, AWARENESS, AND OTHER INCLUSIVE ACTIVITIES. EXAMPLES INCLUDE SPECIAL OLYMPICS UNIFIED CLUBS, INCLUSIVE STUDENT COUNCILS, OR SIMILAR TYPES OF INCLUSIVE GROUPS. UNIFIED SPORTS IS ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES UNITY AND FRIENDSHIP THROUGH THE POWER OF SPORTS. STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES COMPETE AND TRAIN TOGETHER ENCOURAGING UNITY AND ACCEPTANCE FOR ALL.AT ITS CORE, THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM IS NOT JUST ABOUT INCLUDING STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, BUT UNIFYING ALL STUDENTS, MOVING FROM ADULT-LED PROGRAMMING TO STUDENT-LED MOBILIZATION AND ACTION, AND TRANSITIONING FROM SPORTS AS RECREATION TO SPORTS AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION AND CHANGE."

SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S OTHER PROGRAM COSTS INCLUDE:PUBLIC EDUCATION SOSC IS FOCUSED ON COMMUNICATING STRATEGICALLY TO BUILD ON SPECIAL OLYMPICS STRONG BRAND RECOGNITION TO BETTER EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON OUR PROGRAMS AND MISSION AND TO ENGAGE CURRENT AUDIENCES AND REACH NEW AUDIENCES THROUGH EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS. SOSC PROMOTES ITS MISSION AND PROGRAMS THROUGH A VARIETY OF MARKETING CHANNELS, INCLUDING DIRECT MAIL, PRINTED AND DIGITAL GRAPHICS, EMAIL MARKETING, SOCIAL MEDIA, TRADITIONAL MEDIA OUTREACH, CONTENT CREATION, AND MORE. THE 2019-2020 FOCUS HAS BEEN ON CULTIVATING SOSC'S CURRENT DATABASE OF SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, AND SPONSORS TO REACH OUR FUNDRAISING, SPORTS & PROGRAMS, AND VOLUNTEER GOALS. ATHLETE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA'S ATHLETE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM GIVES ATHLETES OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND SPORTS TRAINING AND COMPETITION. ATHLETES CAN BECOME COACHES, OFFICIALS, TEAM CAPTAINS, SPOKESPEOPLE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS. ATHLETES HELP GUIDE THE DIRECTION OF THE MOVEMENT AND ARE ADVOCATES OF ACCEPTANCE AND INCLUSION FOR ALL. FOUNDED IN 1986, THE ATHLETE FOR OUTREACH PROGRAM WAS STARTED AND FOCUSED ON GLOBAL MESSENGERS (OR SPECIAL OLYMPICS SPOKESPEOPLE). TODAY, THIS PROGRAM HAS GROWN INTO MULTIPLE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. THIS ALLOWS ATHLETES TO CHOOSE WHAT LEADERSHIP ROLE THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO, AT NO COST TO THEM OR THEIR FAMILIES. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF, INCLUDING STAFF CONFERENCES PART OF SOSC'S SUCCESS IS THROUGH BUILDING A STRONG TEAM CULTURE AND ENCOURAGING EMPLOYEES TO GROW SO THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE TOOLS TO ADVANCE SOSC'S SPORTS, WELLNESS, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS. THIS SUPPORT OF EMPLOYEES INCLUDES AN ANNUAL STAFF CONFERENCE TO DEVELOP STRATEGIC PLANS, CREATE CONSISTENCY WITHIN PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND BUILD TEAM MORALE. RECRUITMENT VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE MORE ATHLETES THROUGH SPORTS, WELLNESS, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING, WE NEED TO BECOME A STAFF LEAD, VOLUNTEER DRIVEN ORGANIZATION. TO DO THIS, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED CULTIVATING CURRENT DAY OF VOLUNTEERS TO BECOME YEAR-ROUND VOLUNTEERS AS A PRIORITY. EMPLOYEES ARE DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A STRATEGIC VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF SKILLED AND CAPACITY-BUILDING ROLES FOR VOLUNTEERS WITHIN SPORTS, WELLNESS, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING AND BUILDING RESOURCES TO EMPOWER VOLUNTEERS. WITH MORE VOLUNTEERS SUPPORTING THE MISSION, WE KNOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW AND SERVE TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE ATHLETES. LOCAL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT A KEY GOAL WITHIN SOSC'S 2017-2020 STRATEGIC PLAN IS TO OPTIMIZE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE TO ENSURE EFFICIENT LONG-TERM OPERATIONS. THE INTENT IS TO DIRECT MORE RESOURCES TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING. STARTING IN 2018, SOSC STARTED TO DEDICATE MORE RESOURCES AND STAFF TIME TO BUILDING AND SUPPORTING LOCAL PROGRAMS AND INCREASING VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT. THIS ALSO INCLUDED SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY TO FIELD STAFF TO STREAMLINE PROCESSES.

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