Grant will help fund healthy athlete screenings, updated equipment and enhanced training for coaches Green Bay Packers Give Back has awarded a $250,000 Impact Grant to Special Olympics Wisconsin, announcing the news with a surprise check presentation last Saturday, when the Packers Tailgate Tour group made a stop at the Special Olympics Wisconsin Spring Games in Oshkosh. Special Olympics Wisconsin provides 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 develo ..read more

Special Olympics Wisconsin is joining forces with Jersey Mike’s Subs locations in Wisconsin for the 14th Annual March “Month of Giving” campaign to support local charities. During the month of March, customers will have the option to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar or donate $1, $3, or $5 when placing their order. The Month of Giving campaign will culminate with Jersey Mike’s “Day of Giving” on Wednesday, March 27, when local Jersey Mike’s restaurants will give 100 percent of the day’s sales – not just profit – to Special Olympics Wisconsin. “This is an exciting opportunity to ma ..read more

True peace begins with a smile and science tell us that smiling improves our mood, and those who smile tend to be happier, more energetic, and healthier. However, for many Special Olympics athletes, access to the dental care required to get that beautiful smile can sometimes be difficult. The Special Smiles® initiative was established to assure Special Olympics athletes have access to proper dental care. Special Smiles screenings are offered at all Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) statewide events and provide screenings, health education, and prevention services, in addition to referring athl ..read more

Special Olympics Wisconsin Athlete Annie Mulligan and Unified Partner Daisy Lang, along with SOWI President & CEO Chad Hershner and VP of Marketing & Communications Addie Teeters, represented SOWI in Washington, D.C. for Special Olympics’ annual Capitol Hill Day advocacy work. Special Olympics athletes, serving as self-advocates, have been leading hundreds of face-to-face meetings with members of Congress in both the House and Senate, inviting their elected officials to partner with them in supporting inclusive education and health initiatives for people with intellectual disabilities ..read more

AHW Seed Grants support community health, workforce development, and health-focused research The Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW) announced it will fund 79 new projects in 2024, focused on improving health and advancing health equity in Wisconsin. Special Olympics Wisconsin was selected for an AHW Seed Grant of $50,000 to advance its Inclusive Health Training initiative. “To improve access to quality health care for people with ID, this project will develop a comprehensive curriculum mode for MCW medical students in Green Bay and Milwaukee who are beginning their clinical rotati ..read more

Special Olympics Wisconsin welcomed four new staff members, bolstering Health & Wellness programs and fundraising staffs for the statewide organization. Cassie Hopp joins Special Olympics Wisconsin as the Director of Inclusive Health—a new position within the Health & Wellness team. Hopp comes from a rich background in nonprofit work, most recently with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. She will work to expand SOWI’s Inclusive Health initiative, providing trainings across the state and building relationships with healthcare systems and universities. Kayla Kleinsteiber also joins the H ..read more

Nearly 800 bocce, flag football, and softball athletes from across the state will converge on the Woodside Dells Sports Complex (4770 State Hwy 13, Wisconsin Dells) Friday through Sunday, September 8-10, for the inaugural Special Olympics Wisconsin Fall Games. An Opening Ceremony at Chula Vista Resort will welcome all athletes, coaches, family, and fans on Friday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m. Bocce, flag football, and softball teams will all begin competition Saturday morning at 9 a.m., with flag football and softball teams’ medal rounds taking place Sunday. A full schedule of events can be found ..read more

Special Olympics Wisconsin and its Board of Directors has announced Addie Teeters as the next Vice President of Marketing & Communications. “Addie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the organization and has a deep personal passion for the work we do,” SOWI President & CEO Chad Hershner said. “Her experience will be an invaluable asset to our organization-wide branding, marketing, and communications initiatives and we are thrilled to have her join the team.” Teeters has spent her entire professional career in communications and marketing, drawn specifically to innovative mes ..read more

Special Olympics Wisconsin and its Board of Directors has announced Nicholas Reising as the next Vice President of Development. “We are thrilled to have Nick join the team,” SOWI President & CEO Chad Hershner said. “He brings vast knowledge of fundraising, non-profit executive leadership, and working in federated models to Special Olympics Wisconsin. He will make an immediate impact with our development and special events initiatives.” Reising offers an integrated approach to development and extensive experience with fundraising activities and events, strategic marketing campaigns, and don ..read more

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has awarded Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) $191,000 to expand its Inclusive Health program. This grant is part of a statewide effort intended to improve Medicaid home and community-based services that help older adults and people who have disabilities. A total of $12.75 million is being awarded to 91 organizations statewide during this round of funding. SOWI’s awarded project will raise awareness around the issue of health disparities facing people with ID, foster development focused on delivering care to people with ID, and ultimately creat ..read more