Our Top 10 Moments of 2024
A Message from Our Staff
Friends,
It’s been another amazing year, and we couldn’t have done it without you! Today, we’re taking a look back at the year that was and looking forward to the year ahead. Thanks for always being there for our athletes!
All the best,
The Team at Special Olympics New York
#10: Pregame Impact in Health
Whether it was Hill Day advocacy or Virtual Health Forums, our health team has done outstanding work this year! Just check out these stats:
- Offered more than 2,000 health screenings throughout the state, which is the most we’ve had post-pandemic.
- Trained 9 Fitness Captains to bring athlete leadership to their training clubs.
- Trained more than 100 Health Professionals and more than 150 health students.
#9: A Place for All Volunteers
Our main focus is always sports, but there’s so much more going on behind the scenes. In 2024, we recruited more coaches, formed our Impact Club, and even added three new board members. Special shoutout to our newest member, Lt. Shaun Cuddeback, who will carry the Flame of Hope at next year’s World Games!
#8: Gold Medals & More at State Games
Among our three State Games this year, we hosted a total of 2,594 athletes and coaches and 1,455 volunteers. We raised also raised $390,000 in sponsorships and kicked off each event with Young Athletes showcases.
Special thanks to our communities in Syracuse, Ithaca, and Glens Falls for making these games so successful!
#7: Sponsors Keeping Us in the Game
This year, we had some bigtime sponsors supporting our athletes in a variety of ways.
Our thanks to the following sponsors for donating $50,000 or more EACH: Jersey Mike’s, Gallagher, The Golisano Foundation, NYS Elks Major Projects, Dunkin’, Broadview Federal Credit Union, Erie County, Warren County, and Bank of America.
#6: The Pros Step Up
New York’s professional sports franchises did so much for our athletes in 2024! Some examples…
- The New York Jets started our first High School Unified Flag Football League.
- The Buffalo Bills once again hosted our Buffalo Bowl at Highmark Stadium.
- The New York Islanders donated a generous $100k to our athletes.
- The New York Yankees hosted athlete clinics and donated $25k.
- The New York Knicks organized a basketball clinic for our athletes.
#5: Flag Football Frenzy
Our athletes had the opportunity of a lifetime when they played in this season’s New York Jets Unified Flag Football League. Best yet, they played the finals at MetLife Stadium!
#4: Athlete All-Stars
We could not be more proud of our athlete leaders!
In October, our Statewide Athlete Leadership Council graduated after an amazing three-year term. That included ALC Chair Jessica Spitz , who’s also the National ALC Mid-Atlantic Representative. Plus, our very own Billy Seide and Will Smith have both been selected to leadership roles at the 2026 USA Games; Billy to the Advisory Council and Will to the Board of Directors.
#3: Unified Generation
The #UnifiedGeneration has been working overtime to bring inclusion to schools! This year, they joined youth leadership summits in five regions.
Furthermore, 13 of those schools earned National Banner status: New Hyde Park Memorial, Sayville High, Amherst Central, Niagara Wheatfield, Pioneer Central, Canandaigua Academy, Manhattan Occupational Training Center, Canandaigua Middle School, Chittenango High, Fredonia High, Newburgh Free Academy, Glens Falls High, and Hoosick Falls High. Congratulations!
#2: The Polar Plunge Heats Up
$200,000 in Westchester, $300,000 in Lake George, $600,000 in Buffalo…no matter where you go, #PlungeNation, you’re making a massive impact on our athletes!
In fact, among the 12,000 people who Plunged this year, you helped us raise a total of $2,655,233 statewide. Thank you all so much!
#1: New York State Prioritizes Inclusion
Thanks for a fantastic 2024!
Looking forward to more in 2025. 🙂
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