South Bay Coach Preaches Team First
By Julie Devine For South Bay coach Dave Barro, Special Olympics Southern California is an experience of a lifetime. In more than nine years, he has seen basketball transform lives and continue to shape athletes with determination, and provide a sense of community. A former high school basketball player, Dave began his involvement with SOSC ...
INSIDE SOSC: Summer Games Nears, Inclusion Revolution Grows
Special Olympics Southern California athletes have less than a month to go before Summer Games. Two events got a taste of what's to come, as all five sports – basketball, bocce, flag football, swimming, and track and field – were on display at both the Orange County Regional Spring Games and Warren High School Spring Games ...
INSIDE SOSC: Athletes Use the Force
WeAreSOSC.org made its way to both the most northern and southern areas of Special Olympics Southern California's footprint this past week. Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo played host to a simultaneous doubleheader, while Carlsbad High School was the site of the San Diego Regional Spring Games. Games a Hit in San Luis Obispo More ...
Steve Bolton: ‘We Are the Edge of the Movement’
By Tessa Sechler Volunteers within Special Olympics could easily be compared to the oil that flows through a machine, allowing everything to run smoothly. From setup, meal services and overall constant support, volunteers are the people that the athletes see most. Special Olympics could not be the success that it is without the work of ...
INSIDE SOSC: ‘Exhilarated’ Athletes, and Rafer Johnson’s Life on Display
Five competitions were on the schedule this past weekend and WeAreSOSC.org was in Chino Hills and Bakersfield for a pair events. Plus, an exhibit showcasing the life of Special Olympics Southern California founder Rafer Johnson is the newest addition to the LA84 Foundation Library. Inspiring Athletes Find Own Inspiration The cold clouds couldn’t deter more ...
Special Olympics Athletes Learn from College Basketball’s Best
By Tessa Sechler Just outside L.A. Live and Staples Center on April 12, a day filled with basketball clinics and games was underway. While the NCAA All-Americans would attend the College Basketball Awards later that evening at the Novo, during the day they showed off their basketball IQ and expertise as coaches for future fans. ...
INSIDE SOSC: LA Galaxy Unified Opener, and Hoops Action in Lakewood
This week, WeAreSOSC.org brings to you a brother tandem on the LA Galaxy Unified soccer team and a basketball enthusiast in the South Bay. LA Galaxy Unified Opener Danny Saucedo has been playing soccer his whole life. He is even more dedicated to support his brother, Armando, a Special Olympics athlete for the past three ...
INSIDE SOSC: Competition, Tip-A-Cops Start the Spring
This past week of events around Special Olympics Southern California included the 2019 Tri-Valley Glendale Regional Spring Games and Tip-A-Cop fundraisers at Claim Jumper restaurant locations. Young Athletes Provides a Foundation Jonathan Tiu sees his 10-year-old son, Luca, and wonders what life may look like without Special Olympics. Maybe it includes weekends sitting around the ...
National Volunteer Week: Patricia Matthews
By Kelsey Lewis Happiness and positivity energizes anyone and everyone. For Patricia Matthews, Community Relations Officer of Homeland Security, volunteering is always a happy surprise. She never knows what she’s going to see or experience at any of the opportunities, but she knows it’s going to be good. She’s driven by how being with Special ...
National Volunteer Week: In the Coaches’ Words
Coaches come from various backgrounds at Special Olympics Southern California. Some have personal connections to a particular sport and wanted a way to give back, others are law enforcement officers making time despite a busy schedule. Whatever the backstory may be, the coaches all share a common joy in watching the athletes grow. "I love ...