IHSAA: Special Olympics Indiana, IHSAA announce partnership

From ihsaa.org

The Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc., and Special Olympics Indiana have announced a partnership that will set the stage for ongoing activities between the athletes from both organizations intended to foster mutually beneficial learning experiences for years to come.

The partnership was inspired by the 2012?13 IHSAA Student Advisory Committee as it sought out opportunities for community outreach and volunteer experiences and decided that Special Olympics was a perfect fit for its goals. The SAC is a group of 18 student?athletes who represent the 160,000 participants around the state as a liaison to the IHSAA staff and Board of Directors.

“We feel that a partnership with Special Olympics will provide us with an opportunity to learn as student leaders by giving back to a very special group of individuals in our communities based on our mutual interest in sports,” said Ally Stein, a senior at Hamilton Southeastern High School and president of this year’s Student Advisory Committee.

Through the partnership, the IHSAA will encourage its 410 member schools and their athletes and coaches to participate in existing Special Olympics events, create their own events, and otherwise lend support to Special Olympics Indiana. The activities pursued by IHSAA student-athletes will vary in each school, county, and athletic conference tailored to best utilize the student-athletes’ time and local resources.

“The opportunity for the IHSAA to partner with Special Olympics of Indiana may prove to be one of the most profound decisions made by the Association in the ongoing development of student leaders in an education-based athletic setting,” said IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox. “I am most pleased that our Student Advisory Committee has decided to engage with and support the activities of one of our state's most important organizations.”

Added Mike Furnish, president and CEO of Special Olympics Indiana: “By partnering with the IHSAA, we’re optimistic that students with special needs will be more accepted in their schools and feel more motivated to get involved in sports through Special Olympics.”

The IHSAA and Special Olympics Indiana will celebrate the new partnership with a reception at IHSAA world headquarters (9150 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis) Tuesday, Dec. 18, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET. News media are welcome to attend.

For additional information on the partnership, contact Lee Lonzo, IHSAA Educational Consultant, at LeeLonzo@me.com or (317) 796?5490.

About Special Olympics Indiana
Special Olympics Indiana is a not-for-profit organization that provides year-round sports to more than 11,000 athletes across Indiana. The organization receives no federal- or state-appropriated funds, is not a United Way agency, and relies entirely on corporate, civic, and individual donations.

For more information about Special Olympics Indiana, call (317) 328-2000 or visit www.soindiana.org.

About the IHSAA
Founded in 1903, the purpose of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc., is to encourage, regulate, and give direction to wholesome amateur interschool athletic competition between its 410 member schools. The Association provides state championship tournament series in 20 sports – 10 for girls and 10 for boys.

Approximately 160,000 student-athletes participate in IHSAA sports on an annual basis.