Dove Aviation Community Activities

Boost for Special Olympics

Julie Jackson of Dove Aviation Ministry, left, receives a check for $1,063 and change on behalf of Special Olympics from Helen Grimes, President of the service organization, Soroptimist of East Contra Costa County. The club recently raised the funds through one of its many luncheons to help Special Olympics offset the cost of hosting special events for developmentally disabled athletes of all ages. Jackson has spearheaded an effort to bring Special Olympics to far East County and has already hosted an eight-week bowling event. A basketball league is starting in January 2006. Time and place to be announced.

To learn more about the Special Olympics or to volunteer, call (925) 944-8801.

Special Olympics roll into Harvest Park (November 2005)
By; Andy Antczak
Brentwood Press
SPORTS

The spirit of the Special Olympics is eloquently captured in its Athlete Oath and now locals can capture the spirit here in Brentwood.

Through November 20th the Special Olympics of Northern California (SONC) will hold its bowling training program in centers all over the greater Bay Area, including Brentwood’s Harvest Park Bowl. The weekly practice sessions consist of two hours of bowling between noon and 2 p.m. every Sunday, with instruction from coaches Tony Verdon and Heather Hudgens. The nine weeks of training culminates with the Northern California Regional Bowling Competition, scheduled for December 3rd at Diablo Lanes in Concord.

On September 25th, 10 developmentally disabled bowlers participated in the Harvest Park Bowl event.

Julie Jackson of Dove Aviation Ministry spearheaded the movement to bring Special Olympics to Brentwood and was on hand for the first week of the program.

“It was a lot of fun. The bowlers really enjoyed themselves…and there was some very good bowling, too, “she said.

Jackson explained that volunteers are a vital in ensuring that Special Olympics remain a fixture in Brentwood.

“We are still looking for a basketball coach for the next season which starts right after the bowling program ends.

The wonderful thing about the Special Olympics is that it is entirely free to the participants. One hundred percent of support comes from donations & volunteers”. The Special Olympics provides athletic training and competition to over 1.7 million persons with intellectual disabilities in over 150 countries around the globe every year. The spirit of competition lasts all year, as athletes participate in 19 different sports ranging from softball to snowboarding. But for now, locals can watch these special athletes bowl over the competition in Brentwood.