Contact: SOIA Director of Athlete Initiatives, Kathy Irving, 515-418-2284 or kirving@soiowa.org
Who: Nearly 300 participants from Altoona and Ankeny ages 3-5. Participants will be accompanied by their parent or their preschool or elementary school teachers and chaperones. 300 volunteers from Sammons Financial Group, Ankeny High School and Ankeny Centennial High School will run each event and work as team leaders. The event is sponsored by Sammons Financial Group.
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What: Young Athletes Play Day is a program designed to provide play activities and socialization opportunities for children in special education, traditional educational and unified sports programs between the ages of 2-7. This program was created to serve children too young to participate in traditional Special Olympics Iowa sports (minimum entry age being eight years and up).
When: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 – 2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 17
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Where: Ankeny Centennial High School, 2200 NW State St, Ankeny
Background:
Special Olympics Iowa is hosting the first Annual Young Athletes Play Day sponsored by Sammons Financial Group on Thursday, April 17. On the 17th, two sessions will take place at 9:30–11:30 a.m. and 12:30–2:30 p.m. Play Days are designed to provide play activities and socialization opportunities for children between the ages 2-7 with intellectual disabilities. Those in special education, traditional education and Unified Sports will all be part of the activities. This program was created to serve children too young to participate in traditional Special Olympics Iowa sports (minimum entry age being eight years and up). Play Activity Days also provide networking opportunities for parents of children with intellectual disabilities.
“The Ankeny community involvement and that of families is getting everyone really excited,” said SOIA Director of Athlete Initiatives, Kathy Irving. “The Play Day will be a great opportunity for the local high school students and Sammons Financial Group employees to experience new volunteer opportunities.”
Students will enjoy activities in: tennis ball throw, standing long job, batting, basketball, musical balance beam, ribbon routine, soccer kick, 25 ft. dash, ball darts and ramp bowling.
Special Olympics Iowa, a statewide nonprofit organization, has provided sports training and competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities since 1968. Approximately 12,000 athletes and Unified Partners participate in Special Olympics Iowa events and competitions annually. For more information, call 515-986-5520 or visit www.soiowa.org.