Let the games begin Let the games begin (March 19, 2004)

Amador Valley High partners with Special Olympics to bring the games to P-town
by Heidi Massie

"Let me win; but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." -Special Olympics Oath

It started as a way for the Amador Valley High School Athletic Boosters to give student athletes service opportunities within the community. What it became, and continues to become, is an enthusiastic partnership between Amador and the Tri-Valley Special Olympics that has caused a tremendous outpouring of volunteering from students, parents and community leaders. As a result, for the first time, Pleasanton's own Special Olympics athletes will compete in regional contests in their own hometown.

Thirty-eight teams will attend the annual East Bay Regional Special Olympics Basketball Tournament at AVHS on March 27-28 - the first of many events to take place in Pleasanton. In the past, the athletes had to travel to Fremont and Walnut Creek to compete. Facility rental and travel costs, and the inconvenience for families, made it difficult for all athletes to participate.

"It's developed much further than we ever thought," said Ken Mano, treasurer of AVHS Boosters, of the partnership with Special Olympics that he got off the ground in December. "We have scheduled facilities for all the upcoming events at no cost. With the help and cooperation of our school district and city facilities staff, we have been able to bring the competitions to Pleasanton at Amador and Pleasanton Middle School. This will also make it easier for our students to provide service when it is needed."

"The outpouring of volunteering since Amador got involved has been huge," said an excited Tom Morelli, long-time Pleasanton resident and head coach of the Tri-Valley R.A.D.D. chapter of Special Olympics. R.A.D.D. stands for Recreational Activities for Developmentally Disadvantaged and has been part of the Pleasanton Parks program for more than 30 years.

Morelli, who has volunteered part time since 1970 and full time for the last three years, coordinates all sports including long-distance run/walk, track and field, basketball, cross-country snowshoe and golf.

"Getting the AV gym and track for free is a huge savings of about $1,100 a day," he said. "There is no cost to athletes and their families so this savings really helps."

During the last few months, the Boosters have held volunteer training sessions for Amador students, and the excitement among the Special Olympics staff and Amador volunteers is intense. Many Amador athletes will help coach and train the Special Olympiads in preparation for next week's basketball tournament, and the track and field meet in May.

Amador's Senior Leadership class is assisting with volunteer signups for the student body.

"At least 40 students have already signed up and completed training for the two events," said leadership class member Caitlin May, who is heading the recruitment effort along with Betsy Iddings. "It's a great event and will encourage students to get involved in the community. We'll get to know a lot of new people who need our help."
In the beginning

Last December, Boosters treasurer Mano read in the school district newsletter about the involvement of Student Activities secretary Patty Van Looy with the Special Olympics Walk for the Gold. Mano called Van Looy and asked how Boosters could get involved, and was directed to Andy Cho, sports manager for the East Bay Region.

"Andy was very excited to hear of our interest and was interested in building a partnership with the AV Boosters," said Mano. "We had been looking for a way to get our athletes involved in providing service, since we feel that helping others less fortunate than ourselves is not only something we should do but helps us grow and appreciate our own circumstances. Because we're already involved with athletics, it was a perfect opportunity and a good fit."

The Boosters immediately voted to donate $1,000 to Special Olympics. Within the next few days, Mano, with the help of Van Looy and Fran Gibson of the school district's Maintenance Department, worked with other city departments to schedule the events at Amador and Pleasanton Middle School at no cost.

From that point on, the partnership quickly grew into what it is today. And this is only the beginning.

"It's been a very wonderful partnership with the AVHS Booster Club, but the exciting part is just beginning," said Cho, who has been a volunteer for more than five years. "Getting the AVHS students involved with both Special Olympics practices and competitions is the ultimate goal. And with our partnership it's going to make it much easier for the students to experience the joy and satisfaction of working with our athletes, helping and cheering them on to success."

On the financial side of the partnership, Cho is equally excited.

"Our savings from just the competition facilities, thanks to the AVHS Booster club partnership, is about $6,000," said Cho. "That's not counting Ken Mano finding basketball facilities for our Tri-Valley youth team's practice at the Latter-day Saints Church saving another $800. And they are even going to host the snack bar (at the events) and give the proceeds to Special Olympics!"

"Amador Valley High School is very successful in their athletic endeavors and I think a lot has to do with their support from their Booster club," Cho added. "They are well aware of the importance of sports in the lives of their young athletes, and it's been great that they have also recognized the importance of sports to our Special Olympics athletes."
About Special Olympics

Started in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics is an international program of year-round sports training and athletic competition for more than 1 million children and adults with developmental disabilities. Special Olympics' goal is to give all persons with these disabilities a chance to become useful and productive, and accepted and respected in their communities. This is done through year-round sports training and competition that lets athletes develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy and participation with family and other athletes.

In the East Bay, more than 1,300 children and adults with developmental disabilities, such as Down syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy, participate in over 200 Special Olympics teams in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Locally, the R.A.D.D. team has 49 adults and the Tri-Valley Youth Team has 52 junior athletes ages 6-17.

"Special Olympics athletes are members of our community, but because of their special challenges, they are not an integral part of the community," said Morelli. "Coaches' goals are not just to coach sports but to also coach the athletes how to better acclimate into their community."
Volunteers make it happen

Special Olympics would not exist if it were not for the many volunteers who help train athletes and support competitions.

Getting hooked on volunteering isn't hard for Special Olympics coaches. "Once you see the joy in the athletes' faces, whether they finish first, last or in the middle, you're hooked," says Morelli.

Basketball coach Don Norcross is a good example. When asked at a recent basketball practice where he gets the energy to run up and down the courts coaching Special Olympics - cheering all the while - after working all day, he responded, "When it's this, it's easy!"

That's the volunteering spirit that Morelli hopes will capture the Amador students and the Pleasanton community. It's the Boosters' hope as well.

"Providing service often brings back as much or more to the individual giving as those receiving," said Mano. "AV Boosters is already known in the Special Olympics community for our partnership, and Pleasanton will be known as the 'home' of the Special Olympics, demonstrating that we are indeed a 'Community of Character.'"
Get involved
To learn more about Special Olympics and how to volunteer, visit the Northern California Special Olympics Web site at www.sonc.org.

Games schedule

Annual East Bay Regional Basketball Competition March 27-28 Amador Valley High School and Pleasanton Middle School 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
East Bay Regional Track and Field Meet Saturday, May 8 Amador Valley High School 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
East Bay Regional Volleyball Tournament Saturday, June 5 Pleasanton Middle School 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
All events are free to the public. Snack bar proceeds go directly to Special Olympics.

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