Honor and Tribute Giving
Imagine growing up with an intellectual disability in a less-developed country. People in your village ridicule you and call you stupid. You’re forced to quit school, because they can’t meet your needs. Then, one day, you learn to run. You discover you’re fast. And, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities to you.
Special Olympics provides experiences like this every day all over the world, helping people with intellectual disabilities experience the freedom of movement, the thrill of competition and the warm glow of accomplishment. Working toward the goal of the next race lets Special Olympics athletes know that they can set and achieve goals in other areas of their lives, too – as students and employees, and in their families and the larger community. Here are a few ways you can support our work:
Make a Gift in Honor of Someone
Looking for a method to acknowledge someone who has touched your life? Honor giving, where your gift is made as a tribute or memorial, is a meaningful way to “pay forward” the good someone’s done in your life. You will help a child or adult with an intellectual disability experience the joy of competition, the thrill of achievement and the long-term benefits of physical activity.
Provide a Unique Wedding or Special Occasion Favor
Quick: how many tulle bags of Jordan almonds have you gotten at celebratory events? How many have you actually eaten? When you’re planning your next big event, think about an “in lieu of” favor gift to Special Olympics. We’ll provide embossed placecards for you to distribute to your guests, allowing you to honor your special day with a gift that will change a life.
Celebrate an Event
Does your cousin really need another salad bowl for her wedding? Does your nephew really want another sweater for his birthday? Your friends and family might enjoy something a little more meaningful this time, like a donation to Special Olympics, where even a small amount can be enough to buy gold medals or uniforms for a team, high-quality, safe sports equipment, or critical training for a volunteer coach. Your gift can mark a loved one’s significant life event in a more distinctive way than a generic gift card.
Every month of every year, Special Olympics provides opportunities for people to come together and share our aspirations, courage, and compassion, and to set aside the prejudices and differences that kept us apart. Every gift to Special Olympics creates a new hero who inspires hope in others.
Your gift can help make that happen in your community. Even the smallest gift can make a difference. Every gift and every life matters.