All teenagers feel like outcasts at some point, but imagine being a teen with an intellectual disability. No one will talk to you. You eat lunch alone and keep to yourself in the hallways. You don’t fit in. You become so shy, so terrified of expressing your opinions, that one day you decide to stop speaking altogether.
Flash forward one year. The roar of the crowd washes over you. People stare and point, but it’s because you’ve just completed a gymnastics routine. As you stand before the crowd, exhibiting grace, power and strength, you can’t stop smiling – because you know your days of silence are over.
You may not be able to experience this transformation, but you can make this change possible for someone with an intellectual disability. Make an individual gift to Special Olympics and you’ll be part of a movement that has transformed nearly 3 million lives around the world. Gifts from individuals like you make it possible for us to bring hope, joy and opportunity to people who are overlooked by society and vastly underestimated by their peers. Ways you can give today include:
A journey that begins in one small practice room can lead to a life that opens eyes and opportunities for many. You can be part of this amazing transformation. Even the smallest donation allows us to train skilled and compassionate coaches, rent practice and event space, and buy equipment for our athletes. Every dollar you give helps us bring a dream to life.
Your gift can help make that happen in your community. Even the smallest gift can make a difference. Every gift and every life matters.