All Massachusetts Media Inquiries please contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Mandy Murphy Petro Kacur Marlborough, Mass – On Monday, April 19th, ten dedicated athletes will join together to run in the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon and to raise money for Special Olympics Massachusetts athletes. Team SOMA runners are fueled in their pursuit by their passion and commitment to the organization devoted to providing healthy lifestyles, year round sports training and competition, and healthcare related programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The unique team will join 25,000 other runners on a long journey from Hopkinton to Boston’s Back Bay in the 114th annual Boston Marathon. Team SOMA runners have trained diligently over the winter, facing cold, dark conditions, fatigue and injuries but they remain devoted to the cause and their goal of raising a minimum of $3,000 each for athletes. They have asked family, friends and their hometown residents to contribute to their efforts by making a donation. Team SOMA is comprised of: Margo Antonellis, Jill Cadigan-Christenson (Duxbury), Eric Crews (Cohasset), Karol Cronin (Dublin, Ireland), Jennifer Curran (Rockland), Mike Fisher (Wilbraham), Skip Matthews (Wilbraham), Jay O’Brien (Taunton), Jenn Rifenburg (Newton) and Chris Smalley (Medway). For Immediate Release Commitment Gives Athletes Access to Quality Dental Care Danvers, MA (September 21, 2009) – Special Olympics Chapters in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire are proud to announce the U.S. division of Sun Life Financial (NYSE:SLF, TSX:SLF) has expanded its relationship with Special Olympics in these three states by sponsoring the dental care initiative “Special Smiles.” As a Presenting Partner of the program, Sun Life supports the cause with a financial contribution for each chapter, employee volunteerism, and in-kind materials and services. “Sun Life Financial’s commitment to Special Olympics has a very significant impact on the quality and availability of dental care for Special Olympics athletes in these states,” said Robert Johnson, President and CEO of Special Olympics Massachusetts. “Many in this population suffer from a lack of qualified dental professionals to meet their needs and it is a goal of this program to provide increased access to quality dental health to all that come to Special Olympics.” The Special Smiles program aims to increase access to dental care for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, including Special Olympics athletes. Free dental screenings at Special Olympics events provide athletes with education and counseling on how their diet affects both their oral and overall health. The program has provided 850 athletes in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire with dental screenings in the past year alone. The Special Smiles program is one facet of the Health Athletes Initiative, which partners the Special Olympics with medical professionals and businesses willing to offer health screenings at Special Olympics events in seven areas: Fit Feet (podiatry), FUNFitness (physical therapy), Health Promotion (better health and well-being), Healthy Hearing (audiology), MedFest (sports physical exam), Opening Eyes (vision) and Special Smiles (dentistry). About Special Olympics About Sun Life Financial Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under ticker symbol SLF. Visit Sun Life Financial's website at www.sunlife-usa.com. Special Olympics Massachusetts to Host Annual Summer Games Presented by New Balance Foundation - June 19-21 Special Olympics MA Announces New Board Members Danvers, Mass – Special Olympics Massachusetts, a leader in providing healthy lifestyles and healthcare-related programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities has announced four new board members from the Boston area. The new members of the board bring an impressive list of credentials, leadership and skills to the year-round sports training and competition organization. They include: Massachusetts Car Donation Program Kicks Off Spring Clean-Up Campaign Recycle for Gold began in December 1993 and was developed as a partnership between Special Olympics Massachusetts and Millis Industries, the company who assists in towing and recycling automobiles donated to the program.
David Greenwood
978-568-1374
Cell: 617-633-3923
Press Releases
COCA-COLA AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS ANNOUNCE MATTHEW MILLETT OF SPENCER MASS. HAS BEEN SELECTED TO REPRESENT USA IN INAUGURAL
“SPECIAL OLYMPICS UNITY CUP” PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA
Millett One of 16 Special Olympics Athletes Selected to Participate in Soccer Match To Be Played During 2010 FIFA World Cup™ South Africa
Marlborough MA - April 28, 2010 – Special Olympics Massachusetts together with Coca-Cola, is proud to announce that Matthew Millett of Spencer Massachusetts has been selected to participate alongside soccer legends and other celebrities in the inaugural match of the “Special Olympics Unity Cup” presented by Coca-Cola, at the same stadium that just hours later will host a FIFA World Cup™ match. Millett is one of just 16 Special Olympics athletes that will represent all 3.3 million Special Olympics athletes worldwide during the Unity Cup at Cape Town Stadium in South Africa, on 3 July, prior to a quarterfinal match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Millett will take his soccer skills to the Unity Cup as a leading example of the power of Special Olympics Unified Sports®, with the goal of the Unity Cup to support the mission of inclusion and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities. Millett will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be on the same playing field as not only other Special Olympics athletes from around the world, but also an incredible roster of football legends and celebrities including: South African President Jacob Zuma, former South African National Football Team captain Lucas Radebe, former captain of South Africa’s National Women’s Football Team Desiree Ellis, and Clarence Seedorf of A.C. Milan, among others.
“We are both thrilled and proud of Matthew as he embarks on this journey to represent Massachusetts and the entire county,” stated Robert A. Johnson, president and CEO of Special Olympics Massachusetts. “Matthew’s participation in such a high-calibre event such as this will once again show the world that Matthew and his fellow athletes around the world can live a long, healthy and vibrant life through their association with Special Olympics.”
Since the establishment of Special Olympics in 1968, The Coca-Cola Company has been an Official Global Partner. Coca-Cola supports the movement through financial and in-kind support, marketing expertise and hands-on volunteer work in an effort to showcase the dignity and capacity of people with intellectual disabilities on a global stage.
“We have a long and unique association with sport, especially football, and have witnessed over the decades how it can unite people,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Coca-Cola Company and a member of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors. “The Unity Cup is a testament to that power as we have brought together our partners at Special Olympics and FIFA to shine a spotlight on the important values of understanding, acceptance and inclusion that we all share.”
The Special Olympics Unity Cup will be a 20-minute match held on the afternoon of 3 July, showcasing the skills of Matthew Millett and his fellow Special Olympic athletes in an extension of the Unified Sports® program, which brings Special Olympics athletes together with partners without intellectual disabilities on teams for friendly athletic competition.
“We could not be more proud of Matthew as he will be able to take this opportunity playing in the Unity Cup to showcase the ability of Special Olympics athletes on a world stage,” said Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver. “Thanks to our global partner, Coca-Cola, we can turn the world’s attention to football not only as a sport, but as a powerful agent of change that can unite people with and without intellectual disabilities.”
Special Olympics Massachusetts conducts more than 120 local competitions annually with more than 11,500 athletes participating. The program offers 27 team and individual sports and has just recently moved their headquarters to the Yawkey Sports Training Center, a state-of-the-art training facility in central Massachusetts. Millett is a 31 year-old fullback who has been playing soccer in Massachusetts since he was only five years old. He has phenomenal soccer skills but he won this honor of representing the USA not just on talent alone, as he is both a great leader and teammate, who always puts others before himself. In addition to playing soccer, he also helps to fundraise and serves as an athlete advisor on his local Special Olympics board. He will also represent Massachusetts playing soccer at the Special Olympics 2010 National Games in Nebraska in July.
The Coca-Cola Company is a FIFA Partner and has had a formal association with the governing body for world football since 1974 and has been an official sponsor of every FIFA World Cup since 1978. Coca-Cola has had stadium advertising at every FIFA World Cup since 1950 and is a long-time supporter of football at all levels, from grassroots to the FIFA World Cup™.
For more information about the Unity Cup, please visit: www.specialolympics.org/unitycup.
Support Matthew’s journey by clicking here.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Together with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world’s most valuable brand, the Company’s portfolio includes 14 billion dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company’s beverages at a rate of 1.6 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to more than 3.3 million athletes in over 170 countries in all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs. Special Olympics now takes place every day, changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in places like China and from regions like the Middle East to the community playgrounds and ball fields in every small neighborhood’s backyard. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org.
# # #
Special Olympics The Coca-Cola Company
mamurphy@specialolympics.org pressinquiries@na.ko.com
#202-824-0227 #404-676-2683
For Immediate Release
April 5, 2010
Kirsten Goulet
801-949-6772
Runners Go the Distance to Raise Money for a Good Cause
Team SOMA Sets a Strong Pace Preparing for the Boston Marathon
“Fundraising is a critical component to helping provide sports training, competition, health screenings and education to individuals with intellectual disabilities,” said Special Olympics Massachusetts’ President and CEO, Robert Johnson. “Team SOMA’s efforts in the Boston Marathon will go a long way in providing incredible opportunities and possibilities for SOMA athletes and we are very grateful for their tremendous support.”
Each Team SOMA runner has a unique connection to the organization that has kept them motivated on difficult training days. Also helping them along the way have been veteran marathon runners, Cathy Pearce and Chris Spinney who have acted as volunteer coaches. Team SOMA will take the marathon in stride but ask that people help them set a strong pace in their fundraising efforts by visiting: www.specialolympicsma.org/marathon to make a donation and provide a better life through sport and health education for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
The 2010 Boston Marathon will mark John Hancock Financials 25th year as a principal sponsor.
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to nearly 3.1 million athletes in 228 Programs in all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs. Special Olympics now takes place every day, changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in places like China and from regions like the Middle East to the community playgrounds and ball fields in every small neighborhood. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org.
###
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Mandy Murphy
Special Olympics Inc.
+1-202-824-0227
mamurphy @ specialolympics.orgJim O’Connell
Procter & Gamble
+1-513-983-9778
oconnell.jj @ pg.com
COUPONS FOR A CAUSE
SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND PROCTER & GAMBLE CELEBRATE
30th ANNIVERSARY OF HOLIDAY PROMOTION
Washington, D.C. – December 16, 2009 - As the holiday season approaches, Special Olympics and Procter & Gamble are excited to celebrate 30 years of partnership as they announce their annual
P&GbrandSAVER® coupon promotion benefitting Special Olympics.
This year’s Special Olympics edition of the P&GbrandSAVER will be in local newspapers across the country on Sunday, December 27th. The coupon book features more than $88 in savings on favorite P&G brand names.
New to this year’s promotion is that rather than P&G making a flat donation to Special Olympics, this year there will be a coupon redemption program where Special Olympics will receive three cents for every coupon redeemed. The exciting part of this new promotion is that there is no limit to the gift that P&G will provide Special Olympics, so the more coupons redeemed, the greater the money raised for Special Olympics.
This year’s P&GbrandSAVER theme is “Give Courage” and it will feature images of Special Olympics athletes that participate in Project Unify. The P&GbrandSAVER is a part of P&G’s overall ‘Live, Learn & Thrive’ platform. Together, Special Olympics and P&G will showcase athletes that demonstrate the impact that today’s youth have on their communities. Special Olympics unites youth of all backgrounds, creating lifelong friendships that transform others.
“We are proud that for 30 years P&G has been a loyal supporter of Special Olympics,” said Tim Shriver, Chairman & CEO of Special Olympics. “This annual promotion is greatly important to us, as every coupon redeemed helps P&G and Special Olympics build a world of courage, inclusion and acceptance.”
This annual P&G and Special Olympics promotion is part of what has now become a truly global partnership, as P&G works with Special Olympics across three key regions – North America, Latin America and the Middle East-North Africa.
The coupons in this promotion will expire January 31, 2010. For more information on the P&GbrandSAVER coupon booklet and to find a complete list of local paper’s carrying the promotion, please visit: http://www.pgeverydaysolutions.com/pgeds/brandsaver-coupons.jsp
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to nearly 3.1 million athletes in 228 Programs in all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs. Special Olympics now takes place every day, changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in places like China and from regions like the Middle East to the community playgrounds and ball fields in every small neighborhood. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org.
About Procter & Gamble
Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®.
The P&G community includes approximately 135,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
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New England Special Olympics Chapters Team with Sun Life Financial
on “Special Smiles” Initiative
"Sun Life is extremely proud to support the Special Smiles program. We share a common mission to support healthy lifestyles and as we know, oral health has an impact on overall health," said Michael E. Shunney, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Sun Life Financial Employee Benefits Group. “Special Smiles has done a remarkable job bringing awareness on the issues surrounding the quality and availability of oral health coverage for disabled individuals. As a dental carrier, we’re excited to be a part of such a focused plan of action for getting these athletes what they need.”
Special Olympics Connecticut, Special Olympics Massachusetts, and Special Olympics New Hampshire all provide year-round athletic training, competition, and health-improvement programs for individuals with and without intellectual disabilities. Each organization is a chapter of Special Olympics Incorporated. In 2008, the three state-wide organizations served over 25,000 athletes in 27 sports and 2,907 athletes in 11 health screenings. http://www.specialolympicsma.org
Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth accumulation products and services to individuals and corporate clients. Chartered in 1865, Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2009, the Sun Life Financial group of companies had total assets under management of US $297.5 billion.
Contact:
David Greenwood; Special Olympics Mass.
978-568-1374
David@davidagreenwood.com
David Jacobson, Sun Life
781-446-1955
For Immediate Release
Contact: David Greenwood
978-568-1374
Cell: 617-633-3923
Opening Ceremonies at Boston University with Competition at Harvard Athletic Complex
BOSTON, MA, June 12, 2009 – Special Olympics Massachusetts, a leader in providing healthy lifestyles through sports and healthcare-related programs year-round for individuals with intellectual disabilities, will host over 2,000 athletes and 1,200 volunteers at the 2009 Special Olympics Summer Games held at Harvard University’s athletic complex. The New Balance Foundation awarded $100,000 to Special Olympics Massachusetts and is serving as Presenting Partner of the Summer Games.
Athletes begin their weekend on Friday, June 19 at 5:30pm with pre-Opening Ceremony entertainment on Boston University’s softball field at 85 Ashford Street. They move to the BU Indoor Track and Tennis Center 100 Ashford Street at 7:30pm for the traditional Opening Ceremony featuring: the Parade of Athletes and the lighting of the cauldron by local law enforcement carrying the “Flame of Hope” and entertainment by “Recycled Percussion.”
Sports for the weekend include athletics (track and field events), aquatics, power lifting, tennis, volleyball, gymnastics and roller-skating. A complete schedule including venue locations can be found at; http://www.specialolympicsma.org/summer.php.
Special Events Taking Place:
*On Sunday, June 21, 2009, from 10:00am – 1:00pm as part of the Summer Games, approximately 50 children from Brockton and Malden will participate in a variety of physical skill and development activities as part of the Young Athletes program. Young Athletes is a developmental motor activities training program for children two through seven years old. Participants have a chance to have fun mastering a variety of activities at skills stations, prepare for team sports, and develop self-esteem and confidence. Young Athletes in Massachusetts is sponsored by the Lynch Foundation and Bank New York Mellon.
*Law enforcement vehicles from across the state will convoy to Boston during the second annual “Cruiser Convoy” to benefit Special Olympics Massachusetts. The vehicles including countless police cruisers will converge at the Harvard University Athletic Fields at 11:30am on Saturday June 20. Officers will join over 2,000 Special Olympics athletes to award medals and offer support and end their day with a celebratory BBQ served up by Boston-area Fire Fighters.
Schedule of Events:
Friday 6/19:
5:30 pm Athletes gather on Softball Diamond and prepare for Opening Ceremonies, BU Softball Diamond, 85 Ashford St
7:30 pm Opening Ceremonies, Indoor Track & Tennis Center, 100 Ashford St
Saturday, 6/20 and Sunday, 6/21:
8:00 am -3:00 pm Competition at Harvard Athletic Complex; 65 North Harvard Street
About New Balance Foundation
The New Balance Foundation is a charitable Foundation established in 1981 and funded by New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. The Foundation’s mission is to support effective charitable organizations which perform humanitarian services for the betterment of our children and our local community. For more information visit http://www.newbalancefoundation.org.
The Special Olympics Massachusetts Summer Season is presented by the New Balance Foundation.
Other Partners Include:
* TD Banknorth
* Bank of America
* Raytheon IDS
* Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Boston Executives to Help Organization Garner Support and Awareness for Year-round Sports Training and Health Programs
Mr. Robert Friedman: Currently the AVP, sponsorship and event marketing for John Hancock Financial Services. He has been with John Hancock Financial Services for 30 years. He is currently responsible for managing a portfolio of John Hancock sponsorships including The Boston Marathon, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Mr. Frank Reynolds: currently the CEO of InVivo Therapeutics Corporation of Cambridge, MA. An Alumnus of the Wharton School of Business, Penn School f Engineering, and MIT. Mr. Reynolds brings an impressive amount of experience to the board.
Mr. Gerry Morrissey: Mr. Morrissey currently serves as vice president of uality assurance and service Development for The MENTOR Network. Mr. Morrissey served in state government for over 30 years, serving as assistant secretary for disabilities and community services for the state of Massachusetts as well as serving as the commissioner for the MA Department of Mental Retardation for over 10 years.
Fredrick “Fritz” Ferbert: Former executive vice president of Bank of America in Boston. Mr. Ferbert of Lexington, MA is a returning board member after taking a leave of absence from the board. Mr. Ferbert is also a long-time volunteer and Special Olympics coach.
“We continue to assemble one of the finest and skilled boards in the region,” stated Robert Johnson, president and CEO of Special Olympics Massachusetts. “Now more than even, it is critical for the public to understand our mission of health and wellness for people with intellectual disabilities and for increased support for our year-round competitions. This board will help us do just that.”
Donating a Car to Special Olympics Massachusetts Turns Unhealthy Cars into Healthy Athletes
Boston, Mass.— Massachusetts car donation program Recycle for Gold is kicking off their annual spring clean up awareness campaign to raise money for Special Olympics athletes in Massachusetts. With Recycle for Gold, everyone wins. The program enables individuals to dispose of unwanted vehicles, at no charge, by simply calling 1-800-590-1600 (24-hours a day) or by going on-line to www.recycleforgold.org. Within one week, a program representative calls to make arrangements for vehicle pick-up. Those donating their car do not even need to be present when the vehicle is retrieved. The program also helps the environment by eliminating harmful effects caused by unused and unhealthy vehicles.
“Getting rid of an unhealthy car and letting us turn that into funds that help athletes get healthier is a true win-win,” said Robert Johnson, Special Olympics Massachusetts president and CEO. “Not only are our athletes healthier but we are providing a service to help dispose of unwanted vehicles, making the environment that much healthier.”
David Greenwood
978-568-1374
Click here to send an e-mail
Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver responds to U.S. President Obama's remarks on the "Tonight Show" Read the statement.
Click here to watch Special Olympics Massachusetts President and CEO Bob Johnson's interview on WCVB TV Channel 5.
Click here to listen to Bob Johnson's interview on NECN.
SOMA athlete Colin Davidson reacts to President Obama’s comments: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1160032
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