SLIAC SAAC To Take A Plunge With The Special Olympics
ST. LOUIS – For the first time, the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) has selected a single charity for its member Student-Athlete Advisory Council’s (SAAC) to volunteer their time, raise money and bring awareness during the 2009-10 academic year…the Special Olympics.
“Since my predecessor {Rich Meckfessel} was here, our Conference SAAC group has tried to organize some sort of community involvement in which the SAAC groups at each member institution would participate. We were finally able to make a determination and lay the ground work at our meeting last February before finalizing things at our most recent Conference SAAC meeting.” SLIAC Commissioner William J. Wolper said. “Division III student-athletes compete in intercollegiate athletics for their love and passion of the sport, quite often are dual-sport athletes, and their involvement is only a part of their collegiate experience. That same description can be used to describe Special Olympic Athletes.”
Through the course of the academic year, campus SAAC groups will be involved with the local Special Olympic chapters in opportunities of their choosing from hosting clinics for Special Olympic Athletes to halftime competitions between teams of Special Olympic Athletes, to volunteering at the numerous events sponsored by the Special Olympics. As part of this involvement, the SAAC groups will raise funds for the Special Olympics.
Though not the true culmination of its involvement, one part several student-athletes are most looking forward to is the Conference SAAC’s participation as one team in the 2010 Polar Bear Plunge in Lake Saint Louis, Mo. on February 6. The funds raised by each campus SAAC group as of that date will be donated to the Special Olympics in conjunction with the event. Participation in the Plunge will precede the group’s winter meeting.
Those interested in making a donation in support of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Council’s participation in the Polar Bear Plunge can do so by contacting a member institution’s athletic department or clicking here.
About the Special Olympics: Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. Through year-round sports training and athletic competition and other related programming for more than 2.5 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities in more than 180 countries, Special Olympics has created a model community that celebrates people’s diverse gifts. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship.