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Community Corner

First Ankeny Special Olympics Iowa Play Day, April 17

Event Sponsored by
Sammons Financial Group

Contact:          SOIA Director of Athlete Initiatives, Kathy
Irving,  515-418-2284 or kirving@soiowa.orgWho:    
         

 Nearly 300 participants from Altoona and Ankeny ages 3-5. Participants

will be accompanied by their parent or their preschool or elementary school
teachers and chaperones.   300 volunteers from Sammons Financial
Group, Ankeny High School and Ankeny Centennial High School will run each event
and work as team leaders. The event is sponsored by Sammons Financial Group.


What:             Young
Athletes Play Day is a program designed to provide play activities and
socialization opportunities for children in special education, traditional
educational and unified sports programs between the ages of 2-7. This
program was created to serve children too young to participate in traditional
Special Olympics Iowa sports (minimum entry age being eight years and up).

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When:            9:30 - 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 – 2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 17

Where:
           Ankeny Centennial
High School, 2200 NW State St, Ankeny


Background:

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Special
Olympics Iowa is hosting the first Annual Young Athletes Play Day sponsored by
Sammons Financial Group on Thursday, April 17.  On the 17th,

two sessions will take place at 9:30–11:30 a.m. and


12:30–2:30 p.m.  Play Days are designed to provide play activities and

socialization opportunities for children between the ages 2-7 with intellectual
disabilities.  Those in special education, traditional education and

Unified Sports will all be part of the activities. This program was created to

serve children too young to participate in traditional Special Olympics Iowa

sports (minimum entry age being eight years and up). Play Activity Days also

provide networking opportunities for parents of children with intellectual

disabilities.


“The
Ankeny community involvement and that of families is getting everyone really
excited,” said SOIA Director of Athlete Initiatives, Kathy Irving.  “The

Play Day will be a great opportunity for the local high school students and

Sammons Financial Group employees to experience new volunteer opportunities.”


Students
will enjoy activities in: tennis ball throw, standing long job, batting,

basketball, musical balance beam, ribbon routine, soccer kick, 25 ft. dash,

ball darts and ramp bowling.



Special Olympics Iowa, a
statewide nonprofit organization, has provided sports training and competitions
for children and adults with intellectual disabilities since 1968. 
Approximately 12,000 athletes and Unified Partners participate in Special
Olympics Iowa events and competitions annually.  For more information,
call 515-986-5520 or visit www.soiowa.org.




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