Event Sponsored by
Sammons Financial Group
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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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.