Dear Friends of Special Olympics Rhode Island:
During this pandemic, the athletes of Special Olympics Rhode Island have had their world turned upside down.
As more of their activities have been taken away from them, our athletes have come to rely upon their Special Olympics
Rhode Island family to be there for them.
Even through these challenging times, we promote their physical and emotional health virtually, and I am proud to announce that we have returned to play offering golf and walking clubs for our athletes
with other sports (cycling, tennis and flag football skills) scheduled for September with strict health initiatives in place!
Since the pandemic hit in mid- March of this year, we have lost, conservatively, $500,000 in income from sponsor ships
and canceled fundraising events (including our annual Gala).
To make up this revenue loss, we are announcing a new fundraiser – Celebrate the Movement – in which members of our community can walk, cycle, run, golf or choose a different “movement” during the week of September 26 – October 3 to raise money for Special Olympics
Rhode Island.
Our goal is to raise $100,000 and WE NEED YOUR HELP!
You have always been a strong supporter of the athletes of Special Olympics Rhode Island, and I am grateful for your dedication to our mission.
Today, I am making a special request that you will please consider supporting this fundraiser. Your generosity will allow us to continue providing athletic training and health education for those
with intellectual disabilities, at no cost to themselves or their families.
Our athletes need YOU more than ever, please
help us to continue to meet this need.
Next steps are listed below on what you need to do NOW to participate in Celebrate the Movement.
These are trying times for everyone. We look to our athletes: who face challenges and discrimination every day due to their disability, yet strive to be active and contributing members of their community.
Following their lessons of courage and determination, we can all get through this crisis and come out stronger and more resilient together.
With your support, Special Olympics Rhode Island can remain the one constant in the lives of over 4,000 Rhode Islanders
with intellectual disabilities, a constant no virus can take away.
Stay safe,
Dennis DeJesus
Chief Executive Officer
THANK YOU.