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Special Olympics Washington Night At the Mariners
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athletics
By Doug McIntyre - October 12, 2016
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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR

Doug McIntyre

Follow Us

specialolympicswashington

Special Olympics Washington BUILDS communities and LEADS in Wellness through Sports and Inclusion.

🏆 Huge congratulations to the UCS soccer state 🏆 Huge congratulations to the UCS soccer state champs! 

West Seattle High School (@WestSeattle.Unified) took home the Division 1 title, and Shorecrest High School (@shorecrest_unified_soccer) claimed the Division 2 title! Every team brought skill, heart, and true sportsmanship to the field ⚽🔥

Here’s to the teams, coaches, fans, and Unified partners who made magic happen. Your impact goes far beyond the scoreboard.

#UnifiedGeneration #PlayUnified #UnifiedChampionSchools
🎉 We’re teaming up with the Seattle Mariners 🎉 We’re teaming up with the Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) to kick off Celebration Week in a big way! ⚾🙌

Join us Monday, June 16 at @TMobilePark as the Mariners take on the Boston Red Sox, and support Special Olympics Washington at the same time!

💥 $5 from every ticket purchased through our special link goes directly back to Special Olympics Washington programs.
👕 Plus, snag a limited-edition Mariners x Special Olympics Washington 50th Anniversary T-shirt (while supplies last)!

🎟️ Get your tickets by Friday, June 13 at 5:00 p.m.
👉 Purchase your tickets using the link in our bio! 

#SpecialOlympicsWA #SOWA50thAnniversary #Mariners #TmobilePark #Baseball #StateSpringGames #CelebrationWeek
As we celebrate 50 years of Special Olympics Washi As we celebrate 50 years of Special Olympics Washington, we’re sharing 50 stories that honor the people behind the movement—leading up to the 2025 State Spring Games.

For over 14 years, Patrick Gilbert has been a passionate champion of Special Olympics Washington through the Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR). As State Director, he has helped grow LETR’s reach, visibility, and impact—uniting law enforcement and athletes in a shared mission of inclusion.

Patrick’s reason for getting involved was simple: “Just to make a difference in other people’s lives.” What he found was a community that changed his life in return.

In a career that comes with high pressure and stress, Special Olympics has offered Patrick something grounding. “They give me a break and help me put in perspective my impact in the world,” he says.

He’s witnessed countless incredible moments—but the ones that stick with him most are every hug, every high five, and every time he places a medal on an athlete’s neck. “That never gets old,” Patrick says. “It always means something.”

Celebrate leaders like Patrick by donating $50 to help fuel the next 50 years of impact, connection, and inclusion.

Learn more using the link in bio. 

#SpecialOlympicsWA #50thAnniversary #50StoriesFor50Years
Be part of something unforgettable by volunteering Be part of something unforgettable by volunteering at Swimming and Athletics competitions at the 2025 State Spring Games!

We're welcoming over 2,000 athletes to compete in one of the most inclusive sporting events of the year — and your support makes it all possible.

💪 Volunteer Roles Include:
✅ Event Support – Help with setup/tear down, check-in, info booths, and lunch distribution
✅ Competition Support – Timers, place judges, marshals, and more

📍 Saturday, June 21 | Federal Way | Swimming
📍 Sunday, June 22 | Tacoma | Athletics

Find your shift using the link in bio. 
Register through the Volunteer Portal.

Got questions? We’re here to help: volunteer@sowa.org

Let’s make Sunday unforgettable for every athlete.
#Volunteer #SpecialOlympicsWA #2025StateSpringGames #InclusionInAction
As we celebrate 50 years of Special Olympics Washi As we celebrate 50 years of Special Olympics Washington, we’re sharing 50 stories leading up to the 2025 State Spring Games!

Kelly Campbell made history as the first athlete to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Washington—and her impact has been nothing short of transformational.

During her two-year term as Board Chair, Kelly brought her lived experience as an athlete into every decision. Her leadership was rooted in a clear mission: to create more pathways for athlete leadership and ensure athlete voices are central to every level of the organization.

One of her proudest accomplishments was launching Special Olympics Washington’s board mentorship program, where athletes mentor board members—helping them better understand the athlete experience and build deeper connections to the community.

Though her term as Chair has concluded, Kelly continues to serve on the Board of Directors and remains deeply committed to growing the mentorship program and expanding the Athlete Leadership Program, which supports athletes pursuing leadership roles in areas like Sports, Communications, and Governance.

“I hope my time as Board Chair inspires others to dream more, learn more, and do more as athlete leaders,” she says.
Celebrate leaders like Kelly by donating $50 to help build the next 50 years of leadership, vision, and inclusion.

Visit the link in our bio to learn more.

#SpecialOlympicsWA #50thAnniversary #50StoriesFor50Years
Every sprint, every leap, every step on the track Every sprint, every leap, every step on the track is a testament to determination. It’s not just about the finish line, it’s about the grind that gets you there. 

What’s your favorite event to participate in?

#SpecialOlympicsWA #SpringSeason #2025SpringStateGames #Athletics
As we celebrate 50 years of Special Olympics Washi As we celebrate 50 years of Special Olympics Washington, we’re sharing 50 stories that highlight the people who keep our mission moving—leading up to the 2025 State Spring Games.

For over two decades, Rick Wade has been a driving force in the Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) movement across the South Sound. He began his journey in 2002, thinking it would be a great way to complement his marathon training. But soon, the torch runs became more than exercise—they became a purpose.

Rick now coordinates torch runs in the region and works to bring more law enforcement agencies into the movement, helping expand the reach and impact of Special Olympics Washington.

Volunteering has deeply shaped Rick’s perspective. “It’s made me more aware of people with disabilities and their incredible strength, desire, and capabilities,” he shares.

Some of his most memorable moments include running the final leg into the Summer Games, where he had to slow down a lead athlete who was outrunning everyone—and seeing the smile of an athlete carrying the torch on a canoe across Hood Canal.

“Volunteering with Special Olympics Washington has lit a fire in me,” Rick says. “And it’s going to be tough to give it up.”

Support volunteers like Rick with a $50 gift to help fuel the next 50 years of inspiration, inclusion, and momentum.
Learn more using the link in bio. 

#SpecialOlympicsWA #50thAnniversary #50StoriesFor50Years
As part of our 50th Anniversary celebration, we’ As part of our 50th Anniversary celebration, we’re sharing 50 stories that shaped Special Olympics Washington—leading up to the 2025 State Spring Games.

Before stadiums, ceremonies, and statewide celebrations, Special Olympics Washington began in the most humble of places: a backyard track meet.

In the early 1970s, a group of passionate parents, educators, and volunteers came together to host small, informal competitions for athletes with intellectual disabilities. One of the earliest events looked more like a neighborhood picnic than a state tournament—but the energy, joy, and determination were the same.

From that grassroots beginning, the movement grew. Local programs started sprouting up across the state, eventually joining together to form what is now Special Olympics Washington—a thriving community of athletes, families, coaches, and supporters from every corner of the state.

What started as a single afternoon of track races in a backyard has turned into decades of unified competition, personal breakthroughs, and lifelong friendships.

Celebrate how far we’ve come by donating $50 today to help build the next 50 years of joy, inclusion, and momentum using the link in our bio. 

#SpecialOlympicsWA #50thAnniversary #50StoriesFor50Years
Don’t miss your chance to be part of Special Oly Don’t miss your chance to be part of Special Olympics Washington’s 50th Anniversary Night at @tmobilepark.

Join us on Monday, June 16 as we celebrate 50 years of inclusion, community, and the incredible athletes of Special Olympics Washington—alongside the @mariners.

For every ticket purchased through our special link, $5 will support Special Olympics Washington programs across the state. Plus, you’ll have the chance to receive a Mariners-themed Special Olympics Washington 50th Anniversary T-shirt, available while supplies last.

Tickets range from $45–$62. The deadline to purchase is Thursday, June 13 at 5 p.m.

Click the link in our bio to get your tickets!

#SOWA50 #Mariners #TMobilePark #MarinersGame #SpecialOlympicsNight
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