April 2012
Iowa State University student Tyler Kai joined Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) athlete Erin Peck and SOIA Fellingham Intern Bryan Coffey, with Greek Week Community Service Co-Chairs Kristin Riley and Daniel McCoy, and ISU student Trae Hestness during the Greek Week Vespers program in Ames on April 1. The ISU Polar Plunge on March 31 had a record-breaking 936 people plunging and the highest amount pledged for any plunge in Iowa at $92,417. The fundraising pages are still open at (www.firstgiving.com/soiowa) and are still receiving donations to benefit SOIA’s nearly 11,000 athletes.
February 2012
Special Olympics Iowa Board member Anne Faber accepts a check for SOIA from the Manchester Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 3538 President Wayne Clemen for $250. The gift will help support SOIA athlete training and competitions.
February 2012
Deputy Grand Knight Ric Schuett of the Knights of Columbus Mssgr. JH Hanson Council 5038 in Ankeny presented a check for $939 to Special Olympics Iowa. SOIA athlete/Global Messenger Alex Velez and SOIA Director of Communications Joyce Allard are shown with Schuett. The funds were generated from Tootsie Roll sales.
January 2012
Sioux City Special Olympics Iowa Coach Melissa Dickerson and SOIA athlete Brian Bailey receive a check from Jennifer Solma of Taco John’s. This is the second year for the Taco John’s fundraiser in northwest Iowa. Between these two fundraisers more than $4,000 has been generated to support Special Olympics Iowa athletes in northwest Iowa as they train and compete in local, regional and state events. The donations were made at the following restaurants: Cherokee, LeMars, Sheldon, Sioux City, Spencer, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake, South Sioux City (NE), and North Sioux City (SD).
December 2011
Ashley Courtney, Special Olympics Iowa athlete and Global Messenger from Cedar Rapids, Tom Aller, Alliant Energy (President – Interstate Power and Light Co.), Mark Reed, President and CEO of Special Olympics Iowa, Chad Ruback, Special Olympics Iowa Board of Directors
Alliant Energy employees log 1.4 million minutes of exercise for charity
Special Olympics Iowa and YMCA of Cedar Rapids Metro Area to receive $2,500 grants
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – December 21, 2011 – As part of Alliant Energy’s Power Your Health Wellness Program, over 1,000 employees participated in a six-week “Charitable Challenge” tracking the number of minutes they spent performing physical activities, such as: biking, walking, running and even yard work. The goal was to engage in 600 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity, equating to about 14 minutes a day. For every minute of physical activity employees reported in the challenge, the Alliant Energy Foundation pledged to contribute a penny to charity – up to $10,000.
“I’m proud to report Alliant Energy employees exceeded the challenge by logging 1.4 million minutes of physical activity,” said Wayne Reschke, Vice President of Human Resources for Alliant Energy. For meeting the challenge, the Alliant Energy Foundation will deliver on its pledge to donate $10,000 to charity by awarding grants to two organizations specializing in health and physical fitness, the Special Olympics and the YMCA. “As every minute of activity benefited the health of our valued employees, every penny of the $10,000 charitable contribution will benefit important community programs.”
Since Alliant Energy has utility companies in both Iowa and Wisconsin, the $10,000 will be divided evenly resulting in four $2,500 grants. The grant recipients are:
· Special Olympics Iowa
· YMCA of Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area
· Special Olympics Wisconsin
· YMCA of Dane County, Inc.
“Developing physical fitness and participating in athletics allows people to demonstrate courage and experience joy,” said Mark Reed, President and CEO of Special Olympics Iowa. “That’s why we believe it is so important to provide adults and children with intellectual disabilities year-round access to sports training and competition. This gift helps us to achieve that mission.”
“As an organization dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, we commend the employees of Alliant Energy for their commitment to health through physical activity,” said YMCA of Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area President Bob Carlson. “And, we graciously accept this grant of $2,500.”
The Alliant Energy Foundation is an independent, non-profit philanthropic corporation funded by Alliant Energy shareowners.
Alliant Energy Corporation is an energy-services provider with subsidiaries serving approximately 1 million electric and over 413,000 natural gas customers. Providing its customers in the Midwest with regulated electric and natural gas service is the company’s primary focus. Alliant Energy, headquartered in Madison, Wis., is a Fortune 1000 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT. For more information, visit the company’s web site at alliantenergy.com.
The Alliant Energy Foundation is a philanthropic organization created by Alliant Energy Corp. and is operated as a separate entity led by its own board of directors. The Foundation is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where Alliant Energy employees, retirees and customers live and work. The Foundation, which is funded solely by the Alliant Energy shareowners, seeks to further the corporation’s goal of being a good corporate citizen and contributing member of society. For more information, visit the Foundation’s web site at alliantenergy.com/foundation.
December 2011
John Hurley II, Holmes Murphy Associates, and Jim Fontanini, EMC Insurance Companies present Special Olympics Iowa athlete and Global Messenger Tyler Steinke and SOIA President and CEO Mark Reed with a $25,000 check from the EMC Insurance Foundation. SOIA was one of four nonprofit organizations selected to receive $25,000 from the EMC Insurance Foundation in the final phase of the 100 Ways of Giving program sponsored by EMC Insurance Companies. In total, EMC gave away $200,000 through the program, in celebration of the company’s 100-year anniversary.
December 2011
Phillip Grothus of the Madrid Knights of Columbus Council 14393 presents SOIA President and CEO Mark Reed with a check from the council's Tootsie Roll drive.
November 2011
Lance Farrell, CEO of Farrell’s eXtreme Body Shaping Inc., joins Kevin Moreland and Merit Scarff to present a check for $5,000 to Special Olympics Iowa. SOIA President and CEO Mark Reed accepts the check with SOIA athlete and board member Tomi DeGrado. The gift resulted from a 24-hour Kick-a-thon, and all 11 locations in the Des Moines metro participated in the event.
Fall 2011
The Bob Freeman Memorial Golf Outing to support Special Olympics Iowa raised nearly $1,700 to benefit SOIA athletes this fall. The late Bob Freeman provided leadership at the University of Iowa for more than 30 years as a social worker at the Center for Disabilities and Development and as the supervisor of social services. He also worked with the Continuity of Care program at the University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital. Event sponsors included: Brown Deer Golf Club, Bruegger’s Bagels in Coralville, Hills Bank and Trust Company, Lensing Funeral and Cremation Services, Liberty Bank Iowa, Midwest One Bank and the University of Iowa Community Credit Union. Golfers shown (l-r) Barb Freeman, Jim Freeman, Katie (Freeman) Wheeler, Josh Wheeler (son-in-law), Evonne Freeman, and Ken Ingalls.
September 2011
The Merle Hay – Urbandale Kiwanis present a check to Special Olympics Iowa for $15,555 from the Jim Jordan Memorial Classic Golf Tournament. This year’s event was held at the new Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny. The funds raised benefit the 11,000 Special Olympics Iowa athletes and Unified Sports partners for sports training and competition. (L-R) Bob Dunaway, SOIA Volunteer Coordinator Erin Hall, Larry Hamlin, Mike Musich, Barb Tillinghast, Kent Shah, Les Calvert, and Special Olympics Iowa President and CEO Mark A. Reed
July 2011
SOIA President and CEO Mark A. Reed and SOIA VP of Development Jamie Boersma (right) accept a check for $1,000 from Tanya Wentzel of EMC Insurance. This grant is from EMC’s 100 Ways of Giving Program and will help support the start-up of SOIA flag football in the fall.
More Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) athletes will be able to participate in year-round sports training and competition offered across the state with a financial gift from Walmart. On June 6, a $75,000 grant award was presented to Special Olympics Iowa on behalf of the Walmart Foundation and the Walmart Iowa Advisory Council. Local and state elected officials, in addition to business and civic leaders, joined Special Olympics Iowa officials, board members and athletes for the presentation at the Walmart store located at 2150 E. First Street in Grimes. For the complete story click here.
June 2011
A crowd of Special Olympics Iowa supporters and community leaders met at the Grimes Walmart store to receive the $75,000 grant award. First Row (from l-r): State Senator Jack Whitver, SOIA Board member Tomi DeGrado, Grimes Mayor Tom Armstrong, Walmart Store Director and SOIA Board member, Arch Allison, SOIA President and CEO Mark A. Reed, Grimes Councilman Craig Patterson, Grimes City Councilwoman Jill Altringer, Grimes City Administrator Kelley Brown, Grimes Chamber President Steve Rogers, and SOIA Board member Steve Palmer. Second Row (l-r) Walmart Associates: Kelly Holcomb, Kim Jackson, Tori Cooley, Belma Busnov, Cjay Pyne, Charlie Erickson, Rudy Jukic, Zach Bartmess, Marla Dory, David Krcil, Tim Montgomery
Special Olympics Iowa announces transportation partnership with Casey’s General Stores, Inc.
Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) has announced Casey’s General Stores, Inc. as a transportation partner for the organization. Casey’s recent gift of $3,000 will help offset transportation costs for SOIA. For more information, click here.
June 2011
(L-R) Mike Richardson, vice president of marketing for Casey’s General Stores, Inc. is recognized by Special Olympics Iowa President and CEO Mark A. Reed. Casey’s gift of $3,000 assists with transportation costs for SOIA athletes across the state.
April 2011
Grand Knight Jason Follet and Deputy Grand Knight Charlie Dunn of Council 5038 of Ankeny recently presented a check for $1,082 to Special Olympics Iowa during the council’s Charity Night. Their PID (Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) Drive a.k.a the “Tootsie Roll Drive” is the biggest fundraiser their Council holds on an annual basis.
April 2011
The fourth grade class at Northridge School in Grimes recently presented a check for $385 to Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA). The students collected change for a month and were happy to share their gift to help support Special Olympics Iowa athletes with training and competition. (L-R front row) Aubree Klug, Katie Wood and Max Hull. (Back row) Kaylee Wolfe, SOIA President and CEO Mark A. Reed, Brady Nicolet, Brennon Woody, Nathan Dittmer and Merideth Fiori.
March 2011
Photo: Dr. Andrea McGuire, Mary Chapman and John Smith, all members of the Prairie Meadows board of directors; Jeanette Steinfeldt, SOIA director of development, Jill VanDerPol, Lynn Clayton and Steve Palmer, SOIA board of directors; holding the check is SOIA President/CEO Mark A. Reed, SOIA athlete Brian Rolek and SOIA volunteer, Jeanette Robertson; Linda Grandquist, Robert Meyers and Jerry Deegan, all members of the Prairie Meadows board of directors.
Special Olympics Iowa receives $28,000 Community Betterment Grant Award from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino
Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) has received a $28,000 grant from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino through its 2010 Community Betterment Grant Program. Grant funds will help to support the expansion of six programs offering services to more than 2,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities who compete in Polk County.
In addition, the funds will help continue the Prairie Meadows / Dahl’s Foods Charity Golf Event that benefits the nearly 11,000 SOIA athletes and Unified Sports partners in Iowa. This tournament has been the largest signature golf event during the past 15 years. It has brought together key community leaders who have embraced the SOIA mission and consistently leveraged additional resources for the organization.
Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino also serves as a Statewide Partner for Special Olympics Iowa. Statewide partners provide a comprehensive level of support of all programs and services offered by SOIA, and are recognized for their financial contributions.
March 2011
(L-R) Ron Markway and Neil Berns, co-chairs of the Sammons Community Involvement Committee (CIC); Mark A. Reed, president and CEO of Special Olympics Iowa; Cindy Reed, president of Sammons Annuity Division and president Sammons Securities Company; and Mary Buscher, Sammons CIC member.
Members of the Sammons Financial Group Community Involvement Committee recently met with executives from Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) to continue their support of SOIA as a Statewide Partner. Statewide Partners provide a comprehensive level of support of all programs and services offered by SOIA, and are recognized for their financial contributions.