Special Olympics Iowa receives $10,000 grant from Prairie Meadows

DES MOINES, Iowa - Special Olympics Iowa has received a $10,000 grant from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino through its 2005 community betterment grant. Grants were awarded in mid December with Special Olympics Iowa receiving their allocated funds in February 2006.

 Grant funds will help to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for Polk County children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Therefore giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Prairie Meadows’ 17-member Grants Advisory Committee, comprised of education, religious and business leaders from the greater metro area, review all grant requests and recommends funding levels. This year, 291 organizations applied for grants, and over 140 organizations shared in the funding allocations.

“We are extremely pleased to have received this funding from Prairie Meadows this year,” said Rich Fellingham, President/CEO for Special Olympics Iowa. “These monies will help ensure expansion of six existing programs offering services to more than 1,400 Polk County residents with intellectual disabilities.

Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant allocations are broken down to four categories: arts & culture, economic development, education, and human services.

Since 1995 Prairie Meadows has contributed more than $286 million to promote education, economic development, agriculture, jobs and tourism in Iowa.

###

 Visit the Prairie Meadows Web site at: http://www.prairiemeadows.com/