Special Program Sponsors

$10,000 annual support

Special Program sponsors provide funding for one or more of the Special Olympics Iowa Special Programs.

Special Programs include:

• Challenge Days- Challenge Day programs offer events that are specifically designed for individuals with severe and profound intellectual and physical disabilities. More than 800 individuals participate in eight Special Olympics Iowa Challenge Days each year throughout the state. To learn more about Challenge Days, please click here.
• Unified Sports- Unified Sports is an initiative that combines approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (called partners) on sports teams for training and competition. To learn more about Unified Sports, please click here.
• Young Athletes Play Day program is designed to provide play activities and socialization opportunities for children between the ages of two and seven, who have intellectual disabilities. This program was created to serve the children too young to participate in other Special Olympics Iowa competitions and events (minimum entry age being 8). To learn more about the Young Athletes program, please click here.
• Athlete Leadership Program (ALPs)- ALPs is designed to educate and train individuals with intellectual disabilities in literacy, leadership and speaking skills. More than 60 Special Olympics Iowa athletes have participated in ALPs, and the demand for more sessions is great. To learn more about ALPs, please click here.
• Healthy Athletes- Healthy Athletes is a screening program offered during the State Summer Games and the Mid-Winter Tournament to improve the greater overall health and fitness of athletes. Special Olympics Iowa coordinates the generous efforts of numerous medical professionals across the state donating medical screening services. To learn more about Healthy Athletes, please click here.

Benefits of becoming a Special Program Sponsor:

• Recognized on the Special Olympics Iowa Web site in both the sponsor tab and on the page(s) devoted to the Special Program.
• Prominently acknowledged in press releases, banners, newsletters and award ceremonies held in conjunction with the Special Program. * Many Special Programs are held numerous times throughout the year in various Iowa communities.
• The Special Program Sponsor organization name and logo are featured on volunteer shirts and/or bandanas, handbooks, programs, and banners distributed at the pertinent Special Olympics Iowa Special Program.

Variety - The Children's Charity of Iowa supports Special Olympics Iowa's Athletes Play Day program

Special Olympics Iowa is extremely grateful to Variety - The Children's Charity of Iowa for donating $10,000 to support the Young Athletes program and its Play Activity Days.

Play Days are designed to provide play activities and socialization opportunities for children with intellectual disabilities between the ages of two and seven. This program was created to serve children too young to participate in other Special Olympics Iowa competitions (minimum entry age being eight years and up). Play Activity Days also provide networking opportunities for parents of children with intellectual disabilities.

Participants enjoy activities in: ball darts, basketball, batting, bowling, 25 meter dash, musical balance beam, ribbon routine, soccer kick, standing long jump and tennis ball throw.

To learn more about Play Days, please click here.

Variety - The Children's Charity of Iowa was founded in 1937. Since the inception of the telethon, in 1975, the club has raised more than $60 million through its annual telethon and other fundraisers. Through the generous support of individuals and the corporate community, Variety has provided funding for capital projects, essential medical equipment and special programs to more than 300 charities throughout Iowa and neighboring states. In addition, over 260 Sunshine Coaches are transporting kids across the state. 

Delta Dental of Iowa sponsored "Special Smiles" for Special Olympics Summer Games

A not-for-profit organization, Delta Dental of Iowa focuses on the betterment of oral health of Iowans - eliminating the middleman to handle dental benefit administrative and marketing services. Our overall goal is to provide better oral health for employees and their dependents at an affordable price, along with long-term cost savings through preventive and educational services.

A leader in dental services since 1970, at Delta Dental of Iowa serves more than 740,000 members, in and out-of-state, with a high level of service, care and a competitive fee structure. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. That's why we consistently retain about 97 percent of our clients from year to year.

Access to our provider network remains an unequaled strength. More than 90% of Iowa's dentists participate in Delta Dental Premier network, Iowa's largest dentist network. And as a member of the Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA), a national organization comprised of local, not-for-profit dental plans, we are able to provide nationwide dental coverage. Your employees outside of Iowa can be confident that the Delta Dental identification card is recognized and accepted in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Principal Financial Group supports Special Olympics Iowa's Unified Sports program

Special Olympics Iowa is extremely grateful to Principal Financial Group for donating $10,000 to support the Unified Sports program.

Unified Sports is an initiative that combines approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics Iowa athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (called partners) on sports teams for training and competition. Age and ability matching of athletes and partners is defined on a sport-by-sport basis.

Unified Sports programs currently exist for the following sports: basketball, bowling, volleyball, golf, softball, volleyball and more. The program provides a wonderful opportunity for the Special Olympics Iowa athletes and their partners to develop a better understanding and respect for one another's abilities and limitations.

Unified Sports allow athletes to improve their physical fitness, sharpen their skills, and challenge the competition while having fun at the same time. Both the athletes and their partners come away from these events with a deep sense of pride and support for one another. To learn more about Unified Sports, please click here.

Helping people is an important part of what the Principal Financial Group does. The company and the Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. work together to give to those in need through a variety of programs. The Principal is a leading global financial company offering businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services.