News


Athletes and Volunteer Named as Florida Heroes

Three members of the Special Olympics Florida community were honored recently by Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis as part of the Florida Heroes’ program.

Miami Dade College Named National Inclusion Champion

After an exhilarating competition during the Special Olympics Unified College Championship Week presented by ESPN, Miami Dade College Homestead Campus emerged as the National Champion.

Sunshine Bowl Weekend: A Celebration of Inclusion and Football

The 2024 Jack in the Club and Sunshine Bowl weekend was a two-day celebration of football and inclusion, featuring great flag football, an exciting cheer clinic, and a Friday night blackjack tournament, all taking place at Raymond James Stadium.

David L. Singer Memorial Foundation Honored with Local Hero Award

For more than 40 years, the founders of the Foundation have been enthusiastic supporters of Special Olympics Florida and the athletes it serves in South Florida.

A Sweet Way to Honor Moms and Support Special Olympics Florida

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Special Olympics Florida is partnering with Mo’s Bundt Cakes to bring some joy to moms while supporting our incredible athletes.

41st Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Kickoff Event

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody was on hand to show her support for Florida law enforcement and the athletes of Special Olympics Florida. The kickoff ceremony took place at Capitol Courtyard.

St. Lucie Mets help Inclusion Revolution thrive

Our longtime partnership with the St. Lucie Mets has given rise to an annual clinic attended by Mets big-leaguers and coaches along with our athletes...with the purpose of coming together not only for the beauty of the game of baseball, but to mutually change lives for the better.

Palm Beach County Honors a Champion of the Special Olympics Movement

Rich Fleming has been inducted into the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame. Rich was honored in late March for three decades of work to give people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy of sports.

Athlete Gets Tips from Tour Pro

Leon County athlete Ian Kelley recently had the opportunity to meet PGA TOUR golfer Harris English.

Miami Marlins Pitcher encourages others to Go Coach

Jesús Luzardo has lent his voice to our "Go Coach" campaign, encouraging others to support Special Olympics athletes as volunteer coaches in one of the 25-plus sports we offer throughout our state.

Broward High Rollers Win in Las Vegas

Congratulations to the Broward County Unified Bowling Team, which recently competed at the 32nd annual Special Olympics National Unified Bowling Championship in Las Vegas.   

Spread the Word 2024

Schools across Florida took action to create environments where all people are respected and treated with dignity. Since its creation more than a decade ago, Spread the Word Day has grown into a global movement promoting inclusion and working to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities.



Northwest Region Athletes in the News

Special Olympics Florida athletes Shane Patty and Stacy Barnes are crushing it and being recognized for their achievements!

Honoring Black Community Leaders

Flagler County athlete Josh Rosa is inspired by his pastor, John Galloway.


Keeping Athletes Healthy

As part of our Healthy Athletes initiative, we will be adding our free health screenings at Unified Champion Schools. With more than 470 Unified Champion Schools throughout Florida, this is a great opportunity to expand our reach and help our athletes lead healthier lives! 

GO COACH!

Coaches are superstars who help our athletes learn, grow and improve. Help us build our next generation of volunteer coaches.

Recognizing Black Leaders

Columbia County athlete Travis Ford is inspired by Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States.

Riding to Support Special Olympics Florida Athletes

Special Olympics Florida was one of 30 nonprofits competing in the 2024 Great Charity Challenge sponsored by Fidelity Investments. Thanks to the talents of Team Sponge Bob Square Pants, Special Olympics Florida received $17,500!

Special Olympics Florida Athlete Reports Again from the Super Bowl

Special Olympics athlete Malcom Harris-Gowdie is now a bona fide Super Bowl veteran. The Port St. Lucie County athlete was back at the Big Game this year, thanks to a partnership with sports and entertainment network FanSided.

National Girls & Women in Sports Day

On this nationally recognized day, we celebrate the achievements of two athletes who have been smashing misconceptions and breaking barriers.

Honoring Black Community Leaders

Monroe County athlete Charleslyn Rose Martin is inspired by her uncle and Key West District VI City Commissioner Clayton Lopez.

Athlete Performs National Anthem in South Florida

Special Olympics Florida athlete Aristide Reinoso performed the National Anthem at Miami-Dade County’s State of the County Address...and he blew the crowd away.

Making Inclusion Fashionable

Hillsborough County athlete Aarushi Pratap designed a new “Inclusion is Fashionable” T-shirt.  The shirt can be purchased on the Special Olympics' online store.

Way to Go Wawa

Special Olympics Florida athletes and representatives were on hand to help our corporate partner Wawa break ground on what will become Wawa’s first store in the Tallahassee area.

Celebrating Black History Month

Broward County Athlete Leader Layla Crehan is inspired by Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and eight-time All-Star Andre Dawson.

TD Charitable Foundation Grant Supports Healthy Hearing in Duval County

This $25,000 grant will help Special Olympics Florida provide Healthy Hearing screenings to Duval County’s Special Olympics athletes and help recruit audiologists to serve as clinical directors.

Brothers Share Love for Sports and Customer Service

Luis and Diego Martinez-Brown have a lot in common. They’re brothers, they’re Special Olympics Florida athletes, and they’re Publix associates excited by the 2024 Torch Icon Campaign now through January 21. 

Athlete Marks 25 Years at Publix

Special Olympics Florida athlete Jonathan Doring began working at Publix when he was in high school. His current role as a cashier extends beyond work and into meaningful customer relationships.

Lighting the Torch for our Athletes

Our Torch Icon Campaign at Publix is happening from January 12-21, bringing together Publix associates, customers and local communities to support nearly 70,000 Special Olympics athletes in Florida and beyond.

Athlete Chosen as Lightning Community Hero

Congratulations to Marlynne Stutzman, who was honored by the Tampa Bay Lightning. As part of the award, Special Olympics Florida received a $50,000 donation from the Lightning Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, presented by Jabil.


Learn more about your local program.

Interactive state map