Special Olympics Ontario is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to providing year-round sports training and competition opportunities for individuals with an intellectual disability. Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with intellectual disabilities can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in individual and team sports. Special Olympics Ontario Kitchener-Waterloo is committed to providing much-needed physical education programs to more than 240 local athletes who benefit physically, mentally and socially. Our programs are completely volunteer-driven, operated by 170 dedicated volunteers. The Kitchener-Waterloo community, through participation and observation, better understands people with intellectual disabilities in an environment of equality, respect and acceptance.

Special Olympics Ontario

Special Olympics Ontario is part of a worldwide charitable organization providing sport opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. As a grass-roots organization, Special Olympics relies on volunteers at all levels of the movement to ensure that every athlete is offered a quality sports training and competition experience. Our athletes look to our volunteers for inspiration, guidance and coaching. Over the past 50 years Special Olympics has grown from a modest program serving local athletes, to becoming the world's largest movement dedicated to promoting respect, acceptance, inclusion and human dignity for people with intellectual disabilities through sport.

VISION
Leading, guiding and developing Special Olympics Kitchener-Waterloo community sport and competition support.

MISSION STATEMENT
The Special Olympics Community Council is a group of volunteers dedicated to providing full service support for Special Olympics Ontario Toronto Clubs and coaches to further Special Olympics goals, providing qualified athletes an opportunity to enhance their life and celebrate personal achievement through positive sport experiences.

VALUES
Stewardship (Demonstrated support for SOO initiatives in the community)

Collaboration (Working together both internally and externally with members of the community to advocate and promote Special Olympics programs and contributed community value)

Innovation (Delivering leading edge programs to support SOO athletes and coaches in the community)

THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL

  • Communicate with all of the stakeholders to ensure that all of the constituents have knowledge of what is happening in their community with Special Olympics.

  • Communicate to SOO, the activities of the community

  • Support and provide guidance on community growth and development

  • Create community awareness and exposure

  • Follow the financial and fundraising accountability practices for SOO to maintain the organizations good name and reputation

  • Ensure that athletes and volunteers are not at risk and are not prevented from participating for fear of risk

  • Improved decision making for the protection of the membership and the organization as a whole

  • To create an annual statement of goals for the community in regards to volunteer, athlete, sport program and competition growth

  • Establish set meeting times and agendas that cover the basic elements of Special Olympics programming including issues of policy and procedures, program goals etc.

  • Create and execute a well-organized fundraising plan to meet current and future financial needs of the community