By Don Gier, Committee Chair

I recently asked J. J. Johnson, Special Olympics of Kansas, about the participation of Kansas Kiwanis Clubs in Special Olympics.  I was gratified to find that SOKS has a rather lengthy list of participants.  The list included:

Manhattan-Equipment

Garden City Sunrisers-Financial

Prairie Village-Financial

North Central Kansas-Financial

Fort Scott-Equipment

Manhattan-Financial

Great Bend-Financial

McPherson-Financial

Paola is involved with Lakemary Center but not directly involved with Lakemary “STARS”.

McPherson supports Special Olympics and uses Special Olympic athletes to bus tables at their annual pancake day.  They also make financial contributions.

Hutchinson helps sponsor the track meet by providing lunch & water.

Buhler helps sponsor the basketball tournament by providing breakfast and lunch

Olathe Sunrise offers their support through volunteers and financial means.

Pratt helps sponsor bowling and basketball tournaments and track meets.

Leavenworth hosts basketball and track meets and provides medals & ribbons.  They have also provided hats & shirts and other miscellaneous favors.

Kiwanis Club of Blue Valley  offers financial support. This is not our District, but we do appreciate Kansas City, Missouri’s support.

This is a preliminary list that was supplied by SOKS, and does not reflect other clubs who donated their time and energy.  My own club was not listed, however, as District Chair for  Special Olympics, my service has to be recorded some where and the Marysville club gets the credit. 

I give special kudos to those clubs that volunteer and donate money and equipment. I encourage other clubs to get involved.  This is one project where the clubs and their members will get much more than they give.

I recently helped with a project at a Marysville football game and, when leaving the stadium, I encountered a group of Special Olympians.  It was like homecoming.  There is still a special relationship after several years.