At a time when our Athletes have had to give up their time with other Athletes, its important to remember that we are strong. When we are allowed, we will ramp up as many opportunities for our Athletes as possible. Here’s one way you can help us!

If you are tired of cooking, or tired of that take-out you’ve been ordering since April (!?), here’s takeout with a purpose!

Please help us by purchasing  Spaghetti meals for Friday, January 8th, safely prepared by the Moose Lodge volunteers on January 8!  100% of the proceeds will go to SOVA Area 6!  The Moose Lodge has been doing this for Area 6 for years now. (Before the pandemic it included door prizes, music, and dancing). Now it is drive through. Information is below.

To purchase tickets please contact Tracy Cade at 804 314-2144 by end of day Wednesday January 6!

For possible assistance with pickup/delievery in some areas of Chesterfield, please contact Tracy Cade.

Special Olympics Virginia has announced the third Jr. NBA Special Olympics Camp – Online. The virtual basketball camp will take place December 3^rd. Please note this camp will take place during Special Olympics European Basketball Week but all Regions are welcome to join.

Please get the word out to your Programs especially those who offer basketball. This clinic is not just for athletes but Unified partners and coaches should be encouraged to join as well.

This is a free international camp, all you need to do to be part of the camp is register through the OWQLO App and enjoy the camp dedicated to basketball! The OWQLO app can be downloaded on Apple or Android at the App store / Google Play.

Please remember to subscribe in the Jr. NBA Special Olympics Camp – Online banner in the OWQLO App.

The Jr. NBA Special Olympics Camp – Online that will run from 5:00 pm to 6:25pm BST Thursday December 3. 

Again, please note this time is BRITISH STANDARD TIME on Thursday, 3 December.

We are looking for 3 – 4 athletes who will join the camp to provide a question to an NBA player or two. The player(s) that the NBA is working on to attend the camp is TBC at this point, but once confirmed we will advise.  If you have an athlete from your Program that can join the camp and can ask a live question please let me know.

Lastly, the NBA will be having their Season of Giving campaign starting from today (November 23^rd) to December 25^th, 2020. Special Olympics will be highlighted on December 3^rd. If you have an athlete/coach story (ideally a basketball story) that can be highlighted on this day the NBA will push this story out on all their social platforms. Please let me know if you have a story that can be highlighted.

A BIG THANK YOU in advance for getting this message out and inspiring athletes, Unified partners and coaches in your countries to participate in the 3rd Jr. NBA Special Olympics Camp – Online.

David Pawlowski
Vice President, Sports, Health and Fitness
Special Olympics Virginia

Join us for some great Chinese Takeout on Sunday, November 8!

Panda Express
13340 Rittenhouse Drive
Midlothian, VA

20% of Event Sales will go to Area 6 Special Olympics Virginia

Show or Print the Attached Flyer for In-Store and Drive Through orders. Use the promo code for online orders.

In-Store or Drive Thru
Show paper or digital version of flyer: 20201108-PandaExpress (pdf) or show the image below.

Online Orders
Enter 318655 in the promo code box during online checkout at order.pandaexpress.com. Orders must be placed on November 8, 2020.

Support Area 6 and enjoy a delicious meal!

.

The health and safety of all athletes, volunteers and family members are paramount in our approach to returning to activity. We remain committed to providing resources and support to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as maintaining the health and safety of our Special Olympics community.

KEY DATES

Unfortunately for Special Olympics and our Athletes, this year’s Spring and Summer activities were cut short due to the pandemic. Among the activities canceled was the Summer Games, one of the largest events put on by Special Olympics Virginia every year. Each year Special Olympics Virginia is supported through it’s torch run that kicks off Summer Games. As a replacement, a virtual torch run was created. The Area 6 Walkers team has 22 members and has raised $805 by Friday Evening.

Area 6 Virtual Torch Run – participants (Marjorie Loya, Rita Loya, Chelsea Gaughran, David Witt, Carol Williams, Tracy Cade, Tony Shores, Khloe Parker, Travis Hunter, Will Hunter, Kristen Hunter, Neil Hunter, Diane Hunter and Gray Hunter) Credits by: George Baskerville

Area 6 virtual LETR members not pictured:  Ben Reinford, Katelyn Wheeler, Christopher Alvarado, Adam Smith, Steve Smith, Travis Melson, Daniel Bushey, Lena Caffall, Coleson Caffall, George Baskerville, Geoffrey Baskerville. At this point, the Area 6 Walkers have raised $805!

Virtual Opening Ceremony & Final Mile: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=314463822897057

The health and safety of our volunteers and athletes continue to be paramount to SOI and SOVA. SOVA is adopting SOI’s recommendation that all in-person events — including training, competitions, fundraising and travel — be postponed through June 30. SOVA staff will continue to work remotely and are  available through email or phone. Please reach out if you have questions or need assistance.

Don’t forget to share SOVA’s Virtual Fitness Page with your athletes. This page is accessible to anyone regardless of whether you have a Facebook account. Athletes can participate in daily fitness activities leading up to Summer Games, which was scheduled for June 12-13, and be eligible to win prizes. https://tinyurl.com/SOVA-Fitness

Also, be on the lookout for a virtual Torch Run Summer Games weekend. More information and how you can raise funds for your Area program will be shared soon.

Don’t forget to stay in shape so you can jump right in when SOVA Area 6 events start up again! We miss our Athletes.

The About Time Music Festival folks have made the decision to postpone the About Time Music Festival to 2021, the same weekend after Memorial Day, so the event will be June 4th and 5th, 2021.  We will have as much of the same music lineup and vendors that are able to re-book for the new dates and we want to keep Special Olympics, Area 6 as our beneficiary of the donations.  13Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns!

The About Time Music Fest 2020 is happening! On May 29th -30th , 2020 at Ed Allen’s Campground in Lanexa, VA, an estimated 600+ friends and folks will gather to hear 10-12 bands and music groups play during this two day festival with onsite camping and activities for all ages. The regionally popular Richmond based band “South Hill Banks” will headline the music lineup this year.

The About Time Music Fest, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, has an exciting opportunity for you to help support this year’s event, which will benefit our local Special Olympics Virginia organization: Area 6.

The huge success of the About Time Music Festival is credited in large part to our sponsors, who will lend their names and financial support to the 2020 About Time Music Festival in exchange for valuable sponsorship benefits. We hope you will consider sponsoring the 2020 About Time Music Festival.

For more information see the About Time 2020 Sponsorship Letter.

So come camp for a weekend, day or night of great Music! Many of the area’s local bands will be heard throughout the festival.

Also, your attendance and/or sponsorship will help Special Olympics Virginia Area 6 provide the many sports we do for all our Area Athletes in New Kent, Chesterfield, Goochland, and Powhatan.

We would like to thank the About Time Music Festival for selecting Special Olympics Virginia Area 6 as their beneficiary this year!

Coronavirus – An Update from Special Olympics Virginia

March 20, 2020

Under advisement from Special Olympics International, in cooperation with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to suspend all community-based Special Olympics practices, competitions and other activities through the end of May.

This will include Summer Games, which was scheduled for June 12-13.

All school-based Unified Champion Schools (UCS) activities should continue to follow the lead of the school system and/or school superintendent in the decision-making process.

All Special Olympics VA and Law Enforcement Torch Run fundraising events also are suspended through May 31.

We made this decision based on information from experts, prioritizing the well-being our of athletes, family members, volunteers and supporters. Our events are opportunities for people to come together for a wonderful cause but unfortunately, that joining together can pose a risk to our athletes and communities.

During the course of the next few weeks we’ll be sharing useful information with all of our athletes, coaches and families on ways they can stay fit and make healthy lifestyle choices. We’ll post videos of training you can do at home as well as other tips and online resources. Stay tuned to our Facebook page and your email for more details.

Our staff is still working so if you have any questions or need to reach out to us you can contact any staff member via email. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

Rick Jeffrey, Special Olympics Virginia President

March 12, 2020

Special Olympics International has strongly suggested that State programs suspend athlete active programs.  As such SOVA has directed we cease activities as stated below.

All Area 6 Special Olympics Virginia activities, to include practices/trainings, competitions, social gatherings, etc., Will BE SUSPENDED through MARCH 31.

Check with your local Coordinators for updates as we get closer to the end of March.

Following is documentation regarding this decision.

Coronavirus – An Update from Special Olympics Virginia

March 11, 2020

Special Olympics Virginia is entering its spring season and with growing concern over the coronavirus in the United States, it is important to address our upcoming competitions and events for the health and safety of everyone involved.

COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS: As it stands today, under the recommendation of Special Olympics International CEO Mary Davis per the Memo included below, all community-based Special Olympics Virginia activities, to include practices/trainings, competitions, social gatherings, etc., should be SUSPENDED through MARCH 31, at which time the situation will be reevaluated. Fundraising events that do not include Special Olympics athletes may continue at your discretion.

SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS: At this time, for any Unified Champion Schools activity at Virginia schools, such as Champions Together, Young Athletes, Unified Sports leagues, Feet Meets, etc., we should follow the lead of the school system and/or school superintendent in their decision-making process.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. We know that our love of sport doesn’t compare to the importance of protecting the health of the athletes, volunteers and fans, which will remain our top priority.

Sincerely,

Rick Jeffrey
Special Olympics Virginia President

Memo from Mary Davis, CEO, Special Olympics International

Dear Program CEOs/Executive Directors,

As a follow up to our memo last Wednesday to all of you and due to recent developments tied to the global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), including a case tied to a U.S. Special Olympics athlete, and the heightened risks for people with intellectual disabilities and the elderly, Special Olympics Programs worldwide are very strongly advised to suspend all sport training and competition activities and other activations involving our athletes through 31 March 2020, at which time the situation will be reevaluated.

Fundraising events that do not include Special Olympics athletes may proceed at the discretion of each Program, so long as Programs carefully assess the risk in collaboration with their local or national health agencies.

This decision was carefully made after consulting with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and after reviewing the latest guidance from the World Health Organization.

In the coming weeks, we will work with leadership across the Special Olympics movement and continue to monitor and evaluate developments that may impact our athletes, staff and volunteers. We will also work with our communications network to coordinate with local and national health departments, while monitoring traditional media and social media channels.

These actions are necessary to ensure that we are doing everything we can to prevent transmission of the virus. We have prepared a list of frequently asked questions that you can reference on the topic of virus prevention and control.

Should you learn of anybody in your SO Program, who may have contracted the virus, please alert your regional president or designated regional point of contact and communication lead immediately.

Please feel free to share with us any questions you may have.

We sincerely appreciate your understanding and cooperation: the health and safety of our athletes and constituents are our highest priority.

Sincerely,

Mary Davis
CEO, Special Olympics International

Area 6’s Unified Basketball Team had an incredible tournament on March 7, 2020 in Stafford, VA at the SOVA State Basketball Championship. There were great, competitive games. Area 6 won their first game 19 – 16 against an Area 9, Blacksburg team. Their second game was against a new team from Wakefield HS in Arlington. It was a fast paced, competitive game from the start. Wakefield has a star athlete who is aggressive and can take over the game.

The Area 6 team did a great job playing together and finding the open player for a shot. Everyone, except Faith, scored and Mason was our high scorer with 8 – 10 points. (CJ did not come this weekend due to a stomach virus.) The game was tied with 10 seconds remaining. The other team’s star player got the ball and made a terrific 3-point shot to win the game 39 – 36. Wakefield came in 3rd place because it was a three-team division and every team won a game. I already knew that if we scored 17 points we would come in 1st place even if we lost to Wakefield.

Rick Jeffrey, the SOVA President said it was one of the best Unified games he has ever seen. Everyone played to their ability level and almost everyone contributed to the game. It was a great game and so fun to see how much the Area 6 team improved over the course of the season. The three local tournaments and three practices with a gym to themselves the last four weeks certainly helped the team be prepared for the Championship.