Portland, August 9th, 2015. From the coast to the Cascades and canyons, the Bite of Oregon is a celebration of Oregon’s bounty and people. More than 25 breweries, wineries, distilleries, cideries, and distilleries poured craft beverages to help quench thirsts. Tom McCall Waterfront Park was packed with over 50,000 people during the three-day event, Oregon’s top chefs, best wineries, breweries, ciders-makers and distilleries, along with celebrity chef demonstrations and challenges, like the Iron Chef competition, were featured. (photo credit, Peter Van Houten Photography)
This year’s Iron Chef winner was James Williams from Omar’s Restaurant in Ashland. The winning dish included braised pork jowl, served with bacon corn puree, along with chili honey-glazed bacon.
All proceeds benefit Special Olympic Oregon. (This photo is from the 2015 summer state games.)
“Eat” the Oregon Bounty Chef’s table returned. In true farm-to-festival spirit, chef’s from around the state partnered with Oregon’s various agriculture commissions to prepare locally-sourced, gourmet bites for $4.
This year, the Chef’s table expanded and featured many Oregon Agricultural Commissions, including blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, potato, seafood and beef. Busy volunteers passes out the goodies.
SE Wine Collective, a unique urban winery in Portland, returned as the official host of the Wine Bar. Local wines were also honored.
Ice cream was a favorite with kids and their parents. The Bite offered a variety of kid-friendly activities including a stage with hourly interactive performances, puppeteers, arts and crafts projects and face painting.
Special Olympics Oregon provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children, youth and adults living with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Special Olympics Oregon serves more than 12,000 participants each year with intellectual disabilities, serving the largest disability population in the state. Every day, every month and every year, our programs and services provide our constituents with immense opportunities in life, yet nearly 100,000 individuals could still benefit from participating in Special Olympics Oregon programs.
Still growing, Special Olympics Oregon is efficiently expanding programs to get closer and closer to serving every individual with intellectual disabilities that qualifies to participate in Special Olympics. Our vision is to help bring all persons with intellectual disabilities into the larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted, respected and given the chance to become useful and productive citizens.
Newberg, July 12th, 2014. The Summer State Games are the state championship competitions in the sports of athletics (track & field), bocce, golf, and softball for Special Olympics athletes in Oregon. All participants have trained in their hometowns for eight weeks prior to the Summer Games and have qualified to compete at the Summer Games at a regional level competition. Law enforcement agencies from all over Oregon were represented at the Law Enforcement Torch Run and the 2014 Summer State Games.
Jerome Kersey of the Portland Trail Blazers greets the athletes.
Special Olympian Michael Hart runs in the Newberg games.
Area residents rolled out the red carpet including balloonist who added spectacular color.
“Champions are not the ones who always win races . champions are the ones who get out there and try. And try harder the next time. And even harder the next time.” – Simon Sinek
Victory Dance & Social – Newberg High School Stadium is always a highlight.
From Special Olympics Oregon:
Here in Oregon, while Special Olympics Oregon serves 12,000 participants throughout the state, nearly 70,000 people with intellectual disabilities could benefit from participating in Special Olympics. Still growing, Special Olympics Oregon is efficiently expanding programs to get closer and closer to serving every individual with intellectual disabilities that qualifies to participate in Special Olympics.
Special Olympics Oregon offers training and competition opportunities in 14 different Olympic-style sports. There are three sports seasons throughout the year, with statewide competitions and training in winter, summer and fall.
Special Olympics Oregon holds events in every region of the state, every month of the year, providing athletes the opportunity to be competing and training as often as they choose.
Special Olympics athletes train intensely for eight weeks prior to each State Games event. Volunteer coaches are responsible for training the athletes. Volunteers must complete a certification program prior to becoming Special Olympics coaches and must attend training schools before each season.
Special Olympics Oregon (SOOR) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization incorporated in the state of Oregon to provide sports training and athletic competition for persons with mental disabilities. SOOR is accredited by Special Olympics, Inc. (SOI) and responsible for following the policies and rules established by SOI in the delivery of services in Oregon. It is known as a Program of SOI. A volunteer Board of Directors provides policy decisions and long-range planning for SOOR. The Board employs a staff of people to implement the day-to-day operations.
Portland, March 1st, 2014. More than 2,000 Portlanders jumped into the frigid water of the Columbia River to support Special Olympics Oregon. The cold weather did not dampen enthusiasm and great costumes added to the fun. Organized by Oregon Law Enforcement, the Polar Plunge, is the largest grass roots fundraiser in Oregon. Money raised supports 12,000 Special Olympics Oregon participants statewide. (photo credit, Cameron Browne)
Members of Oregon Law Enforcement enjoy the fun.
One of the sponsors for the day, Oregon’s Health CO-OP – Bob Dickes, Cinthia Manuel, KJ McAllister, Jake Byron (event emcee Alpha Broadcasting, Dylan Hornstein.
Pam Abrahamsson and Carolynn Duncan.
Drew Carney (emcee, KGW) with costume contestant.
Waiting to plunge
Special Olympics Oregon offers training and competition opportunities in 14 different Olympic-style sports. They hold events in every region of the state, every month of the year, providing athletes the opportunity to be competing and training as often as they choose.
Portland, October 30th. Nearly 1,000 corporate and business leaders joined the crowed at this year’s Governors’ Gold Awards where athletes were honored. (Photo credit Andie Petkus) This year’s Governor Gold Awardees include: Orville Roth from Roth’s Fresh Markets. Joe Weston, Wally Rhines from Mentor Graphics, Governor Victor Atiyeh, Governor Barbara Roberts, Governor John Kitzhaber, Governor Theodore Kulongoski, Tamara Lundgren from Schnitzer Steel Industries, Chip Terhune from Schnitzer Steel Industries, Gary Fish from Deschutes Brewery, Leesa Cobb and Aaron Longton from Port Orford Ocean Resource Team.
This year’s Governor Gold Awardees listed from left to right – Orville Roth from Roth’s Fresh Markets. Joe Weston, Wally Rhines from Mentor Graphics, Governor Victor Atiyeh, Governor Barbara Roberts, Governor John Kitzhaber, Governor Theodore Kulongoski, Tamara Lundgren from Schnitzer Steel Industries, Chip Terhune from Schnitzer Steel Industries, Gary Fish from Deschutes Brewery, Leesa Cobb and Aaron Longton from Port Orford Ocean Resource Team.
This year’s Governor Gold Awardees included Orville Roth from Roth’s Fresh Markets
Gerry Frank and Gov. John Kitzaber
This year’s Governor Gold Awardees included Joe Weston.
The benefit luncheon raised $230,000 at the event. One of Special Olympics Oregon supporters was also there, Mariel Zagunis; two time World Championship and a stunning two Olympic Gold medal winner.
Special Olympics Oregon athlete, Travis Koski, address the audience and thanks everyone for their support of Special Olympics Oregon programs and services. Travis is a gold medal winner in the pentathlon, enjoys public speaking and hanging out with his friends.
Nearly 1,000 corporate and business leaders joined the crowed at this year’s Governors’ Gold Awards. One of Special Olympics Oregon supporters was also there, Mariel Zagunis; two time World Championship and a stunning two Olympic Gold medal winner.
Governor John Kitzhaber, awards a Special Olympics Oregon athlete with this year’s Gert Boyle Greatness Award.
From Special Olympics Oregon: Here in Oregon, while Special Olympics Oregon serves more than 10,000 participants throughout the state, nearly 70,000 people with intellectual disabilities could benefit from participating in Special Olympics. Still growing, Special Olympics Oregon is efficiently expanding programs to get closer and closer to serving every individual with intellectual disabilities that qualifies to participate in Special Olympics.
Special Olympics Oregon offers training and competition opportunities in 14 different Olympic-style sports. There are three sports seasons throughout the year, with statewide competitions and training in winter, summer and fall.
Special Olympics Oregon holds events in every region of the state, every month of the year, providing athletes the opportunity to be competing and training as often as they choose.
Special Olympics athletes train intensely for eight weeks prior to each State Games event. Volunteer coaches are responsible for training the athletes. Volunteers must complete a certification program prior to becoming Special Olympics coaches and must attend training schools before each season.
Special Olympics Oregon (SOOR) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization incorporated in the state of Oregon to provide sports training and athletic competition for persons with mental disabilities. SOOR is accredited by Special Olympics, Inc. (SOI) and responsible for following the policies and rules established by SOI in the delivery of services in Oregon. It is known as a Program of SOI. A volunteer Board of Directors provides policy decisions and long-range planning for SOOR. The Board employs a staff of people to implement the day-to-day operations.
Oregon, October 8th. If you have ever dreamt about having your local police officers wait on you, now is your chance! Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin), Special Olympics Oregon and law enforcement officers in cities across the country will be serving guests at Red Robin® restaurants on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 to raise funds for Special Olympics Programs through in-restaurant Tip-A-Cop® events. At 380 Red Robin restaurants in 39 states, law enforcement officers will trade in their handcuffs and badges between 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. to earn tips from restaurant guests to benefit their local Special Olympics Program. All Oregon Red Robin locations will be participating.
“Our annual Red Robin Tip-A-Cop events are always a good time for a great cause,” said Michael Teem, executive director, Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. “The tremendous level of law enforcement and community support, and the unparalleled generosity from Red Robin and Coca-Cola, is what will make this event so successful this year. The money raised will be used to support Special Olympics events and mission of inclusion and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities in communities throughout the United States through year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports.”
Tip-A-Cop is part of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) campaign in support of Special Olympics. LETR, which includes an international series of relay runs and special events like Tip-A-Cop, is supported by more than 85,000 law enforcement officers worldwide who help raise money and public awareness for Special Olympics. As the largest grassroots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics, LETR funds raised go directly to local programs in states or countries where the funds are generated.
“Red Robin launched the Tip-A-Cop program in our restaurants seven years ago and, with the help of participating law enforcement officials, we have donated more than $2 million to Special Olympics programs across the country,” said Eric Houseman, president and chief operating officer at Red Robin, and Special Olympics Colorado board member. “After raising nearly $750,000 last year, we are proud to again partner with local law enforcement officials and Coca-Cola to support Special Olympics in the communities we serve.”
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Story submitted by Ryan Avery | Director of Marketing and Communications Special Olympics Oregon
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