Ithaca College

Student Volunteers for Special Olympics is a student organization made up of students volunteering their time to help individuals with a wide range of disabilities participate in competitive sports within the Ithaca Community to improve their quality of life.
This student organization was founded when president Katie Deitz was a freshman in 2011. When Katie went to a “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign focused around ending stigmas and difficult dialogue surrounding those with disabilities, she knew she found something in which she was interested. When the student organization was formed, the members began attending sporting practices, acting as assistant coaches in a variety of different sports including basketball and swimming. Now, three years later, the club has grown and a family has been formed between the athletes and the volunteers.

Aside from attending as many practices as possible, members are also responsible for hosting annual events including a Halloween party for athletes and their families and a fundraiser where Flame the Band performs in Emerson Suites. Flame the Band is a rock band made up of members with various disabilities. This year, the event was held on Tuesday, April 7th in Emerson Suites with a turnout of around 90 community members. This resulted in a large donation for the Special Olympics of Ithaca to ensure that athletes who are disabled can participate in sports within the area.
 
“My favorite part of being a part of SVSO is getting to interact with the athletes on such a personal level, getting to know them, and becoming friends with them”, says Deitz. This student organization is more than learning skills, it is about giving back to the community we call home for four years. “Student Volunteers for Special Olympics is a club that you are proud to be a part of”, says junior Mallorie Azzolinie. Throughout the remainder of the semester, this student organization is going to focus its time preparing for next years events while attending as many practices as possible. For those interested in joining Student Volunteers for Special Olympics, please reach out to Katie Deitz at kdeitz1@ithaca.edu.

For more information on this student organization and other student organization read the next issue of Club Hub.