Hello there,

The place athletes begin their journey with Special Olympics is seldom where they end up. They learn new skills, play new sports, find new passions, lead their communities — the list goes on and on and on. 

Mary-Ellen Powers represents the remarkable journey of athletes. When she joined Special Olympics at 17 years old, she was shy and struggling with self-esteem after years of being bullied. Since then, she has made new friends, built her self-confidence, shared her gifts with fellow athletes, set goals, and achieved her dreams.

Through Special Olympics, Mary-Ellen discovered a career path to help others with intellectual disabilities find their joy and community just as she did. Now, more than two decades later, she works full-time for Special Olympics Rhode Island as the Administrative Assistant and Athlete Leadership Specialist. 

Every day I get the opportunity to talk with athletes like Mary-Ellen, who have had their lives transformed by Special Olympics. Athletes can pursue their dreams because of the incredible community of peers, coaches, volunteers, and supporters they have backing them up every single day.

Do you know ONE thing that EVERY SINGLE Special Olympics athlete has in common?

(The answer may surprise you!)

When people join Special Olympics, they start a lifelong journey that could lead them to a million different places. With long-term support, all athletes can shine on and off the field. They just need a place to start. 

Thank you,
Megan Wolf
Senior Manager, Digital Fundraising & Strategy