Special Olympian athletes, friends enjoy Consolidated Communications' SOFF event
MATTOON – More than 850 Special Olympian Athletes from East Central Illinois were treated to a day of fun and games on Saturday, Sept. 19, as Consolidated Communications hosted its 26th annual Special Olympics Family Festival in Mattoon. Some 1,800 volunteers turned out to help make the day a success.
At the beginning of the day, Special Olympian Athletes were paired with a “Friend-For-A-Day,” a volunteer who escorted their athlete through the “tent city” housing games and activities on the grounds of Lake Land College. The day was highlighted by a performance by Elvis Himselvis, an Elvis tribute artist. In addition to the many non-competitive games and activities, Olympians and their Friends-For-A-Day also enjoyed a parade, dancing, hay rides, face painting and Karaoke.
Colorful cartoon characters highlighted the parade and posed for pictures with Olympians throughout the day. This year’s festival took on a Western atmosphere with its Wild, Wild West theme.
Special Guest Dave Benton from WCIA Channel 3 helped open the event by reciting the Special Olympics Oath with the athletes and later met participants and signed autographs.
Each Olympian left the event with a SOFF 2009 medal, along with some special memories. “A day at the Special Olympics Family Festival really creates memories that last a lifetime for the Olympians as well as our hundreds of volunteers. This truly is a great day, and one that we are so proud to be able to organize,” said John Woodruff, 2009 SOFF chairperson. “As we celebrate another year of SOFF, I want to thank everyone who has supported this great event this year and in the past.”
SOFF began in 1984 as an effort by Consolidated Communications to develop a special community program. While many volunteers are employees of Consolidated Communications, hundreds of volunteers from Eastern Illinois University, Lake Land College, area high schools, civic organizations, businesses and individual members of the surrounding communities support the event each year and their help is greatly appreciated.