Tag: "special olympics"

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE - A Very Special Christmas Volume 7 CD

a very special christmas cd cover

GIFT IDEA - A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS VOLUME 7

The Special Olympics has brought my son opportunities he may never have had otherwise. He enjoys participating and we enjoy watching him.

The torch has been passed to a new generation of superstar talent for this album as top stars of 2009 contribute to the latest edition of the acclaimed series which benefits Special Olympics. A Very Special Christmas Volume 7 features original recordings of new and traditional Christmas songs which each artist selected especially for this album. Performers include: Colbie Caillat, Carter Twins, Charice, Miley Cyrus, Kristinia DeBarge, Gloriana, Vanessa Hudgens, Sean Kingston, Leighton Meester, Mitchel Musso, Kellie Pickler, Ashley Tisdale, and Carrie Underwood.

The album SRP is a budget-friendly $14.98, perfect for everyone on your gift list and it is set for release on November 23 through the Universal Music Enterprises. The album will be available in stores and online through most major retailers including iTunes, Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Borders and many more. The album marks the seventh installment in the A Very Special Christmas album series to benefit Special Olympics. Thanks to the generosity of more than 100 top internationally acclaimed recording artists, the A Very Special Christmas series has generated over $100 million in direct support for Special Olympics programs around the world.

To learn more about A Very Special Christmas visit www.veryspecialchristmas.org

This review has not been monetarily compensated nor have I received any products.  I am including it in my gift guide because it benefits a cause I believe deserves attention.

Dec 17, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post
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Wordless Wednesday - Dad, I’d Rather Run Than Walk The Line

wordless wed rather run than walk the line

Thanks for stopping by! If you have a picture up for Wordless Wednesday, leave your link below on Mr. Linky! Then head on over to Here And There, What’s That Smell, Wordless Wednesday, Go Graham Go, 5 Minutes for Mom and The Not-So-Blog Blog for more wordless fun!

Sep 23, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post
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Our First Day At The Special Olympics

I CAME.

cj standing first day special olympics

I SAW RAN.

cj running first day special olympics

I CONQUERED WENT HOME AFTER A HALF HOUR BECAUSE MY MOM FORGOT MY SUNSCREEN AND I GOT SUN SPOTS.

cj sunspots first day special Olympics

SILLY OLE MOM. Sometimes they ruin all the fun!

Sep 13, 2009 | 3 comments | View Post
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Hawaiian Special Olympians discriminated against

In reading a post on Skeet’s blog and an article on the Special Olympics Hawaii website tonight I learned that the Hawaii Board of Education has decided to cut all funding for the Special Olympics programs for DOE students. I was disgusted when I read of their decision. How discriminatory! As a Mom of a child that has participated in Special Olympics programming I can assure you that students that participate in Special Olympics programs need and deserve those programs just as much as any mainstream student does, possibly even more. I don’t live in Hawaii but I feel like this decision impacts my family in a global community sense. If you live in Hawaii, please let your Board of Education members know this decision is not acceptable. I don’t live there, but I’m going to send a letter anyway, as well as make a donation because Special Olympics Hawaii needs all of the help they can get right now. Please consider joining me.

Sep 20, 2008 | 0 comments | View Post
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Teenager taking a special plunge

I had tears in my eyes when I read this, so I’m sending it over to Skeet for Share Some Good Stuff. Don’t worry, they were good tears. As mentioned on my Home and Vacation blog a while back, there are annual winter ocean plunges in New Jersey that help raise much needed funds for the Special Olympics of New Jersey. Today I read an article from the New Jersey Herald that told the story of a fifteen year old girl, Stephanie Fox,  that will be participating in the New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Bear Plunge for the fifth year. You may be wondering why I think that’s great. See, a person can’t just go over there and get in. Each participant must raise a minimum of $100.00 to participate. The goal for this year’s event is $700,000. Stephanie has her own personal goal of $2,000 and participates because she believes it is for a good cause. Her belief is so right, and she obviously learned something about values and compassion from her parents because she first decided to participate because her father does. Spending time with the son of one of her teachers fueled her desire to contribute and raise money. The article concludes by mentioning that Stephanie has begun considering teaching special education students as a career, stating “I really enjoy working with kids who have Down syndrome because they are always happy and fun to be with”. What a kid! Her parents must be very proud. I wish for more youths to have such a positive and caring attitude.

Feb 14, 2008 | 7 comments | View Post
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A special athlete

I’m submitting this to Skeet’s Share Some Good Stuff.

He may be a one of a kind high school athlete. He goes to high school in Cherry Hill, a little over an hour away from me. He letters in two varsity sports, basketball and golf. He has Down Syndrome. His name is Brad, and he recently scored a three pointer during a high school basketball game that drew thunderous applause from both teams and fans. As I recently read this NJ.com news story online, it brought tears of joy to my eyes. Why? It is always touching to read stories where someone with a disability is accepted for who they are, but it thrills me when stories like this receive press coverage. More of society needs to become more accepting and compassionate.

Brad not only goes to school and participates in extracurricular activities, but he also holds down two part time jobs. Brad’s parents give much credit to his coach and fellow students for showing their support. And, just in case that’s not enough, there is more. Brad does some public speaking and he is a Special Olympics gold medal holder in golf, as well as having won many other medals as well.

I think it’s great to see this kind of news, and wanted to share it. If everyone who read it shared it with one other person, and each person kept sharing it with one other person, more people would certainly realize that every human being has value, can make a contribution, and has feelings. Then we will have made an important step towards breaking the cycle of ignorance. So please, help me share this good stuff.

Jan 31, 2008 | 4 comments | View Post
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Spreading some more Jersey sunshine

I read as many articles as I can that relate to Down Syndrome because my eight year old has Down Syndrome. I’m always on the look out for a new health, current events or human interest story. I like to share what I find because the world needs to realize that people with Down Syndrome are people too, and that they have dreams, wishes and desires, and deserve to be as much a part of the community as anyone else.

In October, one Montclair, New Jersey resident had great success at the Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Shanghai, China. Emily Srebro is a seventeen year old high school junior that has Down Syndrome. Emily captured the gold medal in the floor exercises. But that’s not all. She also earned silver medals for all around performance, uneven bars, and vaulting, and a bronze for balance beam, thereby winning medals in five separate gymnastics events. Emily considers floor exercises her favorite, as well as her strongest event. She said she was thrilled to win so many medals. She dedicates every performance to her late father.

7,500 athletes representing more than 150 countries were at the competition. Team USA was four hundred members strong. Fourteen of the athletes were from New Jersey.

Congratulations Emily! Congratulations to all of the athletes!

Nov 06, 2007 | 1 comment | View Post
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