WIAA L.E.A.P. Committee's Coins for a Cause at the Winter State Championships
The WIAA L.E.A.P. Committee organized coin drives at the 2010 Mat Classic (Boys and Girls State Wrestling Championships) and at the 3A and 4A Boys and Girls State Basketball Championships. Thanks to the generosity of the fans of the schools that participated in the State Championship events, the L.E.A.P. Committee was able to collect over $2,000 for Special Olympics Washington.
The WIAA L.E.A.P. Committee is committed to promoting and supporting the goals and core values of the WIAA through student leadership. The Coins for a Cause program was established in 2009 by the L.E.A.P. Committee and is designed to help raise funds for local non-profit organizations.
About the WIAA L.E.A.P. Committee
L.E.A.P. (Leadership through Education, Activities, and Personal Development), is a student leadership group organized by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. The L.E.A.P. Committee is made up of student leaders from WIAA member schools throughout the state.
Student representatives are involved with WIAA events, meetings and community projects, and have the unique opportunity to be the voice of Washington’s nearly 230,000 student-participants.
The L.E.A.P. Committee was established to promote and support the goals and core values of the WIAA through student leadership. As the voice of Washington’s student participants, L.E.A.P. members are committed to the promotion of sportsmanship, respect, and community service through interscholastic activities.
History of Special Olympics Washington
Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation, Special Olympics formed to improve the lives of the intellectually disabled. That year, 1,000 athletes from 26 states and Canada competed in an Olympic type competition at Soldier Field in Chicago. During a time when the mentally retarded were most often confined to institutions, the organization of Special Olympics began a movement to change the world’s view about intellectually disabled people. The Special Olympics movement has grown to over 1.7 million athletes worldwide in 150 countries. Special Olympics Inc. holds the World Winter Games and World Summer Games on an alternate two- year schedule.
Special Olympics Washington incorporated in 1975 as a non-profit organization following several years of program presentation by local community volunteer groups. A board of directors that provides guidance to SOWA staff and volunteers governs the organization.
Vision & Mission of Special Olympics Washington
The vision of Special Olympics 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.
The mission of Special Olympics Washington is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Washington provides athletes 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 Olympic athletes, and the community.