Special Olympics--what a glorious organization—one that makes a difference in a special person’s life and helps to build personal character, strength, and confidence.

Business Professionals of America has chosen Special Olympics as its state and national service project. There’s so much that members, chapters, and regions can do to assist this organization. Special Olympics is a non-profit corporation funded through worldwide private and corporate donations and fundraising projects. The organization provides year-round sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

To learn more about the international organization, visit http://www.specialolympics.org. To learn what is happening in Ohio and to review local and statewide volunteer opportunities for your chapter or region, visit the Special Olympics Ohio site www.sooh.org. If you are a very brave member, you can join the Polar Plunges scheduled at several locations during January—burrrrrr! Our Batavia High School chapter recently participated in such an event and raised a significant donation for Ohio Special Olympics.

Funding Special Olympics events is dependent upon contributions. Last year the Ohio Association contributed more than $1,300 to local and state SO events. What can you do to raise money for our service organization? I am a student at Ellet High School, a school that is very gun-ho on fundraising, and there are a plethora of creative ways to raise money. There’s the popular bake sale idea, as well as doing a raffle, but there are a lot of different ways to raise money as well. There are contributors in your community who are willing to help—whether it is a business or a next-door neighbor.

A penny war is one fundraising method that has been quite successful at Ellet. For this event, make it a competition between grades—competition always brings out drive and motivation in students. At lunchtime, or whenever it is appropriate to collect money, students and/or faculty put coins in that grade’s jar. Although we call it a penny war, all coins are accepted and the monetary value becomes the point value

Penny (+1) Nickel (-5) Dime (-10) Quarter (-25) Dollar Bill (-100) and so on…

This event is fun, has no cost involved, and it makes people eager to see who’s going to come out on top.

At the State Leadership Conference, the region that raises the most money is recognized for its members’ hard efforts? A chart showing each region’s contributions is posted on the Ohio BPA site. Check it out to see where your region stands. There is still time to get your contribution recognized. So, let’s go out there and just fundraise away!