Special Olympics Missouri has launched “Fan the Flame,” a unique fundraising campaign for its Training for Life Campus here. The campus, which will be the largest facility in the U.S. built exclusively for Special Olympics athletes, is under construction. An additional $1.4 million is needed to complete the 16.5-acre campus.
The “Fan the Flame” campaign is spearheaded by Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) volunteers, including coaches, event volunteers law enforcement and advocates. These volunteers are being asked to make initial donations to the campaign and ask friends to match their donations in support of SOMO athletes.
Special Olympics Missouri has raised $17.1 million of the $18.5 million needed to complete the campus, which includes the 16.5 acres of donated land.
“Our Fan the Flame campaign will put us across the finish line,” says Gary Wilbers, Chair of the SOMO Training for Life Campus capital campaign. “Our volunteers and fans are just like our athletes ¬– there’s no stopping them.”
The Training for Life Campus will benefit and serve current and future generations of athletes with intellectual disabilities. At the campus, athletes will train, compete and receive health and dental screenings. Additionally, athletes will receive fitness and life skills training to assist them with developing communications skills needed in the workplace and in daily life.
At the heart of the Training for Life Campus will be a 34,000 sq. ft. building that contains a sports and recreation arena, including a full gym. The facility will also house training classrooms, meeting rooms, health screening areas, and SOMO offices. Surrounding the building will be outdoor facilities including soccer fields, softball field, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, track, shot put and long jump field areas, horseshoes, and a golf skills area. The Law Enforcement Torch Run Plaza will be a part of the outdoor Campus as well.
Special Olympics initiatives such as Healthy Athletes and Young Athletes will also have a home at the Training for Life Campus. Athletes will receive health screenings such as vision and hearing exams, dental exams and sports physicals.
Anyone can contribute to the Fan the Flame fundraising campaign by visiting somo.org and clicking on the Fan the Flame banner or directly at give.somo.org/fantheflame. Supporters can register as a fundraising team leader or make a general donation.
