Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress (BGCGAC) and Special Olympics Southern California are partnering to provide inclusive programming for young people with and without intellectual disabilities. The partnering organizations will kick off their collaboration by hosting “The Harmony Games: A Unified Family Play Day” on Saturday, April 13 at Cedar Glen Park in Cypress, CA.
The goal of the newly established partnership is to combat the obstacles local youth face and realize new opportunities for social inclusion, leadership, and healthy lifestyles.
The event featuring esteemed partners such as Orange County Soccer Club, Planet Fitness, and Bch will lead Club Members and Special Olympic Athletes through a series of engaging athletic activities.
Participants will enjoy rotating through soccer, street hockey, bocce ball, cornhole, and indoor dance parties, fostering camaraderie and joy. Delicious food for The Harmony Games will be provided by the renowned celebrity chef and CNN Hero, Sir Bruno Serato’s organization, Caterina’s Club.
Attendees will also have the exclusive opportunity to get a sneak peek at the Club’s upcoming Summer STEM and Art Programs, promising enriching experiences for all Club and Olympic Athlete families in attendance.
Scheduled to speak are Special Olympics Southern California Assistant Vice President, Community Partnerships – Brian Ritcher, along with Club leaders, Interim CEO – Erika Gary and Director of Program Development – Jeri Barber.
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® is a strategy in more than 8,300 schools Pre-K through university across the U.S. that intentionally promotes social inclusion by bringing together students with and without intellectual disabilities.
Working in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, whose mission is to enable all young people to reach their full potential, Special Olympics will harness the powerful work being done at the grassroots level to create inclusive spaces using the Unified model.
The melding of these two leading organizations will create new opportunities for systemic change for present and future generations of young people.
BGCGAC was selected as one of two Clubs in Southern California to receive a fifteen-thousand-dollar grant from Boys & Girls Clubs of America to support the Clubs’ partnership with Special Olympics Southern California. The Club was chosen after displaying their clear and ongoing commitment to inclusionary practices. Last summer the Club partnered with Orange County Regional Center to provide scholarships and social recreational resources to new Club Members with disabilities.
The Club also gained national recognition when their 2023 Youth of the Year, Joecelyn S., a Hard of Hearing teen, shared her story of how the Club offered an inclusive environment of support, encouragement, and empowered her to share her story.
Moving forward, the Club is committed to furthering its inclusionary practices by introducing a range of new programs in collaboration with Special Olympics Southern California. With additional educational resources, Club Staff will be equipped to guide local youth in inclusive programming and lead advocacy workshops with Club Teens, fostering the next generation of inclusive leaders. “We have always been an organization committed to welcoming all local youth and providing access to resources to better integrate Club
Members who may need additional support,” said Erika Gary, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress.
“The opportunity to partner with Special Olympics Southern California is another step in the right direction of supporting our Club Members who need us most and continue to model acceptance and inclusion to all Club Members.”
Through this collaboration, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics will work together to provide training and supporting resources to support local partnerships. This will in turn aid in Special Olympics athletes becoming fully integrated Club Members and communities becoming more inclusive and accepting.
“Young people today face many challenges, from achieving personal and academic success to feeling emotionally and physically healthy and safe.
Often, the school and social environment for young people is fraught with obstacles, impeding positive development. That is what we strive to overcome with the work we do,” said Andrea Cahn, Vice President of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools.
“It is truly an honor to partner with a like-minded organization that is also committed to empowering and supporting young people as they work to address these barriers and build inclusive schools and communities.”
