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Special Olympics offers training and competition opportunities in 30 Olympic-type sports for athletes 8 years or older.  For children with intellectual disabilities ages 2 through 7, Special Olympics provides a Young Athletes Program. Special Olympics coaches have a unique opportunity to work with athletes in competitive situations to assist in their training for life. As a grass-roots organization, Special Olympics relies on volunteers at all levels of the movement to ensure that every athlete is offered a quality sports training and competition experience. Individual donors, corporate partners and many others make it possible for Special Olympics to offer children and adults with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy through participation in the program.
English > Press Room > Press Release Archive > 2003 Press Release Archive > Make the Point Announcement
Press Releases

National Federation of State High School Associations Challenges Students to "Make The Point!" for Special Olympics
24 February 2003
(Washington, D.C., USA) —  On October 25, 2003, millions of high school students across the nation will have the opportunity to participate in "Make the Point! for Special Olympics, a basketball fundraiser to benefit participating schools and Special Olympics.

The alliance between the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and Special Olympics brings together two organizations dedicated to empowering individuals to be respected, contributing members of society through their involvement in sports. The Make the Point! event on October 25 will conclude the 24th annual celebration of National High School Activities Week (October 19-25), which was created by the NFHS in 1980 to increase the public's awareness of the values of and need for interscholastic activity programs.
 
Special Olympics and the NFHS are challenging students across America to solicit donations from friends and family, based on the number of free throws they believe they can attempt in a given time period.  On event day, participating students will gather in their school gymnasiums, turn in the money they raised, and shoot their promised free throws. 
 
As an added bonus, each participating school will receive 10 percent of the revenue it raises through Make the Point!
 
"By partnering with Special Olympics, we believe we have the unprecedented opportunity to further infuse two of our core values – respect for self and respect for others – to high school students," said NFHS Executive Director Robert F. Kanaby.  "Make the Point! for Special Olympics gives our youth a tangible way to promote good citizenship in their schools, and, most importantly, it awards students on a personal level, knowing they will truly inspire greatness in Special Olympics athletes."
 
"We are grateful for NFHS' commitment," said Timothy P. Shriver, President and CEO of Special Olympics, "and encourage America's youth to lead our nation and its future generations in the pursuit of empowerment, acceptance and inclusion for all individuals. Together, we all can Make the Point! for Special Olympics."
 
About NFHS
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is the national service and administrative organization for high school athletics and fine arts programs including speech, debate, theatre and music. NFHS writes the playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls competition and provides programs and services for its 51 member state high school associations, which encompasses about 18,200 U.S. high schools and more than 10 million students. The NFHS' mission is to promote participation and sportsmanship and to develop good citizens through interscholastic activities which provide equitable opportunities, positive recognition and learning experiences to students.  
 Visit the NFHS online at www.nfhs.org/.   
Contact:
 
Judy Thomas, NFHS
+1 (317) 822-5758
 
Arlene Whittick, Special Olympics North America
+1 (202) 824-0395
awhittick@specialolympics.org 

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