Special Olympics Florida, Founded in 1972, Provides Year-Round Sports Training and Athletic

Special Olympics Florida, founded in 1972, provides year-round sports training and athletic competition to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Florida is divided into eleven area programs, which covers over 55 counties and serves over 15,000 athletes throughout the state. Through successful sports training and competition, Special Olympics Florida athletes develop physically, socially, and psychologically. Positive experiences through Special Olympics Florida programs, builds confidence and self-image with the athletes and carries over into other aspects of their lives.

• There is never a cost or charge for the athlete or family to participate in Special Olympics.
• Offering over 20 sports to choose from for all levels of skills and abilities.
• Year-Round Sports Training and Competition.
• Persons are eligible for competition provided that they are eight (8) years old with no age limit with intellectual disabilities. Younger ages can train in most sports.
• Identified by an agency/school or professional as having an intellectual disability or a closely related developmental disability.
• Inclusive opportunities through Unified Sports for athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to train and compete in specific sports. (similar age and ability)
• When athletes interact with their community, both benefit. (Inclusion, sense of belonging and purpose, building positive self-esteem and being a contributing member of society.)

County & Area Events:

NOTE: Not all events are yet on the listed on the web site.

County trainings are generally 4-6 months before state games.

2005 Up Coming State Level Events:

April 29 & 30, May 1Summer Games – Tampa

Athletics, Bocce, Cycling, Soccer, MATP, Tennis, Volleyball, Gymnastics

May 20-21Equestrian Championships

Tampa Fair grounds

September 23-24Golf Championship, Legends Golf Course, Clermont

October 7-8Aquatics Championship, Location TBD

November 4-5 Fall Classic – Bowling, Softball, Powerlifting and Roller Skating

Coaches Training Schools can be found by going to the SOFL web site on coaches.

Year round fund-raising opportunities see

For additional information contact Special Olympics Florida - Amy Lesner at:

352-243-9536 x 503 or (800) 322-4376. Email:

2005 County Coordinators: (3/8/05)

Alachua County – Gail Jerrell (386) 462-2441 email:

Baker County – Patricia Vinzant, (904) 259-0360, email: or

Bay County – Robert Barnes (850) 872-4400x2135 email:

BradfordCounty – Verdell Long (904)769-9184, email:

BrevardCounty – Contact SOFL office (800) 322-4376 x 519 or email:

Broward County – Linda Mills (954) 486-7464, email:

Charlotte County – Debbie Bailey (941) 639-7797, email:

Citrus County – Butch Keiper (352) 726-2430x250, email:

Clay County – Marsha Otti (904) 213-2952, email:

Collier County – Sue Palmer (239) 775-1991, email:

Columbia County – John Brown (386) 755-8160, email:

Desoto County – Ken Clark (863) 494-2328 or (863) 494-6682, email:

Duval County – Michel Johnson (904) 733-2650, email:

EscambiaCounty – Contact SOFL office (800) 322-4376 x 519; email:

FlaglerCounty – Kathryn Lopez (386) 437-2665, email: or

Gadsden County – Margaret Pinson (850) 875-8800,

Hamilton County – Helen Udell (386) 792-6881, email:

Hernando County – Fred Click (352) 597-5003, email:

HighlandsCounty – Contact SOFL office (800) 322-4376 x 519 or email:

HillsboroughCounty –Tom Denham III (813) 362-2573,

Indian River County - Debbie Offutt (772) 567-1451, email:

Jackson County – Karen Henrickson (850) 482-9386, email:

Jefferson County-Howard Pepper (850) 997-4724

LakeCounty – Contact SOFL Office (352) 243-9536 x 519 or email:

LeeCounty – Carol Brotherton (239) 939-3138,

LeonCounty – Lonnie Seay (850) 922-3492, email:

Manatee County – Cindy Gettinger (941) 794-2467, email:

MarionCounty – Lynn Brantley (352) 732-2626, email:

Martin County – Betty Marshall (772) 219-1670 x 34333, email:

Miami-Dade County – Mark Thompson (305) 406-9467, email:

MonroeCounty – Maria Pierce (305) 294-3005; email:

Nassau County – Bob Hinton (904) 225-8600, email:

Okaloosa County – Graham Boutwell (850) 862-6787, email: or

OrangeCounty – Charlotte Day (407) 877-8361,

OsceolaCounty – Mary Jane Phillips (407) 396-0179,

Palm BeachCounty – Rich Fleming (561) 588-5035, email:

Pasco County – Judy Brunner (813) 794-6476, email:

Pasco County -Valerie Lundin (813) 926-2254, email:

Pinellas County – David Haines (727) 462-1556, email:

PolkCounty – Chris Miller (863) 534-0937, email: or

PutnamCounty – Darrel Polite (386) 329-0595, email:

Santa Rosa County – Dawn Smith (850) 983-8208, email:

Sarasota County – Rob Rankin (941)412-0402, email:

SeminoleCounty – Debbie Taylor (407) 407-699-4776,

SuwanneeCounty – Dianna Gordon (386) 776-1177,

St. Johns County – Mary Jo Stansel (904) 819-8700, email:

St. Lucie County – Diane Mitchell (772) 462-1683, email:

SumterCounty - Mary Ann Gonzalez (352) 793-5156, email:

TaylorCounty – Natalie Whalen (850) 838-2530, email:

VolusiaCounty – Carlee Witt (386) 295-1621, email: or

Volusia County- Natalie Williams (386) 736-8565, email:

Wakulla County – Ashley Anderson (850) 878-5210, email:

WaltonCounty – Craig Reynolds (850) 892-2872, email: