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Smooth jazz music played Saturday night as Special Olympics athletes and
their families and friends ate dinner in elegant evening attire at the
Tallahassee Elks Lodge.
The event was the Pre-Independence Day Gala, a classy affair dreamed up
by organizer Anika Fields. Pictures from Special Olympics games and events
were projected onto a large screen next to the dance floor.
"The athletes love dressing up. It's kind of like a prom for them." said Melba
Jacobs, Special Olympics area training director.
It was too early to tell how much money was raised, but Fields said she
hopes the event becomes one of the largest fundraisers Special Olympics
Leon County puts on each year.
"I'm very pleased," Fields said. "My hope was that there would be enough
food and that there would be enough people, and it's turning out well."
David Powell and Kory Thompson, who have participated in Special
Olympics 20 years or more, were inducted into the Leon County hall of fame.
their families and friends ate dinner in elegant evening attire at the
Tallahassee Elks Lodge.
The event was the Pre-Independence Day Gala, a classy affair dreamed up
by organizer Anika Fields. Pictures from Special Olympics games and events
were projected onto a large screen next to the dance floor.
"The athletes love dressing up. It's kind of like a prom for them." said Melba
Jacobs, Special Olympics area training director.
It was too early to tell how much money was raised, but Fields said she
hopes the event becomes one of the largest fundraisers Special Olympics
Leon County puts on each year.
"I'm very pleased," Fields said. "My hope was that there would be enough
food and that there would be enough people, and it's turning out well."
David Powell and Kory Thompson, who have participated in Special
Olympics 20 years or more, were inducted into the Leon County hall of fame.
| June 29, 1008 by: Nic Corbett DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER |
Photo courtesy TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT
The Norman family is honored as Special
Olympics family of the year at the Special
Olympics Leon County Inaugural
Pre-Independence Day Gala Saturday.
(PHIL SEARS/Democrat)
Olympics family of the year at the Special
Olympics Leon County Inaugural
Pre-Independence Day Gala Saturday.
(PHIL SEARS/Democrat)
Contact reporter Nic Corbett at (850) 599-2161 or ncorbett@tallahassee.com
"They have a hall of fame on the state level and we wanted to have it at the county level," Jacobs said.
Powell, 39, has been a Special Olympics athlete since he was 8 years old. He has participated in swimming, roller
skating, power lifting and running.
"He's excited, but he's a humble person and the commotion is overwhelming," said his mother, Kristina Holmen-Mohr.
Thompson, 33, has been involved in Special Olympics since he was 14. He plays basketball and throws shot put. He and
his mother are trying to get a Special Olympics program going in Jefferson County, where they live.
"I feel good," Thompson said about winning the award. "I know my mama's proud of me."
Kerri Outten and the Norman family also won awards for their involvement in Special Olympics.
"We didn't know we were nominated until last week," said Connie Norman, a mother of two athletes, who expressed
surprise. "It's an honor to be selected the Special Olympics family of the year."
Powell, 39, has been a Special Olympics athlete since he was 8 years old. He has participated in swimming, roller
skating, power lifting and running.
"He's excited, but he's a humble person and the commotion is overwhelming," said his mother, Kristina Holmen-Mohr.
Thompson, 33, has been involved in Special Olympics since he was 14. He plays basketball and throws shot put. He and
his mother are trying to get a Special Olympics program going in Jefferson County, where they live.
"I feel good," Thompson said about winning the award. "I know my mama's proud of me."
Kerri Outten and the Norman family also won awards for their involvement in Special Olympics.
"We didn't know we were nominated until last week," said Connie Norman, a mother of two athletes, who expressed
surprise. "It's an honor to be selected the Special Olympics family of the year."
