Special Olympics Illinois currently has the following 2011 events available on Firstgiving:

- Marathons and Other Running Events

- Triathlons

- Other Fundraisers
 
It only takes a few minutes to create your Online Fundraising Page -

• Click the Get Started button
  
• Personalize the text and the photo on your Online Fundraising Page to express your passions and your purpose.
  
• Send the link out to your friends, family, colleagues - anyone you think will help you reach your goal.
  

The Special Olympics mission is ... to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

The program helps ... empower people with intellectual disabilities to realize their full potential. Special Olympics athletes enhance their physical fitness and motor skills while building self-confidence, friendships and social skills. Special Olympics athletes carry these benefits with them into their daily lives at home, in the classroom, on the job and in the community. Families who participate become stronger as they learn a greater appreciation of their athlete’s abilities. Volunteers help in every aspect of the program and derive great satisfaction from contact with the athletes and their families. Members of the community learn to recognize and value the contributions of people with intellectual disabilities.