“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.� - Wilma Rudolph, Olympic Gold Medalist
Special Olympics New Jersey 2009 Awards Dinner Friday, November 20 A celebration to honor the individuals and corporations who inspire greatness in us all.
In Memory of a Champion Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver {1921-2009}
The right to play on any playing field? You have earned it. The right to study in any school? You have earned it. The right to hold a job? You have earned it. The right to be anyone’s neighbor?
You have earned it. –EKS, ‘87 Special Olympics World Games, South Bend, Indiana
to learn more about Mrs. Shriver's Life and Legacy, visit www.eunicekennedyshriver.org
Welcome Award Winners, Athletes, Family and Friends, Welcome to a night of celebration.
Tonight, we will celebrate a year of stories that represent forty years of athletic achievement, and we will congratulate all that have made it possible. We will honor a lifetime volunteer and an athlete who defines the name of the memorial award he has been selected to receive. We will meet a coach who exemplifies commitment and recognize a training program that has produced some of the finest athletes in our state. We will celebrate the accomplishments of twenty years of telling our story on screen and we will launch a tribute for our next 25 years of the Law Enforcement Torch Run. The year 2009 will be remembered for many things, and while we celebrate our many stories, we will also pay tribute to our Founder Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the visionary and the champion behind the reason we all celebrate this evening. Tonight we will witness her impact in the greatness of our stories ... and with each and every applause, we shall all recognize the greatness that she brought to all of our lives.
All of us here this evening are part of a movement that has created change and acceptance and provided opportunity to some of our most deserving friend, neighbors and family members. Tonight we say thank you to all of our sponsors, volunteers and award winners and extend a very sincere congratulations to our athlete award winners and their families. Thank you,
Stewart McClure Chairman, Board of Directors
Marc S. Edenzon President
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Celebrating more than 25 years, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey has grown stronger each year in its commitment and dedication to our growing number of athletes. It was a natural fit that these guardians of the community would reach out to support society’s most deserving individuals ... the athletes of Special Olympics New Jersey.
What began with a few volunteers more than a quarter of a century ago grew to become the 43-member Law Enforcement Torch Run Committee, and these roots spread to include more than 2,700 volunteer members of the Torch Run in New Jersey, who raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics New Jersey year-round.
Dressed in their uniforms in the heat of Summer Games, and working outside for hours enduring the chill of the Winter Games, members of the Torch Run are always present to award medals and ribbons; prepare food at the hot grills; oversee venues; shake a hand; or offer a word of encouragement to athletes, families, coaches and other volunteers. These dedicated and loyal supporters sponsor major fundraising events that include: two-mid winter Polar Bear Plunges; two newly established plunges - The Chik’n Plunge and Thanks-4-Giving Plunge; a 5K through the Lincoln Tunnel; and a Plane Pull. In addition, the LE Golf and Central Jersey Golf Classic in 2009 garnered celebrity attendance as well as a record number of participants. And, 2010 is looking to be just as exciting! Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey has been nationally recognized for their accomplishment in assisting the Special Olympics movement: they raised more than $2 million dollars this year, earning the honor of the Fourth Place Torch Run in the world. This esteemed group has ranked among the top Torch Runs internationally for six years, sitting in the first place spot for four consecutive years. Tonight, we salute the members of Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey for their many years of service and loyalty to the athletes of Special Olympics New Jersey.
2009 Board of Directors Stewart McClure Chairman Somerset Hills Bank
1st Vice Chair:
Barbara Wallace
Office of the Governor
2nd Vice Chair:
Greg Matteo
RC Patrick Development Corp.
Secretary:
Richard Levandowski, M.D. Princeton Musculoskeletal Institute
Treasurer:
Samuel A. Pignatelli
South Jersey Gas Company
Chief Robert Belfiore Port Authority of NY & NJ Jerry Coburn Special Olympics NJ Athlete Kristine R. Deni Lawrence Township Public Schools Cecile A. Feldman, DMD UMDNJ - NJ Dental School Ronald G. Fulop Johnson & Johnson Finance (retired) Fred Graziano TD Bank David K. Kaugher Goldman, Sachs & Co. (retired) TJ Nelligan Nelligan Sports Marketing, Inc. Jeanne Oswald, Ed.D. Isles, Inc. Paul Prior Hinkle, Fingles & Prior: Attorneys at Law Judith L. Roman AmeriHealth New Jersey Robin C. Rotenberg BASF Donald Slaght Hollston Hills, LLC.
Ex-Officio Members
Patricia A. Smith DVUA
Patricia Swartz NJ Dept. of Community Affairs
Thomas Sullivan Princeton Partners, Inc. Stephen M. Sweeney NJ Senator, 3rd District Timothy M. Tracy Ernst & Young, LLP Charlie Wimberg Atlantic City Electric
Marc S. Edenzon Special Olympics New Jersey
2009 Area Directors Anita Nedswick Area 1 - Hudson County
Rich Deska Area 2 - Passaic County
Betty Lunn Area 3 - Morris, Sussex & Warren Counties
Joyce Kirchin Area 4 - Hunterdon County
Doris S. Darling Area 5 - Middlesex & Union Counties
Jeri Hickey Area 6 - Monmouth & Ocean Counties
Marianne Aponte Area 7 - Camden, Gloucester & Salem Counties
Sue Kinsell Area 8 - Atlantic, Cape May & Cumberland Counties
Frank Petrucci Area 9 - Essex County
Chris & Larry Hanko Area 10 - Somerset County
Joanne Monaco Area 11 - Mercer County
Artie Mortensen Area 12 - Bergen County
Sandy Rodenbeck Area 13 - Burlington County
The Board of Directors and Staff of Special Olympics New Jersey would like to thank the Area Directors for their ongoing commitment to our Special Olympics New Jersey athletes. Often the first face a Special Olympics athlete or an athlete’s family member will see, these volunteers are the foundation of the Special Olympics movement. For a life time of dedication and the large amounts of time you have given to the athletes, their families and to the organization ... thank you.
Awards Dinner 2008-2009 Awards Categories Category I One recipient was selected for each Category award.
Outstanding Local Training Program: awarded to the best example of high quality sports training for Special Olympics athletes.
Outstanding Volunteer Group/Organization: awarded to the best example of voluntary action by a group to the Special Olympics program. Outstanding Media Coverage: for the most extensive, accurate coverage of Special Olympics events.
Family of the Year: for the family of a Special Olympics athlete that has demonstrated unique and outstanding support of the Special Olympics movement and Special Olympics athletes. LETR Recognition Award: for an individual who has demonstrated support in the area of Law Enforcement for Special Olympics New Jersey.
Category II One recipient on the Area Level, and one recipient on the Chapter Level were selected for each Category award.
Individual Volunteer of the Year: for exemplary voluntary action by an individual for the Special Olympics program. Outstanding Coach: for an individual in any Special Olympics sport who has demonstrated a high degree of technical skill and personal commitment to preparing athletes for participation in Special Olympics events.
Category III
One athlete was selected for each sports season (Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer).
Outstanding Athlete - Fall Sports: awarded to the Special Olympics athlete who has shown determination, dedication to training, and increased proficiency in Fall Sports. Outstanding Athlete - Winter Sports: awarded to the Special Olympics athlete who has shown determination, dedication to training, and increased proficiency in Winter Sports. Outstanding Athlete - Spring Sports: awarded to the Special Olympics athlete who has shown determination, dedication to training, and increased proficiency in Spring Sports.
2009 Awards Dinner Program Opening Remarks & Video - Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver Board of Directors Recognition Family of The Year ............................................................................................................................................... The Licata Family Corporate & Foundation Partner Recognition
Special Recognition .................................................................................................................................................. Patricia Swartz Outstanding Media Coverage of the Year ............................................................................................ The Times of Trenton Area Director Recognition
Video - Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey Recognition
Dinner Lifetime Achievement Award ............................................................................................................................. Alex MacDonald Hall of Fame Inductee ..................................................................................................................................................... Della Porter Hall of Fame Inductee ................................................................................................................................................ Lindsay Fulop
Video - Special Olympics New Jersey Volunteers
Outstanding Coach of the Year - Area .................................................................................................................... Lauren Kisiel Outstanding Coach of the Year - Chapter ............................................................................................................ Cherie Daddis Individual Volunteer of the Year - Area ................................................................................................................ John Fletcher Individual Volunteer of the Year - Chapter ...................................................................................................... Ellen Bombolis Outstanding Volunteer Group .............................................................................................................. New Jersey Natural Gas
Video - Special Olympics New Jersey Athletes
Outstanding Athlete - Fall Sports ............................................................................................................................... Yoav Nesim Outstanding Athlete - Winter Sports ................................................................................................................ Michael Hughes Outstanding Athlete - Spring Sports .................................................................................................................. Frank Williams Outstanding Athlete - Summer Sports ........................................................................................................... Brian Cannavina Outstanding Local Training Program ............................................................................................................. Carteret Specials 2009 Spirit Award Winner .................................................................................................................... Cranbury Country Club 2009 Spirit Award Winner ............................................................................................................................................... Faith Cust 2009 Spirit Award Winner ............................................................................................................. Angela Rotella & Joe Panico Induction into the Law Enforcement Torch Run Wall of Recognition for 2009 ..................................... William Zika Bessie Perlman Achievement Award ................................................................................................................... Susan Borrelli S. Michael Higgins Scholarship Award ................................................................................................... Christopher Gaimari Special Recognition ............................................................................................................................................................. Jeff Brody
Closing Remarks & Video
Outstanding Athlete - Summer Sports: awarded to the Special Olympics athlete who has shown determination, dedication to training, and increased proficiency in Summer Sports.
Category IV
The Bessie Perlman Achievement Award: for the athlete who has demonstrated a dedication to sportsmanship and success in the community. The S. Michael Higgins Special Olympics Scholarship Award: for an athlete who has demonstrated dedication to sport and success in the community.
Spirit Award: for individuals who have advanced the mission of Special Olympics program through year-round support and innovation. Special Recognition: for individuals who have advanced the mission of Special Olympics program through yearround support and innovation.
Hall of Fame
Recipients are selected and showcased in the Hall of Fame at the Special Olympics New Jersey Sports Complex.
Special Olympics New Jersey Lifetime Achievement Award: for an individual who had dedicated 20 years or more to the SONJ Program and who has advanced the mission of Special Olympics. Special Olympics New Jersey Hall of Fame: for an individual who has advanced the Special Olympics movement in one of the following categories: Sports & Training, Fundraising, and/or Public Awareness.
Congratulations to tonight’s award winners and to everyone who has supported Special Olympics New Jersey! A special congratulations to our Lifetime Achievement Winner and Hall of Fame inductees!
Year-Round Corporate Partners Champion Partner N
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Law Enforcement for Special Olympics New Jersey: For more than 25 years, this dedicated group has tirelessly volunteered hundreds of thousands of hours to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics athletes. Partners with LE are: Italian-American Police Society of New Jersey Macy’s
New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police
New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association New Jersey Knights of Columbus
Port Authority of NY & NJ Policemen’s Benevolent Association, Inc.
Premier Partners Continental Airlines, Inc.
Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc. The Jersey Shore Running Club
The Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey and New Jersey Young Insurance Professionals
ShopRite / Wakefern Food Corporation TD Bank
Wawa, Inc.
Platinum Partners
AmeriHealth New Jersey Atlantic City Electric AT&T
Bank of America
BASF Corporation Bob’s Stores
HealthQuest of Hunterdon
New Jersey Dental Association New Jersey Resources
New York Football Giants PGA - New Jersey Section Princeton Partners, Inc.
Gold Medal Partner Comcast FedEx Corporation Flaghouse, Inc. MultiAd Print Services Munich Reinsurance America Nelligan Sports Marketing, Inc. Seton Hall University Athletics Department The College of New Jersey Universal Solutions, Inc.
Silver Medal Partner
21st Century Insurance
AMERIGROUP Corporation Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Hinkle, Fingles & Prior: Attorneys at Law Metro NY-NJ Spa & Pool Association Omni Video Creations, Inc.
Rutgers, The State University State Street Corporation Today’s Graphics, Inc.
Bronze Medal Partner
Nestl e Brand Company
University Health Plans, Inc.
Foundation Partners
NJ Department of Community Affairs The Wal-Mart Foundation Johnson & Johnson
Ronald McDonald House Charities
TD Bank through the TD Charitable Foundation The Horizon Foundation for NJ Bristol-Myers Squibb Company CR Bard Foundation, Inc. Grainger Foundation
South Jersey Industries sanofi-aventis
Integra Foundation
2010 Schedule of Statewide & National Competitions* Floor Hockey State Tournament Team Play
1/9-10 Wildwood
Winter Games
February 1-3, 2010
Skiing - Alpine
Skiing - Cross Country
2/2-3
Mountain Creek
2/2-3
Mountain Creek
Skating (Figure & Speed) Snowboarding Snowshoeing
Basketball
2/2-3 2/2-3 2/2-3
Mountain Creek
Skylands Ice Rink Mountain Creek
Spring Sports Festival
Bowling (Team)
March 27-28, 2010
Bowling (Singles)
3/27-28 Wildwood 3/27 3/28
Ewing
Stratford
Summer Games June 11-13, 2010
The College of New Jersey, Ewing
Aquatics, Bocce, Gymnastics, Powerlifting, Softball, Tennis & Track & Field
2010 USA National Summer Games July 18-23, 2010 Lincoln, Nebraska
Aquatics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Flag Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Power lifting, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field & Volleyball
Fall Sports Festival October 2010
The Lawrenceville School & Alternate Venues Cycling, Equestrian, Flag Football, Golf, Soccer & Volleyball
* Represents Special Olympics New Jersey’s state level sport events. Please visit www.sonj.org for a complete schedule of more than 160 competitions held statewide.
Team New Jersey USA National Games July 18-23, 2010 Congratulations to the 53 athletes and 18
coaches from Special Olympics New Jersey who have been selected to participate at the USA National Games in Lincoln,
Nebraska. The USA National Games will
showcase summer seasonal sports offerings with competition in the areas of Aquatics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, introductory
sport Flag Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Power
lifting, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field & Volleyball.
www.2010specialolympics.org
Venues & Athletes by The Numbers Aquatics 432 Athletes University of Nebraska’s Devaney Sports Center
Power Lifting 101 Athletes University of Nebraska’s Kimball Recital Hall
Bocce 232 Athletes University of Nebraska’s Cook Pavilion
Softball 343 Athletes University of Nebraska’s Fleming Fields
Flag Football 98 Athletes University of Nebraska’s Fleming Fields
Track & Field 436 Athletes University of Nebraska’s Ed Weir Track
Basketball Soccer 432 Athletes 268 Athletes Lincoln Public School Facilities Abbott Sports Complex
Bowling 298 Athletes Sun Valley Lanes
Golf 211 Athletes Mahoney & Highlands Golf Courses
Tennis 92 Athletes Abbott Sports Complex
Volleyball 184 Athletes Abbott Sports Complex
Gymnastics 46 Athletes University of Nebraska’s Devaney Sports Center’s Indoor Track
2010 Fundraising Activities LETR Adopt-A-Cop
Jan. 1- June 11 Statewide
The New York Giants Snow Bowl
Feb. 14
Madison
Feb. 27
Seaside Heights
LETR Polar Bear Plunge in Wildwood Seton Hall Night with the Pirates
LETR Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside
Jan. 16
Feb. 23
Wildwood
Newark
RunAPooloza
Seaside Heights April 17 to Asbury Park
The Perlman Cup
May 17
Monroe
Delta Dental Golf Classic
MAY
Far Hills
June 11
Statewide
LETR Lincoln Tunnel 5K April 25 Fun Run/Walk Challenge HealthQuest 5K Run The Higgins Classic LETR Torch Run
Nelligan Sports Marketing Golf Classic
Weehawken
MAY Flemington June 7
June 15
Far Hills Summit
NJYIPs Fun Run
June 15
Atlantic City
Central Jersey Golf Classic
JULY
West Windsor
Chik’n Plunge & Fest
TBD
Seaside Heights
PIA NJ Golf Classic
SEPT.
TBD
LETR Continental Airlines Plane Pull
Sept. 25
Newark
LE Golf Classic
American Girl® Fashion Shows
SONJ Awards Dinner Thanks “4” Giving Plunge
Evening of Chance
Sept. 22
OCT.
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Vernon
Monroe
Princeton Oakland
Lawrenceville
Special Olympics New Jersey Sports Complex Home of: The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Sports & Training Center The Special Olympics New Jersey Tribute Patio Presented by The Sean Nelligan Foundation
The Walsh Family Sports Education & Family Center The Wawa Exercise and Wellness Center The Law Enforcement Torch Run Leadership Center The Ford Motor Company Outdoor Sports Center The TD Bank Sibling Library and Young Athlete Activity Area The S. Michael Higgins Coaching Education Library
Dedicated to Special Olympics Founder, Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver “As We Hope for The Best in Them, Hope is Reborn in Us.”
3 Princess Road, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648 609.896.8000 (phone)
609.896.8040 (fax)
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