Each year, the Massachusetts State Officer Team volunteers at the August Tournament in Western Massachusetts. This year, they volunteered during the softball event in Springfield, MA. The event is a wonderful opportunity for the team to work together to volunteer for a worthy organization.

Approximately 1,2o0 athletes and coaches participate in this tournament, which consists of sports like bocce, softball, fishing, cycling, and golf. As stated on the MA Special Olympics website, “The main focus of the August Tournament is “Unified Sports”, a Special Olympics initiative that started in Massachusetts. The program combines equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (“Unified Partners”) as teammates. Although the Unified Sports program began locally, today it is a global initiative in over 120 countries. The Unified Sports program is a great example of the successful steps Special Olympics continues to make in bringing integration, inclusion and friendships to those with intellectual disabilities.”

2011-2012 State Officer Team from left to right: Igor Alves, Tim Schmidt, Rachel Matthew, Craig Spencer-Hopkins, and Nicholas Mastrodomenico

From left to right: Courtney Nason-Farrell, Alumnus; Rachel Matthew, President; Lyndsay Robinson, Post Secondary National President