Special Olympics Michigan Fund

Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) is a life-changing movement of people helping people. The athletes of Special Olympics are constant reminders of all that is right with the human spirit. The mission of SOMI is to provide year-round sports training and 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 athletes and the community. The focus is on what athletes can do. Like everyone, Special Olympics athletes like to win, but more importantly - they strive to do their best. The sportsmanship that is demonstrated on the court, in the field or on the track serves as an inspiration to all. 

The ultimate objective of SOMI is to help people with intellectual disabilities participate as productive and respected members of society at large, by offering them a fair opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through sports training and competition, and by increasing the public's awareness of their capabilities and needs.  Through their participation in SOMI athletes gain confidence and build a positive self-image, which carries into the classroom, the home, the workplace and the community. All training and competition opportunities are provided free of charge to the athletes and their families, enabling everyone to experience the benefits of Special Olympics that extend well beyond the playing field.

The Special Olympics Michigan Fund, a designated fund, was founded by Robert Long in 2010 to benefit Special Olympics Michigan, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered here in Mt. Pleasant. “We are thrilled that an endowment fund such as this will help us continue to support more than 20,000 Special Olympics athletes in Michigan,” noted Lois Arnold, President and CEO of SOMI.