This weekend we will host our annual Unified Sports® Holiday Classic, presented by the Connecticut Elks Association, on November 22 and 23. More than 2,000 athletes from across the state will compete in basketball, bowling, powerlifting, and volleyball. Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® programs - including Strong Minds, Special Smiles, and Injury Prevention - will also be offered throughout the weekend. Come cheer on the athletes and experience inclusion in action!
Claim your place at one of our six epic Penguin Plunges and chill for a cause! This is Connecticut’s coolest, craziest, can’t-miss fundraiser.
Jump in early to: 🔒 Beat the rush and save your spot 🏅 Maximize your fundraising (hello, incentives!) ❤️ Stand with thousands championing inclusion
Every splash fuels impact. Your plunge supports nearly 14,000 Special Olympics Connecticut athletes with year-round sports, health, education, and leadership opportunities.
Two Friends, One Mission: Global Messengers for Inclusion
They started as teammates, became friends, and now represent the spirit of SOCT side by side. Discover how Ryan and Jake bridged a 13-year age gap with basketball, ice-hockey, Unified Sports® and, above all, friendship - then took that bond to becoming official Global Messengers. Their story reminds us: sport unites, voices matter, and difference is strength.
Lisa Carlone Inducted into International LETR Hall of Fame
We’re proud to celebrate SOCT staff Lisa Carlone, honored as part of the 2025 Class of the Richard LaMunyon Law Enforcement Torch Run®Hall of Fame.
For more than four decades, Lisa has inspired others through her tireless commitment to Special Olympics and the Law Enforcement Torch Run, helping expand events like the Torch Run, Polar Plunges, and Tip-A-Cops across Connecticut. Her leadership and passion have increased law enforcement participation by 23% and Torch Run revenue by more than 70% - a true testament to her dedication and heart.
Congrats to Lisa on this well-deserved recognition!
Oxford High School Named to ESPN Honor Roll
Congrats to Coach Jen LaCapra and her Special Olympics Unified Sports® team at Oxford High School for making the 2025 ESPN Honor Roll!
Oxford High School was among schools across the nation recognized as having outstanding Special Olympics Unified Sports® programs at their schools and inspiring inclusion and acceptance for all in sports, in the classroom, and in their communities.
Click here to see the ESPN announcement video for the Northeast Region. Be on the lookout tomorrow for another way Oxford High School will make waves on a national scale!
Noteworthy News
Halfway-to-March Event Kicks Off Jersey Mike's Fundraising Initiative More than 100 Jersey Mike’s managers, employees, and guests attended on October 28. They heard directly from athletes, coaches, staff, and volunteers about SOCT’s programs, impact, and ways to get involved. The event also launched the fundraising campaign leading up to Jersey Mike’s Day of Giving on March 25, 2026, when all sales will support Team Connecticut’s journey to the 2026 USA Games in Minnesota.
UConn Hosts a Fundraiser to Smile About Students involved in UConn Student Activities Community Outreach hosted their annual Smile Mile and Cornhole Tournament fundraiser in memory of Jeffny Pally to benefit SOCT. The event took place on the University of Connecticut Storrs campus on November 8.
To show our appreciation for all you’ve done for Special Olympics Connecticut, we would like to offer you something in return. Something we hope will have a positive impact on you and your family. If you’re like many people, creating or updating your will, trust, and other important documents is something that often falls to the bottom of the to-do list. But planning can help you care for your loved ones and offer significant peace of mind. And it doesn’t have to be complicated.
We hope our free publications will help you get started. Some of the information available includes:
Considerations for taking care of a loved one with special needs, parents, or elder family members
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