Special Olympics Kentucky

We're almost ready for tomorrow's big Texas Roadhouse Armadillo Classic, but in keeping with Texas Roadhouse Appreciation Week, did you know that the Armadillo Classic is FAR FROM the only way our legendary friends support our athletes? For instance, the Texas Roadhouse team - affectionately known as the Chilly Willies - is a force at the Louisville Polar Plunge. The team, which regularly involves top Texas Roadhouse executives including CEO Jerry Morgan, has raised more than $130,000 for the Plunge since 2019, including more than $40,000 each of the past two years. They have also dominated the team costume contest with a series of incredible outfits. Thank you Texas Roadhouse for all you do for our athletes. We can't wait to spend the day with you tomorrow!

This Wednesday, our friends at Texas Roadhouse will host the 23rd Texas Roadhouse Armadillo Classic at Quail Chase Golf Course. The event is one of the most entertaining golf outings of the year, and has made Texas Roadhouse the largest corporate supporter of our athletes for more than two decades. So once again this year, we are declaring this Texas Roadhouse Appreciation Week and encouraging our supporters to stop by their nearest Texas Roadhouse, enjoy a legendary meal and then them for their support of Special Olympics Kentucky. We can't wait for Wednesday!

We are excited to announce that Drakeway Enterprises has signed on as the Presenting Sponsor of the upcoming Paducah Big Brown Truck Pull presented by Drakeway. Drakeway Enterprises is a Paducah-based commercial lighting company that specializes in FAA-approved obstruction lighting. We're happy to have them aboard for the Truck Pull, which supports Special Olympics programs in McCracken County and beyond. For or information about Drakeway's sponsorship and the Big Brown Truck Pull, visit: https://lnkd.in/gJZazpMd Drake Lighting

We love our partnership with the Special Olympics Kentucky Wizards golf team! Make sure you purchase a $5 flame at Topgolf in August and September- All proceeds go back to Special Olympics athletes like our Wizards friends! "Thanks for partnering with Special Olympics and allowing us to practice at your facility. We had five athletes participate in our first year of Special Olympics of Kentucky golf. We wouldn't have been able to do this without having your facility to practice at during this wet and hot summer.  Thanks again- Terry, Louisville Wizards Golf Team Special Olympics of Kentucky"

Thank you to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and Commissionser Jonathan Shell for inviting us to be a part of yesterday's Sunshine Class in the livestock show ring at the Kentucky State Fair. The Class gave individuals with disabilities - including many of our athletes - the opportunity to show livestock with the help of some incredible youth mentors. It was a great afternoon and we're looking forward to being involved again next year!

We had an amazing day working with our 2024 Athlete Leadership Class. We spent time working on meet-and-greet skills, speech writing and team building. And we were really excited to be joined by our friends Doreen Langley and Rhodes Bratcher from our Athlete Leadership Presenting Sponsor Pinnacle Financial Partners. We appreciate your support of these amazing athletes!

Special Olympics Kentucky President and CEO Trish Mazzoni has announced her retirement, effective December 31, 2024. She has dutifully served as the organization’s President and CEO since 2012, but in total, her Special Olympics Kentucky career spans 38 years. After volunteering at Special Olympics events as a student at the University of Kentucky, Mazzoni was hired as the program’s Sports Director in 1986. Following her successful management of sports programming for several years, she was promoted to Executive Vice President, where in addition to continuing to direct sports and health programs, she ran the organization’s day-to-day operations before her eventual elevation to President and CEO. To address the transition in leadership which will take place at year’s end, SOKY has engaged a third-party nonprofit consulting and search firm to assist the board of directors in their appointment of a new President and CEO. To read more visit: https://bit.ly/4czNuAz Benefactor Group

We have an opening for a newly created position! Please apply on Indeed: https://lnkd.in/gtbW8jtD

We have a job opening - please apply on Indeed: https://lnkd.in/g54Pnmuj