Special Olympics Minnesota

Special Olympics Minnesota athletes and Unified partners: It's time to apply to be on Team Minnesota! In 2026, Special Olympics Minnesota will send a delegation of athletes, Unified partners and coaches to compete as Team Minnesota at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. We are now accepting applications for Team Minnesota athletes in bowling and cornhole (both singles and Unified doubles!). Your name must be on one of the eligibility lists in order to apply. Check the list and get started at somn.org/usagames. This is for SOMN athletes and Unified partners in designated sports only! The final eligibility list and application for powerlifting will be posted on March 10, 2025. Team Minnesota is powered by Twin Cities Orthopedics. #SOMN #2026USAGames #InclusionRevolution

Bob's Discount Furniture is excited to welcome Special Olympics Minnesota as a Café Collections for a Cause partner throughout March. Bob's is inviting guests to stop by any Bob’s store café to have a treat and to make a donation to support SOMN, now through March 31. Bob's will match your donations dollar-for-dollar so the more you give, the more they give! ?? #SOMN #InclusionRevolution

We’re in need of a few extra hands to make Winter Games a success! If you’re available this Sunday, March 2, we have several volunteer roles open—some requiring ski or snowboard experience and others open to everyone. ?? Wild Mountain, Taylors Falls ? Various shifts between 9 AM–3:30 PM ?? Advanced & Intermediate hill volunteers receive a complementary ski pass! Plus, it’s going to be a sunny 40 degrees! Perfect weather to spend the day on the slopes while supporting our athletes. Sign up now: https://cerv.is/0101x3862 #SOMN #InclusionRevolution #SpecialOlympics #WinterGames #VolunteerOpportunity #VolunteerMN

Nils Snyder, CCIM, SIOR is celebrating a decade of Plunging in the biggest way possible—by jumping at 10 different locations this season! His dedication to Special Olympics Minnesota goes beyond fundraising. He’s building a more inclusive community with every splash. ?? ? “I Plunge because Special Olympics isn’t just about sports,” says Nils. “It’s about empowerment, inclusion and breaking barriers for individuals with intellectual disabilities." ? Read more about Nils and his commitment to the #InclusionRevolution here: https://lnkd.in/gTJFCZ3U #PlungeMN #FreezinForAReason #PolarPlunge #SOMN #SpecialOlympics Kenwood Commercial

We're joining forces with Jersey Mike's Subs for their 15th annual Month of Giving! During March 2025, you can make a donation at any Jersey Mike’s restaurant in Minnesota to support Special Olympics. 100% of the funds raised will directly support inclusive sports, health, leadership and school programs for people with intellectual disabilities. ? Even though it's not March yet, Month of Giving starts today, February 24! Visit Jersey Mike's this week to kick off an incredibly inclusive month. ?? Learn more a somn.org/jerseymikes. ? ?? Plus, mark your calendar for Jersey Mike’s Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 26! On this day, 100% of sales—not just profits—support our mission! #SOMN #InclusionRevolution #JerseyMikesGives

Feeling extra proud! The 2025 Unified Champion Schools State Basketball Tournament was such a great event, and we are blown away by these amazing athletes. We're proud to continue championing Unified Sports with Special Olympics Minnesota.

Meet Santi Bromley, Special Olympics Minnesota's Senior Unified Champion City Schools Manager (Minneapolis)! ?? Santi has been on staff since July 2021, and she has four main goals in her role: 1. Amplify inclusion in underrepresented and underserved communities 2. Build new stakeholder relationships 3. Establish a presence within both districts and schools, extending into Minneapolis communities 4. Grow the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools? movement in new schools and new communities "It is my honor to have the ability and resources via Unified Champion City Schools to provide opportunities for our underrepresented and underserved communities in the great city of Minneapolis," says Santi. "I take pride in amplifying the incredible work in our communities from students, educators, district leaders and families. I was a proud resident and educator in Minneapolis for 25 years and it's full of people I love and adore." "Serving the people I love and striving for inclusion in every single Minneapolis school and neighborhood is a role I consider the biggest professional privilege of my lifetime." ?? When she's not working, Santi enjoys spending time with family and friends, dining, hiking with her husband Greg, watching reality TV and filling life with adventure! We feel so lucky to have Santi as a vital part of the Special Olympics movement. #SOMN #InclusionRevolution #StaffAppreciation #SpecialOlympics #UnifiedGeneration

We had an amazing day at the Target Center - ASM Global for the 2025 Unified Champion Schools State Basketball Tournament on February 11! Students from seven high schools across Minnesota demonstrated skill, sportsmanship and inclusion as they competed for the state title in one of two divisions. Unified Champion Schools is a movement that brings students with and without disabilities together to foster inclusion and friendship at over 360 schools in Minnesota. Unified Sports are a huge part of this movement, and the State Basketball Tournament showcased the #InclusionRevolution at the highest level. Congrats to Eagan High School (Division A champs) and Watertown-Mayer High School (Division B champs)! Special shoutout to our Unified Sports sponsor, Twin Cities Orthopedics! Thank you for your continued support of the Unified movement, and for providing an Athletic Trainer at the UCS State Basketball Tournament to make sure our students could compete at their strongest.

Thank you Minnesota Timberwolves, UnitedHealthcare, and Minneapolis Public Schools Sanford Middle School for making dreams come true through the Jr Wolves Dream Team experience. Unified athletes and partners being part of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools? with Special Olympics Minnesota, while having an opportunity to experience full inclusion on the court with both their peers and inspirational professional athletes who showed kindness and genuine care to every team member, was a once in lifetime, unbelievable opportunity! We are so thankful for this incredible partnership. Target Center - ASM Global - thanks for making both February 5th, the Wolves vs Bulls where the team was featured during the game and February 11th, our UCS State Basketball Tournament where the team was featured during halftime, so special. We will never forget this past month together. #MinnesotaTimberwolves #UnitedHealthcare #TargetCenter #MPSProud #SOMN #InclusionRevolution #GenerationUnified #Gratitude #Thankful Thank you Daniel Salazar, MSEd Zaria Jackson Jennifer Ridgeway Sondra Ciesielski Nathan Bubes Mark Anderson Naida Grussing-Neitzel Becky Wessman Angela Wynveen Matt LaFaunge Ryan Gueningsman

Applications are open for the 2025-26 Special Olympics Minnesota Student Board of Directors! The SBOD is made up of 40 students with and without intellectual disabilities from across the state. This dynamic group of students work together throughout the year to educate, motivate and activate others to become agents of change in their schools and communities. Through monthly virtual meetings and various in-person opportunities, the Board supports the work of centering student voices in our Unified programs, advocating for the respect, inclusion and acceptance of all people. Check out this video featuring previous SBOD members to learn more! Applications close on April 1, 2025. Students can apply by completing a written application or submitting a video application to [email protected]. Apply at https://lnkd.in/g_B2R2eJ