Special Olympics Second Virtual Cheer for Champions Fundraiser

Special Olympics Hawaii’s Virtual Cheer for Champions event returns for its second year to help athletes with intellectual disabilities who have all been impacted by the unprecedented shutdown of in-person sports. The online fundraising effort will take place on April 30 and will include a special, live broadcast, online auction, delicious meals, musical entertainment from Henry Kapono and so much more. To learn more about this year’s Cheer for Champions event, please visit www.sohawaii.org. 

“The pandemic has caused our athletes – like so many others – to miss out on many experiences. From the joy of seeing their fellow athletes, to the thrill of competition and the high fives and hugs they receive from supporters, we want to continue to remind them that we are all here and continue to support them until it’s safe to return to in-person competition,” said Tracey Bender, Special Olympics Hawaii’s director of development. “While we work towards a safe return to in-person sports, fundraisers like our Virtual Cheer for Champions event are more important, now than ever before, to encourage our athletes to remain hopeful for the future and stay strong both physically and emotionally.”

The event is open to the public for those who want to watch the live broadcast, participate in the online auction and donate to Special Olympics Hawaii. The live broadcast will begin at 7 p.m. showcasing athletes, the online auction, a performance by local musician Henry Kapono and more. To view the live broadcast, visit channel808.tv/2021cheer. The online auction will be open to the public on Monday, April 26 at bit.ly/2021CheerAuction.

This year we are offering a special $200 Dinner for Two for individuals who donate $200 or more from now through April 9. Special Olympics Hawaii will provide two meals from Duke’s Waikiki (includes an 8 oz. Prime Rib, four pieces of Coconut Shrimp, Mashed Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetable Medley), dessert and drinks delivered by Elite Delivery to the address of your choice between 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 30. You may visit bit.ly/2021DinnerForTwo to order.

New to this year’s Virtual Cheer for Champions event is a live, online after party “Paint and Sip” experience with Gwenaelle from Paint for Your Soul that will be exclusive to sponsor guests and the $200 Dinner for Two participants only. Registration for the after party is going on now through April 9.  

Special Olympics Hawaii is thankful to its partners statewide whose support is key to making year-round sports, inclusion and health opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities a reality. A special mahalo to this year’s Gold Medal sponsors Motiv8 Foundation and Nordic PCL Construction, Inc. as well as Elite Delivery for delivering all of our meals for this special event.

Proceeds from this event will help to provide virtual and online programs during the pandemic and help to ensure over 3,400 children and adults with intellectual disabilities can return back to the sports fields and experience the joy, friendships and feeling of achievement that Special Olympics Hawaii brings into their lives. 

Special Olympics Hawaii provides year-round sports programs and training for athletes with intellectual disabilities, free of charge. Since 1968 Special Olympics has been changing attitudes about the talents of people with intellectual disabilities and raising awareness to build an inclusive and unified community.

For more information on Special Olympics, visit www.sohawaii.org. You can also follow Special Olympics Hawaii on Twitter, www.twitter.com/sohawaii, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsHawaii, and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/SOHawaii.