Special Olympians enjoy Fiesta at SOFF ’04
MATTOON, Ill. – More than 950 Special Olympians from East Central Illinois were treated to a
day of fun and games on Saturday, Sept. 18, as Consolidated Communications hosted its 21
st
MATTOON, Ill. – More than 950 Special Olympians from East Central Illinois were treated to a
day of fun and games on Saturday, Sept. 18, as Consolidated Communications hosted its 21
st
st
annual Special Olympics Family Festival in Mattoon, Illinois.
At the beginning of the day, Special Olympians were paired with a “Friend-For-A-Day,” a
volunteer who escorts their Olympian through the “tent city” housing games and activities. In addition to
the many non-competitive games, hay rides, a dunk tank, mechanical bull rides and a petting zoo delighted
the attendees.
Colorful cartoon characters highlighted the parade and posed for pictures with Olympians
throughout the day. In keeping with this year’s Fiesta theme, many volunteers dressed in colorful outfits
and wore sombreros.
Each Olympian left the event with a SOFF 2004 medal, along with some special memories. “The
Olympians and our volunteers alike took home memories that will last a lifetime,” said Kurt Rankin, 2004
SOFF chairperson.
SOFF began in 1984 as an effort by Consolidated Communications to develop a special
community program to involve its employees. Today, the event requires more than 2,000 volunteers to
make the day a success. While the majority of volunteers are employees of Consolidated Communications,
hundreds of volunteers from Eastern Illinois University, Lake Land College, area high schools, civic
groups, businesses and individual members of the surrounding communities support the event each year.
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At the beginning of the day, Special Olympians were paired with a “Friend-For-A-Day,” a
volunteer who escorts their Olympian through the “tent city” housing games and activities. In addition to
the many non-competitive games, hay rides, a dunk tank, mechanical bull rides and a petting zoo delighted
the attendees.
Colorful cartoon characters highlighted the parade and posed for pictures with Olympians
throughout the day. In keeping with this year’s Fiesta theme, many volunteers dressed in colorful outfits
and wore sombreros.
Each Olympian left the event with a SOFF 2004 medal, along with some special memories. “The
Olympians and our volunteers alike took home memories that will last a lifetime,” said Kurt Rankin, 2004
SOFF chairperson.
SOFF began in 1984 as an effort by Consolidated Communications to develop a special
community program to involve its employees. Today, the event requires more than 2,000 volunteers to
make the day a success. While the majority of volunteers are employees of Consolidated Communications,
hundreds of volunteers from Eastern Illinois University, Lake Land College, area high schools, civic
groups, businesses and individual members of the surrounding communities support the event each year.
-30-
day of fun and games on Saturday, Sept. 18, as Consolidated Communications hosted its 21
st
At the beginning of the day, Special Olympians were paired with a “Friend-For-A-Day,” a
volunteer who escorts their Olympian through the “tent city” housing games and activities. In addition to
the many non-competitive games, hay rides, a dunk tank, mechanical bull rides and a petting zoo delighted
the attendees.
Colorful cartoon characters highlighted the parade and posed for pictures with Olympians
throughout the day. In keeping with this year’s Fiesta theme, many volunteers dressed in colorful outfits
and wore sombreros.
Each Olympian left the event with a SOFF 2004 medal, along with some special memories. “The
Olympians and our volunteers alike took home memories that will last a lifetime,” said Kurt Rankin, 2004
SOFF chairperson.
SOFF began in 1984 as an effort by Consolidated Communications to develop a special
community program to involve its employees. Today, the event requires more than 2,000 volunteers to
make the day a success. While the majority of volunteers are employees of Consolidated Communications,
hundreds of volunteers from Eastern Illinois University, Lake Land College, area high schools, civic
groups, businesses and individual members of the surrounding communities support the event each year.
-30-