Special Olympics Southern California
Special Olympics Southern California, 1600 Forbes Way, Suite 200, Long Beach, CA 90810
About
Special Olympics Southern California offers seasonal sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports, along with leadership training for its athletes. The program also includes events and activities such as the Spring Sports Season, Power Up (Train Like a Champion), the Dream Big Raffle, and the Polar Plunge.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Price: $50 = Provide new sports equipment; $100 = Sponsor an athlete’s training and participation in Athlete Leadership; $500 = Sponsor an athlete for one year; $2,500 = Meals for regional games competition; $10,000 = Help establish or maintain a School Partnership Program for one season or sponsors one Regional Games; $100,000 = Sponsor School Partnership Programs, serving 1,500 athletes, ages 8 through 22 for one year
Special Olympics Southern California states that it provides seasonal sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It offers 12 sports across 4 seasons and serves nearly 25,000 athletes in community and school-based programs in 11 counties, supported by more than 50 employees, thousands of volunteers, partners and donors, and the community at large. The organization was created by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation and is authorized and accredited by Special Olympics, Inc. for the benefit of persons with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968, and Olympic decathlon gold medalist Rafer Johnson founded the Western/California Regional Chapter in 1969. The first annual Western Regional Special Olympics were held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1969, and the International Special Olympics were held for the first time in Southern California at UCLA and Santa Monica City College in 1972. Law Enforcement Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department joined with California Special Olympics in the first Law Enforcement Torch Run for California Special Olympics in 1986, and in 1995 California Special Olympics divided into two chapters, Southern California and Northern California.
The mission of Special Olympics is to transform lives through the joy of sport, every day, everywhere. The mission of Special Olympics Southern California is to provide year-round with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community, and its vision is to promote acceptance, inclusion, and well-being for people with intellectual disabilities through sports.
Special Olympics Southern California has received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, which is described as America’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities, based on sound fiscal management practices and a commitment to accountability and transparency. The organization states that it is committed to responsible stewardship and high standards in spending.
Community involvement includes the Law Enforcement Torch Run, where Law Enforcement Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department joined with California Special Olympics in support of the program. The organization also notes that it empowers athletes to spread acceptance and inclusion and live more independent lives through leadership training, and that it provides opportunities for athletes to improve overall health and wellness and gain leadership skills.
Athletes describe their experiences in their own words, including Jayson Warsuma, who says, “It’s the people and the coaches. It’s everybody that’s involved in Special Olympics who make it so bright and colorful.” Debi Anderson says, “Before I was a Special Olympics athlete, I wasn't involved with sports. I was just me. But now I can call myself a Special Olympics athlete and Global Messenger and I can do almost anything.” Paul Hoffman says, “We just want to be accepted just like everyone else. Give us a chance, and we can prove that we can make a difference in our lives and in other people’s lives.”
Last updated April 5, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Price: $50 = Provide new sports equipment; $100 = Sponsor an athlete’s training and participation in Athlete Leadership; $500 = Sponsor an athlete for one year; $2,500 = Meals for regional games competition; $10,000 = Help establish or maintain a School Partnership Program for one season or sponsors one Regional Games; $100,000 = Sponsor School Partnership Programs, serving 1,500 athletes, ages 8 through 22 for one year
Special Olympics Southern California states that it provides seasonal sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It offers 12 sports across 4 seasons and serves nearly 25,000 athletes in community and school-based programs in 11 counties, supported by more than 50 employees, thousands of volunteers, partners and donors, and the community at large. The organization was created by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation and is authorized and accredited by Special Olympics, Inc. for the benefit of persons with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968, and Olympic decathlon gold medalist Rafer Johnson founded the Western/California Regional Chapter in 1969. The first annual Western Regional Special Olympics were held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1969, and the International Special Olympics were held for the first time in Southern California at UCLA and Santa Monica City College in 1972. Law Enforcement Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department joined with California Special Olympics in the first Law Enforcement Torch Run for California Special Olympics in 1986, and in 1995 California Special Olympics divided into two chapters, Southern California and Northern California.
The mission of Special Olympics is to transform lives through the joy of sport, every day, everywhere. The mission of Special Olympics Southern California is to provide year-round with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community, and its vision is to promote acceptance, inclusion, and well-being for people with intellectual disabilities through sports.
Special Olympics Southern California has received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, which is described as America’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities, based on sound fiscal management practices and a commitment to accountability and transparency. The organization states that it is committed to responsible stewardship and high standards in spending.
Community involvement includes the Law Enforcement Torch Run, where Law Enforcement Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department joined with California Special Olympics in support of the program. The organization also notes that it empowers athletes to spread acceptance and inclusion and live more independent lives through leadership training, and that it provides opportunities for athletes to improve overall health and wellness and gain leadership skills.
Athletes describe their experiences in their own words, including Jayson Warsuma, who says, “It’s the people and the coaches. It’s everybody that’s involved in Special Olympics who make it so bright and colorful.” Debi Anderson says, “Before I was a Special Olympics athlete, I wasn't involved with sports. I was just me. But now I can call myself a Special Olympics athlete and Global Messenger and I can do almost anything.” Paul Hoffman says, “We just want to be accepted just like everyone else. Give us a chance, and we can prove that we can make a difference in our lives and in other people’s lives.”
Last updated April 5, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.