Registration for summer-fall programs
Photo of Special Olympics Aquatics program

It is time to get registered! The summer programs that Mesa offers include aquatics, bocce ball, bowling (recreational and unified) and golf. The summer programs will end with the SOAZ Fall Championships in the West Valley this October. The fall programs including bowling (east, west, junior and unified), soccer and floor hockey will be here quickly.

Registration is easy! Download the registration packet from the web site at Special Olympics Registration. Then follow the easy links for the payment and physical required.

The Special Olympic programs in Mesa are a result of the collaboration between the City of Mesa Parks, Recreation & Commercial Facilities, the Mesa Association of Sports for the Disabled (dba Arizona Disabled Sports) and the Mesa Public Schools. Each athlete is asked to register each season and complete the payment to the City of Mesa. The current fee structure includes $35 for one sport, $40 for two sports and $45 for three or more sports. Special Olympics athletes are required to have a medical physical completed every three years. Contact Jacquie Gallo at 480.644.4948 or jacquie.gallo@mesaaz.gov.

Team Mesa has a Blog
Read articles on past events and event announcements on the Team Mesa Special Olympics Blog

Mesa coach as Special Education Teacher of the Year
Photo of Coach Marli at track


Congratulations to Marli Bennett for being recognized by Mesa Public Schools as the Special Education Teacher of the Year. Marli is a dedicated and valued teacher at EMECEC who is always striving to meet the individual needs of her students. She understands the important role that special education plays in our community. As a lead teacher, she takes the initiative to mentor new teachers and provides resources and support to all colleagues. Her teaching methodologies and collaborative efforts enrich student experiences.

Marli is both a coach and a site director for Special Olympics. She enjoys her interactions and travels to tournaments with athletes from track and field, soccer, basketball, and floor hockey. This past year, Marli participated in a triathlon with athletes to raise money for the organization. Marli tutors students who are homebound giving them encouragement and support. She has fostered many meaningful and rewarding relationships with each student and their families. She is truly an inspiration to others.

Camp Carley
Camp Carley (formerly known as Camp Grant) has been around for 20 years! The 2010 camp will be taking place from August 19-21. More information contact Mark Grant at 480.644.3651 or mark.grant@mesaaz.gov.

2009-2010 End of Season Awards Celebration
Photo of Award Winners


Nearly 230 athletes and family members joined AzDS to celebrate the successful seasons at the 2009-2010 End of Season Awards Celebration. AzDS presented the following awards:

Coach of the Year - Denise Wolf-Simmons
Volunteer of the Year - Nadine Del Favero
Volunteer Group of the Year - Special Olympics Golf Coaches
Community Facility of the Year - AMF Mesa Lanes
Internal Facility of the Year - Red Mountain High School

11th Annual "You Look Marvelous" Fashion Show
Photo of Fashion Show models


The adaptive recreation programs for the cities of Mesa and Chandler, along with Kohl's Department Stores and BJ's Brewery, hosted the 11th Annual "You Look Marvelous" Fashion Show at the Mesa Arts Center on Saturday, May 15th, 2010. The event featured 60 spring fashions for 2010. The models inevitably left a lasting impression on the hearts of all those who attended. The models participate in a 6-week training session hosted by Mesa and Chandler to prepare them for the big stage. In addition to the fashion show, the attendees enjoyed a dessert hour sponsored by BJ's Brewery and a raffle. Thank you to all of the beautiful models that participated in the 11th annual event.

Southwest Airlines raises money for Team Mesa
Photo of Southwest Airlines donors


The Mesa Association of Sports for the Disabled (MASD) is very pleased to be the beneficiary of the hard work and community dedication of Southwest Airlines. The company worked very hard at their annual golf benefit to raise money for the community and MASD is very happy to be that lucky charity. Scott Wilson, a coach and very dear friend to many of us involved with MASD, always took an integral role in planning the annual Southwest Airlines golf tournament. When Scott passed away, the planning committee of the golf tournament felt it was an easy decision to choose Scott's favorite charity to benefit from the 2010 event.

At the May board meeting, Southwest Airlines representatives were accompanied by Karen and Mindy Wilson to present MASD with a check for $20,000! Board member Chris Hite and members of the MASD Baseball program were able to put together a beautiful frame with a team photo and a photo of Coach Scott to present to Southwest Airlines as a thank you gift. This amazing contribution will allow the organization to continue to provide quality adaptive sports and recreation programs for many years to come. Due to the recent budget cuts and the low economy, the organization was facing a large deficit in the budget for the next few years. THANK YOU to Southwest Airlines for their hard work and dedication to supporting the community.

17th Annual Fall Fundraiser
Arizona Disabled Sports is hosting the 17th Annual Fall Fundraiser at the Mesa Convention Center on Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 starting at 5:00pm. The event includes a silent and live auctions, dinner and music. AzDS will present the Jay Coyner Award to the outstanding athlete with a physical disability and the Paula Rudow Award to the outstanding Special Olympics athlete. Nominees for these two awards are decided upon based on the evaluations turned in by their peers and coaches at the conclusion of each season. You can help the fund-raiser by donating to the auction, purchasing a ticket to attend the event or recruiting a table sponsor. Auction items generally include gift cards for dining out, vacation stays, gift baskets, artwork and more. More information on the Fall Fundraiser is available at Fall Fundraiser.