The All State

Media Credit: Lois Jones Volunteers and olympians support the 3rd Annual Special Olympics pledge drive last Sun. April 13. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Lois Jones Kate Winters and Misty Wallace man the camera while watching the screen to see the final 2 camera shots. [Click to enlarge]

The third annual Special Olympics pledge drive was held at the Red Barn Sun., April 13. From 2 to 8 p.m. during the scheduled pledge time, things were hopping.

Prior to the bands performing, John Moseley and Caroline Sawyer, along with the Channel 99 crew and volunteers, got things ready.

Backdrops were set, cameras in place and the line up ready to go. A lot is involved in a pledge drive. Volunteers included students from the communication department, Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, Sigma Chi fraternity and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Sponsors included Cumberland Electric of Montgomery County, Reptiliacs owned by the communication department's secretary Sherry Koontz-Howell and her husband, Donnie Jenkins and Wynne, Michael's Pizza and Mid-South Plumbing.

Bands played and interviews took place at the event. A slide show of Special Olympic events with pledge information ran during the down-time when the bands were changing. Bleachers were in place for those that showed up to lend their support. Some stayed the entire time; others came for as long as they could. All were glad they were there.

One of the spectators was Emily Giles and her 3-year-old son, Lee. Giles, a life-skills teacher at Montgomery Central High School, has a class of special needs students. Previously a physical education teacher, Giles went back to school to get her special education certificate to teach this class.

Years later she had a child who is diagnosed with Angelman syndrome. Only a couple of children in the entire Montgomery County School system have this syndrome, according to Giles. The syndrome causes a seizure disorder, growth and achievement delays with some things never able to be fully achieved. Last year at the pledge drive. Lee was not walking; this year he is.

The pledge drive is important to Giles for several reasons. With her kids at school, Giles said, "It makes it possible for my students to participate in the events without having to come up with fees." There are event fees at the Special Olympics games that are taken care of by the money donated to the Special Olympics Foundation. As far as the impact of the pledge drive on her, it is personal.

This was her second pledge drive. She likes going to the events and attending the pledge drive with her son. "The kids get him," Giles said, about how the other kids at the drive are with her son. "They don't wonder why he can't do things."

At the end of the pledge drive the donations had reached $1,650. Pledges are still being taken at the Web site, http://pledgedrive@apsu.edu, and T-shirts are also available for five dollars. Those that attend the pledge drives know the benefits provided by the Special Olympics. They also see the familiar faces of some of the kids that participate - Michele, Bobby, Justin, Nathan and Ricky to name a few - and their parents. One day it will be Lee Giles. That is a day that Emily Giles is looking forward to.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools