Profile
Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics with a radical belief that individuals with intellectual disabilities were more capable in sports and physical activity than many experts believed possible. In 1968 she organized the first Special Olympics International Games in Chicago,
and six athletes from North Carolina were among the participants. Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) held its first Games in 1970 with 400 athletes and now serves more than 45,000 participants at the community level through 100 volunteer-driven, accredited subprograms in counties
throughout the state. The organization is accredited by Special Olympics, Inc., which serves more than 5.3 million athletes and unified partners in 204 countries around the globe.

SONC provides community-based sports training in up to 20 team and individual Olympic-type sports. Athletes may qualify for competition at local and state levels organized as milestone events in a program progression that keeps the athletes engaged, focused on goals, and disciplined in striving to reach their goals. Participants may also take advantage of Athlete Leadership Programs which provide formal training for those wishing to become public speakers, coaches, officials or
committee members, for example. Other programs include Special Olympics Health, which includes provision of no-cost health screenings for athletes, leading to referral for follow-up care as needed, and establishment of Healthy Communities through fitness and wellness programming; Unified Sports, which bring athletes with and without intellectual disabilities of similar age and ability level together on the same playing field. The Unified Champion Schools program, taking
place in more than 600 schools across the state, is an initiative through which youth are empowered in leadership to foster inclusive school communities built on respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities.

Internship Description

Program Intern – Mecklenburg County – This intern would help with final logistics for the program to attend Summer Games, assist with the annual summer camp serving hundreds of residents of the Charlotte Metro and also preparing for the Fall Season. This would include logistics, marketing
and outreach, attending presentations with various groups, taking part in in Event Management Training, collecting and data analysis. The position can in part be tailored to the individual intern’s skills and interests. 

Location

Hybrid internship with the student. Locations include: 309 Morehead Street Charlotte, NC or school or other event facilities.

Student Demographics

Students interested in working with Special Olympics North Carolina who have a background in education, data analysis, event planning, sports, health or other majors. We prefer sophomores and juniors. 

Outcomes and Benefits
Students will work to enhance Special Olympics NC programming, interface with others who have their same passion for inclusion, attend online and in-person trainings and events to expand their learning and network.
The outcomes will vary depending on the student and internship. The outcome may be a successful event, recruiting additional people to the cause, a final report of the activity and outcomes. All interns benefit from the opportunity to work with a diverse group of people learning
about inclusion and about various career opportunities within the Special Olympics movement