July is Special Olympics Pa. Month
By MARJORIE STROMBERG, Sentinel reporter, mstromberg@lewistownsentinel.comArticle Photos
LEWISTOWN - July once again has been designated Special Olympics Pennsylvania Month by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, with the help of Rep. Richard A. Geist, R-Altoona.
The designation passed unanimously as a House Resolution, Rep. Geist said.
This is the second year that Geist has approved the act with support from Pennsylvania representatives, said Janine Cesare, president of Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
Cesare said the act has really helped recruit people into the program and she is excited that it is in effect for a second year.
Currently there are 18,000 athletes and more than 6,000 key volunteers in the state of Pennsylvania, Cesare said.
She said the most beneficial aspect of the program is seeing how both the lives of the athletes and their families have changed since being part of the program.
"We've opened up a whole new world to them," she said. "It's such a wonderful program. We get inspiration from them."
Special Olympics Pennsylvania is all about celebrating differences, and it provides a playing field that gives the athletes dignity, Cesare said.
"When you're handing out medals at an event, you understand why you work for the program," she said. "It's just such a good feeling."
Rep. Geist chose to support Special Olympics Pennsylvania because of the people around him that are involved with the program, and from seeing how elated the athletes are when they perform, he said.
"It's phenomenal," Geist said. "Special Olympics is a great program."
