Special Olympics Pennsylvania—Crawford County

Special Olympics of Pennsylvania (SOPA)

In May of 1970, the first-ever Special Olympics Pennsylvania event was hosted at West Chester University. The program's inception was modest, consisting of a small track and field meet attended by 135 participants. Today, the program continues to thrive, offering year-round training and competition opportunities to more than 18,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and a 35 year legacy of changing lives through sport.

Crawford County Special Olympics

Crawford County Special Olympics of Pennsylvania was started in1974 in the Penncrest School District by Karrin Unger for her students in Saegertown, PA. The Special Olympic Program quickly spread to involve the other schools within Penncrest School District. After ten years as special education teacher, Karrin was promoted to Special Education Supervisor and it is in this role that she expanded the scope of Special Olympics to include Crawford Central School District and the Vallonia Industries. What began as a one school track and field meet flourished into Special Olympics Pennsylvania of Crawford County.

Crawford County Special Olympics Pennsylvania now serves athletes in Crawford Central School, Penncrest Schools, Titusville Schools, Conneaut Lake Schools, Edinboro Autistic Class, The ARC, Thurston House, Franklin High School, and Touchstone. Inc., Vallonia Industries, Creekside Center, Supports Inc. UCIP and adults in the Meadville area community. Our Track and Field Meet has been held annually for 30 years at Allegheny College in Meadville, where over 350 athletes both children and adults with intellectual disabilities, demonstrate courage and experience the joy of competition. When someone asks, "What does your organization do?" Our enthusiastic response is "We make dreams come true."

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