Silicon Valley Companies To Golf The Olympic Club for Special Olympics

PLEASANT HILL, Calif. – San Francisco’s esteemed Olympic Club has played host to five U.S. Open Tournaments, but on Sept. 23, golfers will take to the Club’s acclaimed courses not to claim a major championship but instead to support Special Olympics Northern California at the 2013 High Tech Challenge. Executives and employees from companies like Adobe, Deloitte, Dun & Bradstreet, Frys.com Open, NetApp, Acquity Group and more will golf the prestigious Club’s Ocean and Lake courses then enjoy dinner and live auction to benefit Special Olympics Northern California’s Schools Partnership Program. 

The 2012 High Tech Challenge raised nearly $400,000 for the Schools Partnership Program, which sees more than 4,600 special education students train and compete in three sports during the school day with the involvement and support 14,895 general education peers. The program is currently active in more than 250 schools throughout San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Fresno counties along with the Tri-Valley and Fremont area. Learn more about the Schools Partnership Program and see it in action at www.OurUnifiedSchools.com.

“Our support of Special Olympics Northern California makes a difference in the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities who reject the concept of limitation and inspire greatness in us all,” Adobe Executive Vice President and Special Olympics Northern California board member Matt Thompson said. “Supporting the places where we do business is one reason why Silicon Valley is such a great place in which to live and work. We believe that when our employees, customers and partners work together with local communities, we can collectively solve critical social and environmental issues that impact our daily lives.”

Special Olympics Northern California and its Schools Partnership Program receive no federal funding. To provide athletic opportunities to children and adults with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics Northern California relies upon fundraisers like the High Tech Challenge along with corporate and individual donations. Please visit OlympicClubGolf.org for more information on the High Tech Challenge and SONC.org to see more about Special Olympics Northern California.

About Special Olympics Schools Partnership Program

This education program in K-12 public schools unifies disabled and non-disabled students and sees 4,600 special education students train and compete in three sports with the involvement and support of 14,895 general education peers. Sports offer a common ground for all special and general education students, many of whom have never had positive social interactions with each other. Students organize campus activities to create climates of inclusion, acceptance and respect for all. Via Project UNIFY, general education students engage with the special education students in the classroom as well as during training and competition. Many of the disabled students have never played sports before, and the support of their schoolmates and families builds confidence and self-esteem that carries into the classroom and adulthood. Special Olympics Northern California provides a grant to a school district or county to offset the program’s cost. The program is currently active in 200 schools throughout San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Fresno counties and the Tri-Valley area. Find out more atwww.SchoolPartnershipProgram.org or www.SONC.org. Visit our blog www.OurUnifiedSchools.com.