Close Menu
    What's Hot

    CNY Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten Guide

    May 1, 2025

    How to Develop ‘Momfidence’

    April 30, 2025

    Helping Your Child Cope with Seasonal Allergies

    April 29, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • How to Develop ‘Momfidence’
    • Helping Your Child Cope with Seasonal Allergies
    • Fostering Healthy Sibling Relationships
    • How to Find the Right Summer Sitter
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Family Times Family Times
    • Community Guide
    • CNY Events Calendar
    • Things to Do in CNY
      1. Activities
      2. Treat Yourself
      Featured

      Treat Yourself: Mark your calendar for Disney’s “The Lion King”—and the other Broadway shows coming to Syracuse in 2025

      By Courtney KlessNovember 26, 20240
      Recent

      Treat Yourself: Mark your calendar for Disney’s “The Lion King”—and the other Broadway shows coming to Syracuse in 2025

      November 26, 2024

      Ride the Rails: Scenic Train Rides for Families

      October 1, 2024

      Treat Yourself: Spend a day—or a weekend—exploring Inlet

      October 1, 2024
    • Parenting
      1. Pregnancy
      2. Babies
      3. Kids
      4. Preschoolers/Toddlers
      5. Special Needs
      6. Teens
      7. Pets
      8. View All

      The Power to Save a Life: Cord blood is being used to treat more than 80 diseases

      January 30, 2020

      It’s Not What It Looks Like: Reflections on motherhood’s changes, outside and inside

      July 29, 2019

      In Search of Sleep: 8 Strategies for coping with wakeful babies

      July 29, 2019

      A Surgical Birth: Many pregnant women are likely to deliver by cesarean

      July 29, 2019

      Strangers Bearing Advice: New babies bring out the expert in everyone

      August 1, 2021

      Hand to Mouth: How to help babies start to sample solid food

      August 1, 2020

      315 Bulletin

      August 1, 2020

      Name, Please? Expectant parents face another momentous decision

      August 1, 2020

      Prep Work: Keep your family’s food safe this summer

      June 1, 2022

      A Blooming Craft: These homemade flowers make a great centerpiece

      March 1, 2021

      Rainbow Snowflakes: A colorful craft even little ones can make

      November 24, 2020

      DIY Critter Magnets: Make cute clips for hanging reminders and more

      September 1, 2020

      DIY Critter Magnets: Make cute clips for hanging reminders and more

      September 1, 2020

      Allergy Adjustments: Parents can support their food allergic child

      September 3, 2019

      Calming Commotion: How to deal with car sickness and more

      June 27, 2019

      Introducing Riff Rockit: Kindie artist to play jingles at Leon Fest

      June 1, 2017

      What Is ABA Therapy for Autism? How To Find a Provider for Your Child 

      September 9, 2024

      A History of Inclusion: The Jowonio School marked 50 years in 2019

      March 30, 2020

      Reaching a Milestone: Now the largest chapter in the country, Special Olympics New York is celebrating 50 years

      March 30, 2020

      Come Out and Play: Move Along offers adaptive sports for youth, adults

      March 30, 2020

      Freedom on Wheels: How E-Scooters Empower Teens and Support Family Routines

      November 4, 2024

      Prep Work: Keep your family’s food safe this summer

      June 1, 2022

      A Little Jolt: Caffeine’s risks for kids and teens

      March 1, 2021

      A Blooming Craft: These homemade flowers make a great centerpiece

      March 1, 2021

      Is Puppy Financing Right For Your Family? Pros And Cons Explored

      April 22, 2024

      Furry Friends: What it takes to adopt a pet for the first time

      July 1, 2020

      Tail Wagging Fun: Lights on the Lake Dog Walk 2019

      November 14, 2019

      Uncommon Companions: Local pet store sticks to its niche

      May 30, 2019

      Helping Your Child Cope with Seasonal Allergies

      April 29, 2025

      College Savings 101

      April 29, 2025

      Fostering Healthy Sibling Relationships

      March 28, 2025

      The 8 Best Sunscreens for Kids: Top Picks for Every Need

      March 3, 2025
    • Education
      1. Educator of the Month
      2. Class of the Month
      3. Education News
      4. Reading
      5. Teaching
      Featured

      Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways

      By Courtney KlessApril 29, 20250
      Recent

      Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways

      April 29, 2025

      Tom Meier, Program Manager and Camp Director at Baltimore Woods Nature Center

      March 28, 2025

      Danielle Maciorowski, PharmD, Manager of Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY’s Patient Rx Center

      February 27, 2025
    • Crafts & DIY
      • Create
      • Holiday Crafts
    Family Times Family Times
    Home»Local Faces»Reaching a Milestone: Now the largest chapter in the country, Special Olympics New York is celebrating 50 years
    Local Faces

    Reaching a Milestone: Now the largest chapter in the country, Special Olympics New York is celebrating 50 years

    Courtney KlessBy Courtney KlessMarch 30, 2020Updated:March 30, 2020No Comments3 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Kayla McKeon’s time with Special Olympics New York began on a soccer field. And it didn’t take long for her parents to also become involved.

    “She fell in love with it right away,” Mark says. “She made a lot of friends, loved the competition, and just met a whole lot of parents and people in the same situation that we were. We probably watched for about a month and we said, ‘No, we need to get involved.’”

    Twenty years later, the Central New York family continues to participate year-round, Mark and his wife Patti as coaches, and Kayla as a multisport athlete (now 32, she is also the first lobbyist in Washington, D.C. with Down Syndrome). The chapter is celebrating
    its 50th year in 2020.

    Special Olympics was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and the New York chapter was incorporated two years later. It has since grown to become the largest such program in the country, with more than 67,000 athletes participating. Today, Special Olympics New York offers 22 Olympic-style sports throughout the year, and partners with schools state-wide – 220 to be exact, according to its President and CEO Stacey Hengsterman – to offer Unified Sports. Though the chapter will celebrate the milestone with activities throughout the year, Hengsterman says that isn’t the only focus.

    “We’re working to really grow this unified generation of young people that are growing up differently than they did 50 years ago, 30 years ago,” she says. “When you saw someone with an intellectual difference, your parents might have told you to be polite, look away, don’t stare, and really that meant they didn’t get to know anybody. I think these young people that are growing up now, they see more inclusion in their schools and they know that they can be polite while still asking questions, finding out what the difference is, and they become friends. That unified generation I think has a lot to teach everybody, and that’s what we’re really
    spending our time cultivating for our 50th anniversary vision.”

    “My daughter likes to say, ‘If you come once to cheer on, you’re hooked for life.’”

    – Mark McKeon, Special Olympics New York coach

    Also in 2020, the Fall Games will return after a five-year absence. Hengsterman says that approximately 1,000 athletes will compete in softball, golf, cycling, equestrian and more in Glens Falls.

    “We have competitions every single day, but for our athletes, what they work for and they compete for and they beat out their teammates and neighbors for is to get to that state-wide games,” she says. “They’re very excited about that, and I think that’s something that we really owed to our athletes.”

    How to Volunteer

    In February 2021, the Winter Games will return to the Syracuse region for three years, and Special Olympics New York is currently
    looking for people for its games organizing committee. Day of event opportunities and coaching positions are also available.

    “It’s something that everybody and anybody can get involved in,” Mark McKeon says. “My daughter likes to say, ‘If you come
    once to cheer on, you’re hooked for life.’”

    For more information on how to volunteer, visit specialolympics-ny.org.

    Special Olympics Special Olympics New York Special Olympics NY Sports The Special Olympics
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
    Avatar photo
    Courtney Kless
    • LinkedIn

    Courtney Kless is the Editor in Chief of Family Times. Courtney is originally from Maryland. She earned her Master’s degree in Magazine, Newspaper and Online Journalism from Syracuse University. Courtney began her career as a sports journalist, then spent several years working in higher education, before joining the company in August 2019. She enjoys traveling, reading and hiking, and recently adopted a Labrador Retriever, Bailey.

    Related Posts

    ‘This Collaboration Has Broken Down Barriers’

    February 27, 2025

    Danielle Maciorowski, PharmD, Manager of Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY’s Patient Rx Center

    February 27, 2025

    Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST)

    January 30, 2025
    Flip Through Our Latest Issue!
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    Top Posts

    2025 Summer Camp Guide

    April 1, 2025751 Views

    DIY: Make your own vibrant, paper fans in only a few easy steps

    July 1, 2020536 Views

    Host a Kid-Friendly Friendsgiving Party

    November 1, 2024407 Views

    CNY Day Camp Directory

    March 31, 2023355 Views

    Family Times Magazine publishes a digital magazine highlighting events, businesses, and content to inform and entertain families here in Central New York. Sign up for our twice monthly newsletter to have the magazine and other featured content.
    ____

    Email Us:
    [email protected]
    Publisher:
    [email protected]
    Contact: 1.315.422.7011

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn RSS
    Our Picks

    Fall Activities Guide

    October 1, 2024
    Most Popular

    2025 Summer Camp Guide

    April 1, 2025751 Views

    DIY: Make your own vibrant, paper fans in only a few easy steps

    July 1, 2020536 Views

    Host a Kid-Friendly Friendsgiving Party

    November 1, 2024407 Views
    © 2025 Family Times, CNY. Designed by Crossroads Marketing.
    • Our Authors
    • Archives
    • Things to do around Syracuse and CNY: Local Events Calendar
    • Advertising

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.