The fun had by Special Olympics participants, TECO team members and others in Brandon on Sept. 12 was enough to bowl you over. Specifically, more than 200 Special Olympics athletes participated in bowling, an activity that built camaraderie and gave the volunteers from TECO yet another opportunity to showcase their community commitment.
Cindy Smith, technology consultant with Tampa Electric, has worked with the Special Olympics for more than 30 years. She helps coordinate soccer activities for the organization in the spring and, in the fall, ramp bowling – which utilizes an angled platform to send bowling balls rumbling into the pins.
“Ramp bowlers often have the intellectual disabilities associated with Special Olympics, and they can also have a physical disability that requires them to use a ramp to bowl,” Smith explained. “Athletes at this event ranged from being on the autism spectrum to cerebral palsy athletes in wheelchairs.”
Participating in ramp-bowling with Smith were TECO team members Gina Chung, manager of Retirement Savings; Nancy Gilson, senior administrative specialist; and compensation analysts Debbie Duvall and Milca Rodriguez (joined by her son Nick).
Smith said volunteering with the Special Olympics is a natural fit.
“I like to figure out how to make things run smoothly, at every Special Olympics event you get the opportunity to make it run better,” she said. “I enjoy how each athlete approaches the games and interacts with other athletes and volunteers. The best feeling I get is when I see the sense of accomplishment in the athlete’s eyes and in their smile. Those smiles are worth a thousand words!”
Duvall echoed Smith in her appreciation of Special Olympics’ overall efforts.
“Through the athlete’s spirit, you see their passion and desire to be the ‘best you can be’,” Duvall said. “These Olympians inspire us all in a very special way. Each of us returned sharing a special story and realized we got back so much more. We gave a little time and they gave us their hearts…and fist bumps!”
Learn more about the Special Olympics and how you can make a difference here.
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