Special Olympics Pennsylvania Recognizes
Family of the Year at
Annual Statewide Awards Banquet

Rodriguez Family of Berks County Honored for Outstanding Contributions

(Norristown, PA, September 20) Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) recently honored 16 individuals, groups and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the statewide program at its 2004 Leadership Awards Banquet on September 18, at the Harrisburg Hilton. 

The Rodriquez family from Reading, PA received the Family of the Year award for providing exceptional support to Berks County Special Olympics by contributing directly to the growth of the program.

 The Rodriquez family has worked tirelessly to promote the mission of Special Olympics by volunteering, coaching, training and fundraising throughout the year in every capacity. The parents, Jose and Anna Rodriquez, stepped up to the plate as co-competition coordinators when the program needed a coordinator to maintain its accreditation. Their son, Joey, is an athlete in the program, and they along with their other children, Jonathon and Angel, coach floor hockey, volleyball, softball and basketball.

 The family has attracted new athletes to the Berks program by talking to neighbors, classmates and friends. They constantly recruit the support of other family members in the program and continuously give up their weekends to coach various sports, several of which would not exist without their commitment.

 “The family is completely committed to the Special Olympics. They change their schedules to attend practices, use their vacation time to travel to state games and attend coaching certification programs, and ensure all athletes are provided the opportunity to compete,” said Deb Albitz, the Berks County Special Olympics Manager. “If help is needed, they never say no. Without them our program would not be half of what it is.”

 The event is part of a yearly Leadership Conference designed to provide ongoing training and recognition for Special Olympics athletes and volunteers. A statewide panel of business and community leaders representing both the private and nonprofit sectors selected this year’s award winners.  Nominations come from local Special Olympics programs throughout Pennsylvania.

 Special Olympics Pennsylvania provides year-round training and competition in 23 Olympic-type sports to more than 26,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities.  For more information on how the movement inspires greatness, visit our Web site at www.specialolympicspa.org.

The following people also were given recognition at the Leadership Conference. They received honorable mentions, all from Berks County.
Rodney Delp - Male Athlete of the Year
Erin DeMarco - Female Athlete of the Year
Coach of the Year - Fran Vernitsky
Management Team Member of the Year - Deb DeMarco
Volunteer of the Year (Non - Management Team) - Donald Wright