Cheers to 50 YEARS An inside look at Special Olympics Florida.
MACBETH STUDIO
T
38
Joe Dzaluk, President and CEO of the Special Olympics
Central Florida Lifestyle | May 2022
urning 50 is considered a milestone, and for the Special Olympics that couldn’t be truer. Not only is the organization celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022, but it will also be hosting the Special Olympics USA games. Can someone say big deal?! What makes it even more special is that the games will take place right here in Central Florida June 5-12! President and CEO of the Special Olympics, Joe Dzaluk, has spent years preparing for this moment. “I started volunteering and I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be a member of the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Florida and so I’ve been involved in
this great movement for a while now,” Dzaluk says. “When we had the opportunity to bid on the games, I was able to take that knowledge and my passion for our athletes and was excited when I was given the opportunity to become president of the games.” Special Olympics’ mission is to provide “year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.” This is accomplished through giving willing participants the opportunity to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and much more! According to their website, the ultimate objective of Special Olym-
ABOVE: COURTESY SPECIAL OLYMPICS, INC.
By Alexis George
