Get Inspired & Support Special Olympics Athletes at Sallarulo’s Race for Champions 5K at NSU on May 1

ONLY FIVE DAYS AWAY!

The 2011 race is in memory of Don Taft, philanthropist, business leader, Special Olympics “Super Hero,” and namesake of NSU’s Don Taft University Center

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – There’s still time to be a part of the amazing journey of more than 800 local Special Olympics athletes by participating as a runner, walker, or “virtual runner” in the sixth annual Sallarulo’s Race for Champions 5K Run/Walk.

The race will take place on May 1, 2011 at Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) main campus at 3301 College Ave. in Davie.

The event benefits Special Olympics Broward County (SOBC), which provides FREE athletic programs to enrich the lives and improve the confidence of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Through sports training and competition, Special Olympics athletes develop physically, socially, and psychologically.

The race begins at 7:30 a.m. with check-in starting at 6:15 a.m. in the Miniaci Courtyard. Local Special Olympics athletes will be on hand to participate in the race, cheer on runners, and present medals. An awards ceremony starting at 8:30 a.m. will follow the race.

For more information or to sign up for the race, please call 954-262-2150.

In Memory of a Champion of the Special Olympics Cause

The 2011 race is also being held in memory of Don Taft, who was a great friend, philanthropist, business leader, amazing supporter of the community, and namesake of NSU’s Don Taft University Center.

He had a special interest in athletes and in youngsters with special needs, and found a way to combine the two by helping SOBC find a new, permanent home at NSU. It was through this relationship that in 2009, the Don Taft Foundation made a generous gift to NSU, and the 366,000 square-foot Don Taft University Center was named in his honor.

Now, NSU is the only private college in the nation to have a Special Olympics chapter located on its campus. The special athletes of Broward County have full access to NSU’s state-of-the-art arena, basketball court, Olympic-sized swimming pool, and other athletic facilities.

Race for Champions Progress and Goals

Sallarulo’s Race for Champions 5K Run/Walk was created by Paul Sallarulo, a member of the NSU Board of Trustees, to raise money for Special Olympics Broward County. In the past five years, the event has raised more than $2.475 million to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics.

This year organizers are hoping to raise an additional $700,000. These funds ensure that SOBC can continue to provide FREE athletic programs to the more than 800 local participating athletes.

The Sallarulo’s Race for Champions goals include:

• Establish an annual fund-raising event to benefit Special Olympics Broward County and build a Special Olympics Broward County Sports Complex.
• Educate the Broward County community about the year-round Special Olympics program.
• Share the Special Athlete’s gifts, skills and friendship with our community.

For more information or to sign up for the race, please call 954-262-2150.

About Special Olympics Broward County (SOBC): SOBC provides sports training and Olympic-style competition to almost 800 athletes with intellectual disabilities in 22 sports, through the support of more than 40 Broward training programs. Through successful sports training and competition, Special Olympics athletes develop physically, socially, and psychologically. The positive experiences the athletes have in ongoing Special Olympics programs builds confidence and self-image, which carries into all aspects of their lives. For more information visit www.specialolympicsbroward.org.

About Nova Southeastern University: Located in Davie, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic fully accredited Florida University dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs of distinction from preschool through the professional and doctoral levels. NSU has more than 29,000 students and is the seventh largest not-for-profit independent institution nationally. The University awards associate’s, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, specialist, and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields, including business, counseling, computer and information sciences, education, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, dentistry, various health professions, law, marine sciences, early childhood, psychology and other social sciences.  Classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU was also awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification in 2010 for the University’s significant commitment to and demonstration of community engagement.   For more information about NSU visit www.nova.edu.

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Media Contact:
Andra Liwag, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5309 (office), 954-873-8494 (cell), andrali@nova.edu

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