Today, Special Olympics Wyoming announced that it has received a grant from the Daniels Fund in the amount of $50,000.  The grant was awarded so recently that the specific use of the money has not yet been determined.

Five statewide events are held annually by Special Olympics Wyoming, including the Summer Games in Laramie, which most recently ran May 7-9 of this year.  Summer Games plans for next year are currently being finalized.

In Wyoming, over 1,400 athletes participate in the year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.  The program involves the services of more than 1,000 volunteers.

On a seasonal basis, athletes compete and train in the event(s) of their choice.  Competition and training are offered in 15 sports.

The Daniels Fund was established by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, who is known for his philanthropy.  The fund provides scholarships and grants in Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado.

Special Olympics, an international organization that empowers people with intellectual disabilities, was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver.  The movement has grown from a few hundred participants to over 4.5 million athletes in more than 170 countries all over the world.

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