Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ) held its first Breakfast With Champions on Thursday, November 1, 2007 at the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort.  The event was a great success, with over 600 guests in attendance.  The guests were part of an inspiring experience, learning more about the mission and vision of the Special Olympics through guest speakers and Special Olympics athletes.

Voice of the Arizona Diamondbacks Daron Sutton was the host of the event, bringing his passion for Special Olympics to the stage and sharing the goals of the organization.  Roy Garibaldi, host of The Positive Side of Sports, broadcast the radio show live from Breakfast With Champions.  He also led the crowd in a game of SOAZ Bingo as a way to educate guests about all of the people who make up the Special Olympics Arizona family.  Keynote speaker Dr. Jim Tunney inspired the crowd emphasizing that “It’s the Will, Not the Skill” that makes a champion.

In attendance at the event were Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Superintendent of the Scottsdale Unified School District Dr. Baracy, Representative Nancy Barto, Representative Cloves Campbell, Director of Special Education for the Scottsdale Unified School District Lois Healey, Representative John Kavanagh, Scottsdale Police Chief Alan Rodbell, Senator James Waring, Paradise Valley mayor Ed Winkler, as well as many Special Olympics Arizona athletes.

Special Olympics athlete Roxanne Johnson introduced SOAZ’s Summer Games DVD to the guests.  Special Olympics World Games athlete and medalist Paul Maestas received a standing ovation as he spoke about the medals he won at the 2007 World Summer Games in China. 

Special Olympics Arizona would like to extend a huge thank you the sponsors of Breakfast With Champions: The Doubletree Paradise Valley  Resort, Suncor, Dan and Sydney Fox, The Henderson Law Firm, Pinnacle Bank and The Lavidge Company.

Funds generated at Breakfast With Champions will support Special Olympics Arizona’s mission of providing year-round sports training and competition to individual with intellectual disabilities at no cost to the athlete.  Thanks to the support of those in attendance, the over 9,100 Special Olympics athletes will have the opportunity to cross the finish line and GO FOR THE GOLD!

Click here to view photos from Breakfast With Champions!

For information on upcoming events, please contact Janelle Tassart 1-800-289-4946 or BeAFan@soaz.org