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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 7am - 5pm Wednesday 7am - 5pm Thursday 7am - 5pm Friday 7am - 5pm

Special Olympics Kansas

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United States
Mission, KS
Special Olympics Kansas

Providing individuals with intellectual disabilities opportunities to thrive!

12/13/2025

The party is starting! Get your team ready for the coolest pool party of the year: PlungeKS.org ☀

12/11/2025

If you were a superhero, what powers would you want to stop crime? Let us know in the comments!

12/10/2025

Save the dates! A preview of what's in store for 2026! ✨

12/09/2025

Special Olympics gave Rylee the confidence to become ❤ Share your story with us in the comments.

12/07/2025

Meet Team Kansas athlete Vin!
For his first time at the Special Olympics USA Games, representing Salina in Bowling, Vin is a hard working athlete that has been training 3 times a week for Minnesota! Join us in cheering him on!
Read his story here: https://soks.org/usa-games-athlete-spotlight-vin-byfield/

12/07/2025

We are proud to announce that our President & CEO John Lair has been recognized by Ingram's Magazine as one of the “50 Kansans You Should Know” in its 2025 statewide leadership issue. The annual list honors influential leaders across business, nonprofit, education, and public service sectors who are shaping the future of Kansas through innovation, service, and impact.

“Being recognized among so many exceptional Kansans is truly an honor, but this recognition really belongs to our athletes. Their courage, joy, and determination are what drive our mission every day. I am grateful to work alongside a team, board, and community that believes so strongly in inclusion.”

Congratulations! ❤

12/06/2025

It's ! Whether you want to coach, cheer, or support health, your time fuels inclusion. Join us as a volunteer: https://soks.org/get-involved/volunteer/

12/05/2025

Special Olympics Kansas is proud to honor Nan Kanter as the recipient of the 2025 Legacy Award, recognizing her exceptional leadership, compassion, and more than three decades of dedicated service to the Special Olympics movement.

Nan’s journey began in 1988, when Blue Valley Recreation invited her to help start a Special Olympics program in the Blue Valley school district. As a parent looking for meaningful opportunities for her son and his friends, she quickly connected with the mission. What began as simple volunteering soon grew into coaching and ultimately a 34-year role as the Blue Valley Local Program Coordinator. Though she retired in 2022, she continues to support the program.

Over her 38 years of involvement, Nan has created a vibrant community centered on joy, belonging, and belief in every athlete’s abilities. She often says any difficult day fades the moment she steps into a Special Olympics practice—the smiles, hugs, and pure enthusiasm reminding her why the work matters. The relationships she has built with athletes, families, and volunteers have become lifelong connections.

Nan has also led countless meaningful traditions. She coached at two National Games, calling it one of the most inspiring experiences of her career. Each spring, she organized a beloved banquet for athletes, families, and volunteers—complete with awards and a slide show that always brought cheers. She also launched the athletes-versus-parents game at the last practice of each team sport season, a tradition that still brings laughter and joy.

When Nan began, Blue Valley had one sport and roughly 10 athletes. Today, because of her vision and commitment, more than 160 athletes participate in a wide variety of sports and year-round activities. For many families, this program has become an essential part of their lives.

Nan often reflects that the athletes she has known for decades continue to inspire her every day. Her dedication has shaped countless lives and strengthened her community’s belief in inclusion.

Special Olympics Kansas is honored to recognize Nan Kanter for her lifelong service and the lasting legacy she has built for athletes and families across the state.

12/05/2025

Did you miss our Giving Tuesday triple match? We're extending it so you get another chance to TRIPLE YOUR IMPACT! Don't miss out — athletes are counting on you. https://bit.ly/4phBnhK

12/04/2025

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Let us know in the comments!

12/04/2025

Special Olympics Kansas proudly honors Jane and Denise Mentlick with the Legacy Award — celebrating their decades of dedication, leadership, and love for athletes across Western Kansas.

Denise’s Special Olympics journey began in the mid-to-late 1980s when she volunteered in college and later coached alongside her brother Greg. Her parents, Joe and Jane, played a major role in forming the Colby Eagles, inspiring Denise to continue the family’s deep commitment to Special Olympics.

Jane and Joe coached the original Colby team, cheering athletes on at bowling and track while building a welcoming, joyful community. They worked tirelessly to launch the Western Kansas Truck Convoy after attending their first in Salina in 2006. Jane recorded sponsorships, secured auction items, and—alongside longtime friend and truck driver Donna—folded countless shirts as the event grew each year. Through the Convoy, they formed lifelong friendships and created a tradition filled with dancing, singing, and celebration. Their motto said it all: “We do it for the kids.”

Denise continued that legacy, serving as a coach and host for countless Special Olympics events in Colby. She cherishes the Convoy most—the energy, the effort, and the unmatched joy of watching athletes ride with their favorite truckers as the community rallied around them.

Her message to anyone considering getting involved: you may discover something your heart needed without even realizing it. Denise believes deeply in spreading awareness, especially in rural communities, and envisions a future where educators, parents, and volunteers introduce Special Olympics opportunities to children across the state. Programs like Young Athletes Day, she says, have the potential to change countless lives.

Today, Special Olympics Kansas proudly celebrates Jane and Denise Mentlick for their lifelong service, their unwavering support for athletes, and the incredible impact they’ve made in Western Kansas. Their legacy lives on in every athlete, family, and volunteer whose life they’ve touched.

12/03/2025

This word cloud was built from more than 400 responses from across the Special Olympics North America movement – they’re words that describe what the future looks like. As we mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we’re inspired by this vision and excited about what’s ahead, and encourage you to think about what an inclusive future looks like in your community!

What word would YOU add as we build this future together?

Address

5280 Foxridge Drive
Mission, KS
66202

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	7am - 5pm
Wednesday	7am - 5pm
Thursday	7am - 5pm
Friday	7am - 5pm

Website

http://soks.org/

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Not just a Track Meet

Special Olympics Kansas is dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports competitions, health and nutrition programs and leadership development. Offering year-round initiatives to children and adults with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics Kansas is a platform for acceptance and inclusion as well as one of the largest advocates for healthy lifestyles in the state – regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or cultural differences.