SONM Communications
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Posts by Rebecca Rainsberger:
Summer Games Volunteers
2026 State Summer Games Volunteers
Volunteer Age requirement: Volunteers must be age 16 or older for the following volunteer roles, due to the nature of the volunteer responsibilities.
State Summer Games Maps
Olympic Village Map
FUNfitness Volunteers
FUNfitness Volunteers
Sign Up: FUNfitness Volunteer Sign-up
Volunteer info: FUNfitness volunteers will help provide Physical Therapy screenings for Special Olympics athletes.
Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Location: UNM Track & Field and Soccer Complex located at 1800 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE
Please park in the General Parking area and check-in at the Healthy Athletes® FUNfitness tent.
Strong Minds Volunteers
Strong Minds Volunteers
Sign Up: Strong Minds Volunteer Sign-up Form
Volunteer info: Strong Minds volunteers will help provide Emotional Health screenings for Special Olympics athletes.
Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Location: UNM Track & Field and Soccer Complex located at 1800 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE
Please park in the General Parking area and check-in at the Healthy Athletes® Strong Minds tent.
Health Promotion Volunteers
Health Promotion Volunteers
Sign Up: Health Promotion Volunteer Sign-up Form
Health Promotion Volunteer Flyer
Volunteer info: Health Promotion volunteers will help provide nutrition and health prevention info to Special Olympics athletes.
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
Time: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Location: Las Cruces Convention Center
Address: 680 E University Ave. Las Cruces, NM 88001
Fit Feet Volunteers
Fit Feet Volunteers
Sign Up: Fit Feet Volunteer Sign-up Form
Volunteer info: Fit Feet volunteers will help provide podiatry screenings for Special Olympics athletes.
Date: Saturday, May 31
Time: 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Location: UNM Track & Field and Soccer Complex located at 1800 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE
Please park in the General Parking area and check-in at the Healthy Athletes® Fit Feet tent.
2023 New Mexico Law Enforcement Torch Run Guardians of the Flame State Conference Recap
On Feb. 2 – 3, 2023, more than 80 New Mexico Law Enforcement Torch Run (NMLETR) agency coordinators from over 30 public safety departments across New Mexico gathered at the Clyde Hotel in Albuquerque for the 2023 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Guardians of the Flame State Conference. The NMLETR state conference was hosted by Bernalillo County Fire Department, featuring the inaugural NMLETR Miners Lamp presentation, the inaugural Conference Torch Run, and a poker/bingo fundraising tournament.
The state conference training sessions featured two presenters: Retired Albuquerque Police Department Lieutenant Ferris Simmons, and Cynthia Macluskie with the Autism Society of Arizona, who informed and educated our agency coordinators on developing important communication skills and safe engagement with children and adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). Our Be Safe presentation partnered nearly 20 Special Olympics New Mexico athletes with our attending agency coordinators to educate both groups on positive interactions outside of Special Olympics activities between the intellectual and developmental disability population and public safety officers.
The conference concluded with the annual Agency Milestone Dinner and Awards Presentation, where agencies that raised multiple levels of funds last year from their community policing activities were honored and recognized. Four agencies were recipients of our Legend Milestone Award (over $20,000): Las Cruces Police Department, Rio Rancho Police Department, Lea County Sheriff’s Office, and Farmington Police Department. Additional agency milestones included: Gold (over $8,000): Otero County Prison Facility and Bernalillo County Fire Department; Silver (over $4,000): Albuquerque Police Department, Lovington Police Department, IGUA 69, Bosque Farms Police Department, and Valencia County Sheriff’s Office; Bronze (over $1,000): Los Alamos Police Department, Eunice Police Department, New Mexico Probation and Parole- Albuquerque, Santa Fe Police Department, Curry County Sheriff’s Office, NM Probation- Clovis, Hobbs Police Department, Taos County Sheriff’s Office, Belen Police Department, Los Lunas Police Department, Carlsbad Police Department, US Probation, Sandoval County Fire Department, Espanola Police Department, and Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.
Special Olympics staff capped the awards presentation by announcing a total of $416,951 raised by law enforcement agencies through various community policing activities.
We want to extend a huge thank you to all of the local sponsors of the 2023 Guardians of the Flame State Conference: ABQ Orthodontics, Admiral Beverage, All-In-Autographs, Amber Care, Brown & Associates, Calvary Church, Cabela’s, Champion Car Wash, Chick-fil-A, Chuze Fitness, Dion’s, Duke City CrossFit, El Pinto, Firehouse Subs, French Funerals, Frontline Coalition, Fully Promoted, Holiday Lanes, Iron Core Electric, Isotopes, Jenell Pagan, MK Consultant, Main Event, Maple Paintbrush, Moody & Sanford Law, My Gym NM, Nusenda Credit Union, Peak Nutrition, Regal Cinema, Renew Med Spa & Cryotherapy, Rio Grande Travel, Rudy’s, Sandia Casino, Sandia Laboratory FCU, Silva Lanes, Spinello DCS, Starbucks, Steelbender, Stixon Labels, The Fitness Superstore, Top Golf, USA Pickleball, Vernon’s, Vintage, Western Crafts, and Zona Rosa.
Thank you to our statewide and year-round sponsors: Albertsons Market, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Centerra, Chavez Grieves Engineering Consultants, Advance Auto Parts, Spyder Ryder of America, Brycon Construction, Old Town Catering Company, Restoration Pizza, and New Mexico True.
On behalf of our New Mexico Law Enforcement Torch Run Executive Committee we would like to congratulate all of our agency coordinators on a remarkable year, and special thanks to our local and state sponsors for helping kick off 2023.
Group Waiver Fillable
- The Group Waiver is for groups participating in fitness programming, with individuals (participants) who do not have active medical forms on file with Special Olympics New Mexico.
- Group Waiver Fillable
Young Athletes Head Start Resources
Young Athletes Head Start Resources
Press Release: SONM Announces Team New Mexico Delegation for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games
Special Olympics New Mexico Announces Delegation for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games
20 Special Olympics Athletes and Unified Partners from New Mexico to Compete in Orlando, Florida
March 10, 2022 – Albuquerque, New Mexico: Special Olympics New Mexico is proud to announce that it will send a 36-member delegation, including 20 Special Olympics athletes and Unified Partners, to represent New Mexico at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, held June 5–12, 2022, in Orlando, Florida.
Team New Mexico is comprised of 18 athletes, 2 Unified partners, 5 coaches, 1 Athlete Input Council member, 2 Unified Champion Schools® students, and 8 staff. The delegation will compete in 5 of the 19 Olympic-type sports offered at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, including: Track & Field, Bocce, Bowling, Golf, and Swimming.
Note: The full roster for Team Special Olympics New Mexico is available on our website: https://sonm.org/about/2022usagames/
“It is such an honor and privilege to represent New Mexico at USA Games,” said Abe Assaad, Special Olympics athlete competing in Track & Field at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games. “I love to meet a lot of people and make new friends and my goal is to win a medal and represent New Mexico and Special Olympics athletes in the best way.”
The Special Olympics USA Games, which is hosted every four years, will mark the largest humanitarian event in Florida’s history. The event will unite more than 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean. Over 10,000 volunteers will fill more than 20,000 volunteer shifts during the week. It is anticipated over 125,000 families, friends and spectators will witness the inspiring athletic accomplishments in 19 Olympic-style team and individual sports and more than 30 events at world-class venues across Orlando, centered at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World Resort.
Attending the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games is extra special for Special Olympics New Mexico as New Mexico was the only state unable to attend the 2018 USA Games due to a loss in funding. Special Olympics New Mexico has not sent a team to USA Games since 2014.
Athletes, Unified partners, and coaches were selected for Team New Mexico based on their event scores from previous competitions.
“Sending Special Olympics athletes from New Mexico to the USA Games will be one of the greatest sports experiences of their lives,” said Special Olympics New Mexico Executive Director Randy Mascorella. “They will get to the Games well-trained and prepared to do their very best. They will march into Opening Ceremonies representing all New Mexicans, and they will accept the medals they win with pride. Let’s celebrate not only their accomplishments but also celebrate who they are and the value they bring to us every day.”
About the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games
The 2022 Special Olympics USA Games is scheduled for June 5-12, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. Jersey Mike’s Subs is the Presenting Partner, and the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games is hosted by Disney. During this magical week, more than 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean will travel to Florida to unite in one of the country’s most cherished sporting events. The USA Games is hosted once every four years and showcases 19 Olympic-style team and individual sports and 30 events throughout the week including forums and VIP receptions. Website: www.2022usagames.org
About Special Olympics New Mexico
Special Olympics New Mexico provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. Today, Special Olympics New Mexico serves more than 3,700 athletes, offering training and competition in 12 sports. Special Olympics New Mexico is sponsored year-round and state-wide by New Mexico True, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Chick-fil-A, Legacy Church, Chevrolet, BlueCross BlueShield of New Mexico, Rudy’s “Country Store and Bar-B-Q”, and Delta Dental. Learn more about Special Olympics New Mexico at: https://sonm.org
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