LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the Special Olympics New York 2011
Long Island Region Spring Games North, to be held at Huntington High
School on April 10, 2011, and honoring the participating athletes

WHEREAS, Individuals and organizations devoted to improving the quality
of life for others, enabling them to build lives of dignity and self-
worth, are deserving of the highest praise and recognition; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the Special Olympics New York 2011 Long Island Region Spring Games
North, to be held at Huntington High School, Huntington, New York, on
Sunday, April 10, 2011, and to honor the participating athletes; and
WHEREAS, Founded by Dorothy Buehring Phillips, Special Olympics New
York (SONY) was established in 1969 to provide year-round sports train-
ing and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for
all children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them
continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate cour-
age, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of skills and friend-
ship with their families, Special Olympics athletes and the community;
and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics New York athletes participate in more than
200 competitions at local, regional, super regional, state, national,
and world levels annually; and
WHEREAS, Such competitions provide athletes with meaningful opportu-
nities to test their sports skills and to measure their progress in an
environment in which they are challenged and in which their achievements
are celebrated; and
WHEREAS, Through their participation in Special Olympics New York
athletes gain confidence and build a positive self-image which carries
into the classroom, the home, the workplace and the community; and
WHEREAS, Today, Special Olympics New York is the largest Special Olym-
pics program in the United States and the sixth largest in the world;
serving nearly 50,000 athletes with the support of thousands of volun-
teers; headquartered in Schenectady, New York, SONY has regional offices
on Long Island and in New York City, the Hudson Valley, Central and
Western New York, the Capital Region, and Genesee county; and
WHEREAS, On Sunday, April 10, 2011, the Huntington Union Free School
District will proudly host the Special Olympics New York Long Island
Region 2011 Spring Games North at Huntington High School, Huntington,
New York; and
WHEREAS, One of the highlights of the Long Island Region Special Olym-
pics athletes' competitive season, the Spring Games are an event they
look forward to all year; and
WHEREAS, The Spring Games North at Huntington High School will begin
with an Opening Ceremony and will include Track and Field and Tennis;
over 500 athletes from around the region and more than 1,000 enthusi-
astic coaches, fans and volunteers are expected to participate; and
WHEREAS, The success enjoyed by the Special Olympics New York Long
Island Region is in direct correlation to the efforts of its superbly-
skilled staff and volunteers whose involvement is and has always been
characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and
an uncompromising standard of excellence in all their efforts on behalf
of its Long Island athletes; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of the great State of New York; and

WHEREAS, In light of its commitment, dedication, and successful
efforts, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to extend its highest
commendation to the Special Olympics New York Long Island Region; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the Special Olympics New York 2011 Long Island Region Spring
Games North to be held at Huntington High School, Huntington, New York,
on Sunday, April 10, 2011, to honor the participating athletes, and to
commend Huntington High School for hosting the Spring Games North; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Special Olympics New York Long Island Region and to Hunting-
ton High School.