Area 16 / Starved Rock
Area 16 was founded in 1976 and provides programming for people in the counties of Bureau, Grundy, Henry, LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam and Stark.
There are many opportunities available for you to get involved with Special Olympics including serving as a volunteer or committee member, helping with fundraising, or competing as an athlete. If you live in the Area and want to find out more about the local program, please contact the Area Director.
Download the Area Profile Sheet for more information
Area 16 Contact Info
Allison Nichols – Area Director
P.O. Box 317
Utica, IL 61373
Phone: 815-220-8128
Fax: 815-220-8150
Events
What is State Tennis?
State Tennis is one of 9 state sports competitions. It is the final competition for those participating in Tennis, Unified Tennis and Tennis Individual Skills. State Tennis is hosted at Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington. More than 100 athletes compete this weekend and show off their winning form!
Competition
Tennis is a stand alone competition and serves as a showcase for our tennis athletes to demonstrate the skills they have learned throughout the year. Everyone is encouraged to attend this premiere state tournament to cheer on these extraordinary athletes!
Athletes may compete in Short Court Singles & Doubles Match Play, Traditional Singles, Doubles and Unified Doubles Match play competitions. Athletes can compete in either match play or individual skills.
Individual Skills competition will also be offered where individuals will demonstrate their skills in forehand volley, backhand volley, forehand ground stroke, backhand ground stroke, serve deuce court, serve advantage court and alternating ground strokes
Volunteer
Tentative Competition Times
All times listed below are tentative and subject to change once event specific schedules are determined. Times only reflect actual competition times and do not include time frames for coach meetings, weigh-in times, etc. For a final schedule please check the Supporting Documents section close to competition day.
- Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Sunday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Opening Ceremony
Special Olympics Illinois will hold an Opening Ceremony as part of the Olympic tradition at 8:00 a.m. at Evergreen Racquet Club. Areas will be asked to line up along the sidewalk for the parade of athletes. The Torch Run will also march in for the grand lighting of the cauldron.
Souvenirs
Souvenirs will only be sold on Saturday. Souvenir items will be sold from 8:00am – 2:00pm. Items range from $1 to $55 and will include clothing and other traditional souvenir items. Cash and most major credit cards will be accepted for souvenir sales. CHECKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. Souvenir items are offered by Minerva Promotions and a percentage of sales are given to Special Olympics Illinois.
***Pre-Order Information: You can save time and pre-order items and pick them up on-site! If you want to personalize any items then you must pre-order them. On-site customization is not offered at the tournament. Minerva Promotions is offering a free 50th Anniversary Pop Socket with every preorder! Please go to www.soillstatestore.com or click here Interactive State Tennis Souvenir Flyer to view items and submit your preorder.
Families
A family hospitality area will be available at the tournament. Please encourage family members to 
visit the Family Hospitality Area and register if they are new to the Special Olympics Illinois families program or just check-in to let us know they are here. Family members can meet and visit with other families and receive information on what is new at Special Olympics Illinois. Most of all, they can have fun, relax and watch their athletes have a great experience.
Alerts
In case of inclement weather, schedule changes or cancellations check the website here for updates. The day of the event you can text Evergreen to 77453 for text alerts or call 309-888-2000 Ext. 245.
Supporting Documents
2018 State Tennis Schedule Memo
2018 State Tennis Agency List With Final Divisions
2018 State Tennis Event Handbook Memo
2018 State Tennis Event Handbook
Join IDOC and LETR by taking part in the Carp and Catfish Bank Fishing Competition on August 18th. Homer Lake is a beautiful spot to fish, with great shoreline access, bathrooms, playgrounds, parking and plenty of fish! This is a great event for the whole family to be apart of. Awards will be given out to the individual who catches the biggest Carp and Catfish, as well as the most unusual catch and most fish caught on the day.
To register for this great event, please fill out and send in this registration form: Registration Form
Please mail entry forms by July 20th, 2018. All entries will receive email confirmation.
If you have any questions, please contact Monty Mittleman at (217)-735-5411, ext. 404 or at monty.mittleman@illinois.gov
Join IDOC – Concordia in fun for the whole family Trivia! Test your knowledge and see who the brainiac is in your friend group while taking on 10 different categories of Trivia on August 21st!
$10 fee per person includes 2 slices of pizza, drink and entry into the trivia game.
All proceeds will be donated to the Law Enforcement Torch Run on behalf of the Illinois Department of Corrections – Concordia.
View the flyer HERE!!
What is the Truck Convoy?
The Truck Convoy is a fundraising and awareness event that creates a unique partnership between law enforcement and the trucking industry to raise funds for Special Olympics so athletes can continue to train in year-round sports activities. Officers involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics have made the Truck Convoy one of their many annual signature events in Illinois.
Please contact Katie Risley for more information.
Event Information
Special Olympics athletes and families, the community, companies and local law enforcement agencies will welcome the truckers as they return to the starting location for lunch and a celebration, complete with awards and music.
All trucks must be 10-GVW or larger. Hazardous materials or trucks with alcohol/tobacco names/logos are not permitted.
On-Site Check-In runs from 8-9:30am inside front entrance of the Sears Centre; Convoy will leave at 10am.
Registration
Truck entries should be paid in advance to guarantee a position. Your $100 donation includes official Convoy goody bag, and a delicious lunch. Suggested donation for guests is $10.00. Children 10 and under, and all Special Olympics athletes in attendance receive free admission and lunch.
Consider placing a bid to be the Lead Truck! At 9:45 a.m. on Convoy day, a live bid will take place and the highest bidder will pay to lead the Truck Convoy. Bidding will start at $1,000.00.
Registration sponsorship allows you to split trucks between the two Northern Convoy events (Hoffman Estates & Tinley Park).
Resources
Join us for a day of fun to benefit Special Olympics Illinois – Area 7 athletes. The day includes 18 holes of golf, access to the driving range, lunch, dinner, raffles and more!
Registration starts at noon with a shotgun start at 1pm.
Presented by the Champaign Urbana Theater Company’s Seven Corpse Dinner Murder Mysteries:
DEATH MAKES A HOUSE CALL
Where: CU ELKS 900 N DUNLAP, SAVOY, IL
When: August 25, 2018; Cocktails 6pm; Dinner 6:30pm
COST: $40 per person OR 2 for $75
RAFFLE ITEMS WILL BE AVAILABLE
The Scenario:
Tonight’s dinner is in honor of Soy Bean City Teaching Hospital’s famous diagnostician, Dr. Geoffrey Casa. He has received the first annual Laurie Prize for Medical Excellence from the Illinois Medical Association. The good doctor’s friends and colleagues are delighted to be here to help him celebrate this honor.
At least, that’s how Dr. Linda Cully, SBCTH’s Chief Administrator, wants you to see it. But if Casa has any true friends, they don’t seem to be here this evening, and his colleagues seem none too fond of him. What are they hiding? And is his genius really all his own? After all, in Casa’s own favorite saying, everybody lies.
How Does the Seven Corpse Dinner Work?
A Seven Corpse Dinner is an audience-interactive murder mystery event. It is not a play that is performed, but rather a game being played with all of the guests. A cast of 5 – 10 actors assume character roles for the scenario. The actors mingle with the guests through cocktails and dinner, having conversations with the guests and with each other.
Watch and listen closely! Guests are encouraged to snoop, eavesdrop, and be nosy!! There may be arguments, secret liaisons, notes passed, deals done, loves lost and found, agreements made and broken! After dinner, one (or maybe more) of the characters “die”. An investigator character takes charge to question suspects and find the murderer, with the help of the audience. Guests may become as involved as they like, and are encouraged to invent their own roles and relationships to the cast.
Online Tickets available at: https://letrmurdermystery.eventbrite.com
Contact: LINDA KNOX lrosek61@yahoo.com for more information
This is a fundraiser to benefit THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN for SPECIAL OLYMPICS IL
The 2018 Go FORE The Green golf outing committee invites you to join us as we celebrate our 5th anniversary with a fun-filled, Caddy Shack themed event!
We are pleased to announce that we are once again teaming up with The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run and members from several DuPage County Police departments to raise money for Special Olympics Illinois (as they celebrate their 50th anniversary!)
Registration
You can register online by clicking here.
Culver’s and Special Olympics Illinois Partner Up
Many Culver’s locations throughout Chicagoland are partnering with Special Olympics Illinois for the ButterBurgers & Badges fundraising event Aug. 30, from 4-8 p.m. Customers can also make donations throughout the month of August.
Event Details
ButterBurgers & Badges will feature local law enforcement officers providing table service for guests dining inside, and also delivering the chain’s famed burgers and fresh frozen custard desserts to those visiting the drive-thru.
The officers will collect tips for their service, which, along with $1 for every purchase of any size Concrete Mixer, will benefit Special Olympics. In addition, local Special Olympics athletes will be on hand to meet and greet guests and sign autographs.
ButterBurgers & Badges is part of a month-long initiative that includes participating stores proudly displaying Change for Champions donation canisters near counter areas.
Funds raised will help Special Olympics Illinois continue its programs that provide year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This event continues Culver’s support of Special Olympics.
Participating Locations
Click here to view this years’ participating Culver’s locations around the state of Illinois.
Flyer & Social Media Items
Palatine Police 5K Fun Run, Walk, or Stroll for Special Olympics is coming up on September 1st, 2018! This event will be held from 9 am – Noon starting in the parking lot of the Palatine Police Department. This is a FREE event with no pre-registration required; simply show up with your racing shoes on and winning attitudes ready to go! Special Olympics merchandise will be for sale as well as donations encouraged to help the athletes all around Illinois.
Interested in joining the run? Check out the Flyer here!
What is the Southern Illinois Ducky Derby Dash?
The Southern Illinois Ducky Derby Dash at the Du Quoin State Fair is a signature fundraising event for Special Olympics Illinois. On September 2, 2018 thousands of spectators will watch 5,000+ Ducks splash into the lake behind the Exhibition Hall on the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds and race towards the finish line.
Race Day kicks off at 1:00pm with a parade! The ducks race at 3:00pm, followed by entertainment for the entire family – live music, face painting, games, and an appearance by Splash, the Duck.
How do I adopt a duck?
Adopt a Duck Now!
You can Adopt a duck for only $5. Get more chances to win by purchasing a Quack Pack (6 ducks for $25), Flock of Ducks (24 ducks for $100) or Ducky Derby Donor (60 ducks for $250)!
*Are you adopting a duck on behalf of a friend, co-worker or family member affiliated with a Sales Team? If so, be sure to select the team you want to get credit for your adoption. Click on a team member name to give credit to a specific person.
What if my Duck Wins?
You could be the winner of one of our great prizes!
- Grand Prize: $2,000 CASH. Courtesy of Country Financial.
- 2nd Prize: Three night all-inclusive trip to Riu Playacar in Riviera Maya, Mexico for two adults departing from St. Louis. Winner must be at least 21 years old or traveling with a legal guardian. Courtesy of Apple Vacations, America’s Favorite Vacation Company and Riu Hotels and Resorts.
- 3rd Prize: Your house will be the place to be with a brand new handcrafted wooden Pub Table Top with four chairs, a Coca-Cola umbrella for the table, handcrafted side by side wooden chairs with cushions and a cornhole set!
- 4th Prize: Two tickets to the NASCAR Cup Race. Courtesy of Chicagoland Speedway.
For more information, contact Shane Bennett sbennett@soill.org or download the 2018 Southern Duck Derby Poster