by lauryn | May 7, 2026 | Athletes, DEIB, Mission Focused, Region C, UCS/Unified
This May, Special Olympics Illinois is proud to highlight athlete Adam Jeffery, a dedicated competitor in the District 204 STEPS program whose commitment to sport and leadership continues to grow each season.
Adam first became involved with Special Olympics Illinois in 2018, when he represented Gregory Middle School in Region C athletics. “I qualified for state that year for softball throw,” he said, “and have made multiple trips back throughout the years.” What began as a middle school opportunity has since expanded into a year‑round athletic journey.
Today, Adam participates in both STEPS and WDSRA programs, competing across soccer, basketball, and athletics. He is also preparing for a major milestone ahead: “I will also be running the Chicago Marathon 2026 as part of Team Special Olympics Illinois,” Adam shared.
One of Adam’s favorite experiences has been joining the Chicago Fire FC Unified Team. “I love being part of a team that gets to travel and play against other MLS Unified teams,” he says. “It’s pretty cool!”
This month holds something special for Adam as the Chicago Fire FC Unified Team prepares for its home appearance this Saturday, May 9, at 9:00 AM at Endeavor Health Performance Center Field in Chicago. Later, the Unified team will be recognized at half time during the professional match at Soldier Field.
When asked what inclusion means to him, Adam offers a perspective that reflects the heart of the Special Olympics Illinois movement. He said, “Inclusion means being able to come together, as a team, feeling included and safe, regardless of ability.”
Adam also participates in Athlete Leadership and continues to embrace every opportunity that comes his way. “I look forward to every game and event I have been part of with Special Olympics Illinois,” he said. “It brings me joy, happiness and positive vibes.”
As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Adam’s story serves as a reminder of the many athletes whose voices, talents, and leadership strengthen Special Olympics Illinois every day.
Thank you, Adam, for being the SOILL Difference!
by lauryn | Apr 8, 2026 | Mission Focused, Region C, Volunteers
In honor of National Volunteer Month this April, Special Olympics Illinois is proud to spotlight two remarkable Region C Key Volunteers, Sergio and Noemi Munoz, whose dedication has made a lasting impact over the past 15 years.
The Munozes recall their first day volunteering at an event hosted at North Central College in Naperville. “A coworker invited us to help, and we saw it as a meaningful way to give back to the community,” says Sergio. What started as a single day quickly turned into a long-standing commitment that continues to grow.
From the beginning, they have been active members of the Power Team. “We help set up venues, organize logistics, distribute lunches, assist athletes and families, and help with event breakdown,” the Munozes explain. Over time, they took on leadership roles alongside fellow Key Volunteer Candace, guiding and coordinating the team’s efforts across competitions.
Reflecting on the experience, the Munozes reflect, “It’s really the people who have left the greatest impression. We’ve built lasting connections with families, athletes, and fellow volunteers, and we’ve been inspired by the passion and commitment of everyone involved.” One particularly meaningful moment for them has been participating in the lighting of the cauldron, which they describe as “a powerful symbol of unity and celebration at Special Olympics events.”
Asked what motivates them to continue volunteering year after year, they answer simply: “The athletes. Their joy, determination, and strength are incredible. Being part of an organization that creates these experiences fills us with pride.”
Inclusion is central to their work. “Inclusion means creating opportunities for everyone to participate, belong, and succeed while celebrating differences and recognizing individual strengths,” Noemi says. Sergio adds, “It’s about ensuring all individuals, regardless of background or ability, have the chance to participate, achieve, and feel a sense of accomplishment.”
The Munozes also note the personal impact of their volunteerism. “Through our work with Special Olympics Illinois, we’ve grown closer together, strengthened our compassion, and added joy to our lives,” they say.
As we celebrate National Volunteer Month, the Munozes’ story serves as a powerful reminder of the impact volunteers can have, not only on the athletes and communities they serve but also on their own lives.
Thanks to Sergio, Noemi, and ALL volunteers who move our mission forward! Learn more and become a volunteer.
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Siendo la Diferencia: El legado de voluntariado de los Muñoz
En honor al Mes Nacional del Voluntariado este abril, Special Olympics Illinois se enorgullece en destacar a dos voluntarios clave excepcionales de la Región C, Sergio y Noemí Muñoz, cuya dedicación ha dejado un impacto duradero durante los últimos 15 años.
Los Muñoz recuerdan su primer día como voluntarios en un evento realizado en North Central College en Naperville. “Un compañero de trabajo nos invitó a ayudar, y lo vimos como una manera significativa de retribuir a la comunidad”, comenta Sergio. Lo que comenzó como un solo día se convirtió rápidamente en un compromiso a largo plazo que continúa creciendo.
Desde el inicio, han sido miembros activos del Power Team. “Ayudamos a preparar los espacios, organizar la logística, distribuir almuerzos, asistir a los atletas y sus familias, y colaborar con el desmontaje de los eventos”, explican los Muñoz. Con el tiempo, asumieron roles de liderazgo junto a la también voluntaria clave Candace, guiando y coordinando los esfuerzos del equipo en diversas competencias.
Al reflexionar sobre su experiencia, los Muñoz comparten: “Son realmente las personas quienes han dejado la mayor huella en nosotros. Hemos construido relaciones duraderas con familias, atletas y otros voluntarios, y nos ha inspirado la pasión y el compromiso de todos los involucrados.” Un momento especialmente significativo para ellos ha sido participar en el encendido del pebetero, que describen como “un poderoso símbolo de unidad y celebración en los eventos de Special Olympics.”
Cuando se les pregunta qué los motiva a seguir siendo voluntarios año tras año, responden con sencillez: “Los atletas. Su alegría, determinación y fortaleza son increíbles. Ser parte de una organización que crea estas experiencias nos llena de orgullo.”
La inclusión es fundamental en su labor. “La inclusión significa crear oportunidades para que todos puedan participar, pertenecer y tener éxito, celebrando las diferencias y reconociendo las fortalezas individuales”, dice Noemí. Sergio añade: “Se trata de asegurar que todas las personas, sin importar su origen o habilidades, tengan la oportunidad de participar, lograr metas y sentirse realizadas.”
Los Muñoz también destacan el impacto personal de su voluntariado. “A través de nuestro trabajo con Special Olympics Illinois, nos hemos acercado más como pareja, hemos fortalecido nuestra compasión y hemos añadido alegría a nuestras vidas”, señalan.
Al celebrar el Mes Nacional del Voluntariado, la historia de los Muñoz es un poderoso recordatorio del impacto que los voluntarios pueden tener, no solo en los atletas y las comunidades a las que sirven, sino también en sus propias vidas.
¡Gracias a Sergio, Noemí y a TODOS los voluntarios que impulsan nuestra misión! Aprende más y conviértete en voluntario.
by lauryn | Mar 16, 2026 | Athlete Leadership, Athletes, Mission Focused, Region C, Sports, Uncategorized, USA Games
By Randy Kindred
Lily Goodfellow has a message for other Special Olympics Illinois athletes, delivered through the example she sets in front of a microphone, video camera, or computer keyboard:
You can do it.
You can make your voice heard, share stories and have an impact beyond athletic competition.
“I just want them to know that they can help make the world a better place,” she said.
It is not a catch phrase for the 22-year-old Goodfellow. She lives it every day through podcasts, videos, and the written word.
Goodfellow will attend the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota, June 20–26, where more than 70 members of Team Illinois will take part in the games experience. She will serve in a non-competitive sports reporting role, producing written, video, and other content to highlight the event before, during, and after the games.
“I’ve never been to the [Special Olympics] USA Games, so it’s the very first time for me,” she said. “I am looking forward to seeing everyone and getting to interview them.”
Born with Down syndrome, Goodfellow is passionate about sports. She has competed with Special Olympics Illinois from a young age, formerly in swimming and track and more recently in basketball, powerlifting and bocce. She also loves the theater, performing throughout her youth in local productions and musicals.
“She loved being on stage and in the spotlight,” said her mother, Nancy.
That outgoing personality led to Lily joining the Hawks TV club at Naperville Central High School. She conducted on-camera interviews with Redhawks’ athletes and developed her own segment called, “Lily’s Inclusion Corner.” It highlighted inclusion opportunities within the school, many based on Special Olympics Illinois.
She was recipient of the Strongest Redhawk Award, which her mother said goes annually to “someone who did what they could to make positive change in the school and exemplified the qualities the school tries to get behind.”
Lily has served as co-emcee for Special Olympics Illinois’ Champions Ball and emcee for the Chicago Ducky Derby. She also traveled to Los Angeles three times to broadcast the Gaming for Inclusion e-sports celebrity showcase alongside another Special Olympics athlete and a professional broadcaster. In 2024, her work there led to being honored as the “Game Changing On-Air Talent” by an organization called Cynopsis.
While attending the College of DuPage, Lily began writing a weekly question-and-answer story from Athlete of the Week interviews. She has continued that for the college newspaper as a graduate of the school and recently was deemed a “Highlighted Alum” by the Board of Trustees.
“I really like all of it, actually,” she said of her media endeavors. “I think the best part is actually I have my own YouTube Channel (Lily’s Sports Beat), so I have experience doing interviews.”
Her connection to Special Olympics Illinois began early. She was part of the first class of the Young Athletes program, which introduces children ages 2–7 to the basics of sports and prepares them for future Special Olympics training and competition.
The oldest of Ross and Nancy Goodfellow’s three children, she has had the support of her siblings. Luke, 21, is a student at British Columbia University in Vancouver, and Holly, 19, attends the University of Maryland.
“They’ve both been very involved,” Nancy Goodfellow said. “Lily and Luke went through a high school leadership program together. Both (Luke and Holly) were Special Olympics Illinois peers and worked for the special rec association. They’ve been very supportive.”
Lily is a guest services associate and greeter for the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Stars. At the United Center, she checks tickets for Bulls and Blackhawks games to ensure attendees have tickets for her section.
One day, she hopes to work for some, or all, of those teams in a different capacity.
‘I want to have a career,” she said.
The goal is to do on-air, in-arena interviews, etc. Those likely would come with her standing on a step stool.
At 4 feet, 6 inches, Lily often is much shorter than the person she interviews. Thus, Nancy said, “We carry around a stool in the car.”
Height aside, Lily stands tall in all the ways that matter. That warms the hearts of her parents.
“My husband and I often say we are entirely blessed that she found something she was passionate about,” Nancy said. “For her to be able to do something she loves so much and to see how much Special Olympics Illinois and others have lifted her up and done everything possible to make her dream come true, it has been amazing.
“It’s a little overwhelming as a parent to see how much people love her and want to support her. That’s pretty great.”
As Team Illinois prepares for the Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota this June, Lily will bring fans behind the scenes in a new way. Stay tuned over the next few months as she shares interviews, stories and updates, beginning with Team Illinois’ training camp in late April. Learn more about Team Illinois and the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
by lauryn | Feb 27, 2026 | Athlete Leadership, Healthy Athletes, Mission Focused, Organizational Impact, Region B, Region C, UCS/Unified
Earlier this month, leaders from Special Olympics Illinois traveled to Washington, D.C. for Capitol Hill Day, joining advocates from across the country to meet with members of Congress. Their purpose was simple but powerful: share how Special Olympics’ programs are changing lives, and advocate for continued federal funding to ensure those opportunities continue for future generations.
Capitol Hill Day puts faces to the funding. When athletes and students speak directly to lawmakers, they show that inclusion is not just an idea, it’s a lived experience shaping schools and communities every day.
Friendship That Speaks Volumes
For Derek Otero, a Special Olympics Illinois athlete and student at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School (BBCHS), the week was unforgettable.
“My favorite about Capitol Hill week is meeting people from different states and having fun with them,” he said. “I felt extremely blessed to meet every Congressman/woman we met, it was a life-changing experience.”
His message was rooted in connection: “My impact is to create as many friendships as you can, it is always a blessing to do it.”
That spirit was evident in his Unified partner, Calvin Kohl.
“Meeting with members of Congress was both nerve wracking and empowering,” Calvin shared. “It felt like it was an opportunity to represent so many others and impact thousands of people across the country.”
He left with a clear understanding of why advocacy matters. “Inclusion doesn’t just happen on its own, it takes a lot of effort, leadership, and advocacy for support … each of our voices has more value than we might think.”
Their friendship and teamwork did not go unnoticed. Pete Beale-DelVecchio, President & CEO of Special Olympics Illinois, reflected:
“The most memorable part of Capitol Hill Day this year was watching the interactions between Calvin and Derek. They have a great partnership and a true friendship.”
Together, Derek and Calvin demonstrated exactly what Unified stands for — friendship, leadership, and mutual support.
Gold Medal Moments on Capitol Hill
Athlete Leader Katie O’Neill brought energy, gratitude, and emotion to every part of Capitol Hill Day. One of her favorite moments was meeting Representative Nikki Budzinski and presenting her gold medal.
Athlete Leader Katie O’Neill brought energy, gratitude, and emotion to every part of Capitol Hill Day. One of her favorite moments was meeting Representative Nikki Budzinski and presenting her gold medal.
“If it weren’t for people like her, I would have never been able to win a gold medal!” Katie said. She also loved standing in the Capitol gallery, calling it the “room where it all happens,” a reference to the musical Hamilton she discussed with Rep. Budzinski.
The day was deeply moving. “It was so inspiring! And so powerful! I cried and so did my mom,” she recalled. But beyond the emotion, Katie felt truly heard. “They respect us and want to hear what we have to say. I could tell they were listening.”
Amanda Walker, educator and Special Olympics Illinois coordinator at BBCHS, highlighted the impact of the experience: “All of the staff… listened intently, asked questions, and offered support for our mission. It reminded me that advocacy, at any level, can make a difference.”
Building Communities of Belonging
Capitol Hill Day is a chance to show lawmakers why federal support for Special Olympics programs is essential. These programs help individuals build confidence, form lasting friendships, and develop leadership skills that carry into their communities.
Mo Khan, Senior Director of Advancement & Government Relations at Special Olympics Illinois, explained, “Public funding to support health, education, and opportunity for millions of American families who are a part of the greater disability community is a great investment.”
Through their stories on Capitol Hill, Illinois’ delegation showed that funding Special Olympics isn’t just about programs, it’s about building communities where everyone belongs.
by Michelle Mayer | Jun 24, 2025 | Mission Focused, Region C, Region G, Region K, Sports, State Tournaments
By Randy Kindred
As a freshman at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Ryan McGuire trailed the pack significantly in cross country. Running with a paraprofessional, McGuire typically finished the three-mile races five minutes after the next slowest competitor. The following year, he moved up to the back of the pack. His junior year, he was in the middle of the pack. And by his senior season, McGuire was “nearer to the front,” said his father, Martin.
“You might have been surprised that after his freshman year, he kept on running,” Martin McGuire said. “But he kept after it and kept getting better and better.” After running three miles in 34 minutes as a freshman, Ryan covered the distance in 16 minutes, 23 seconds as a senior. He was just getting started.
Competing in Special Olympics Illinois Region C, the 23-year-old McGuire won a gold medal Saturday morning in the 3,000-meter run at Summer Games, where the state-level competing for athletics (track & field) and seven other sports, is held. He could have run much farther, even in the humid conditions at Illinois State University’s track.
McGuire, who has autism, has become a marathon runner. In April, running with two support runners, he completed the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon course in 2 hours, 52 minutes, 4 seconds.
Next up is the Berlin Marathon in the fall.
“That will be his fifth Abbott World Major Marathon and he’s run all of them under three hours,” Martin McGuire said. “His plans are for the Tokyo Marathon next year. He may be the first Special Olympic athlete to finish the Abbott World Major Marathons in under three hours in each of them.”
Competing in Tokyo would leave only the newly added Sydney Marathon left among the Abbott World Major Marathons. That one will have to wait a bit, but likely, McGuire will run in it, with Dad cheering him on. “This is what Ryan and I do,” Martin McGuire said. “This is what we like to do … getting ready for races and running.”
When Ryan is in training, he runs six days a week and cross-trains on Sundays in a swimming pool. “Do you have running in your background?” his father was asked.
“Not at all,” Martin McGuire replied. “When Ryan goes on a long run, I might ride my bicycle trying to keep up.”
Clearly, running is important to Ryan. So is the message it sends.
“Ryan likes to have people remember that people with autism and delayed development have a lot of talents and a lot of special gifts,” Martin McGuire said. “For each and every one of us, we have to keep going and find what our gifts are and then develop them.”
“Team Brian”
Brian Brown of Harrisburg won gold Saturday in the 50-meter run and experienced a lot of love after receiving his medal. Family members, some wearing ‘Team Brian’ t-shirts, greeted him with smiles and hugs. Included was a group hug from Brown’s nieces and nephews.
Brown’s mother, Jennifer Ratley, said her son began competing in with Special Olympics when he was nine. He’s 32 now. “We have a lot of medals,” Ratley said. “We have everything, every color, even a few ribbons.
“He loves being up here. He has friends here from everywhere. He doesn’t know a stranger. Even though they race against each other, they’re all friends. They do it for fun.”
Kinleys carry on
The Summer Games continued a long association with Special Olympics for Kurt and Karen Kinley of Normal. Kurt, 24, competed in a relay and the 400-meter run. Karen, 18, took part in the softball throw and 100-meter run. Kurt has competed since he was eight years old.
“I like to get medals for everyone,” he said. “I like to inspire other people. Every athlete is so amazing.”
Kurt and Karen compete for Bloomington’s SOAR. They are supported by their parents, Dave and Michele Kinley. Dave is a former school administrator and Michele is a Special Education teacher in McLean County Unit 5.
“We’ve been very fortunate to live in a community where there are so many different opportunities,” Dave Kinley said. “Two weeks ago, we did Pizza in the Park through SOAR. It was for dads, so it was Kurt, Karen and me. Karen is going to take a candle making class through SOAR. There are just a lot of things.
“It’s been a real blessing to our family.”
From a mall to medals
When Eric Haderlein of Libertyville was very young, he would run through a local mall during the winter to “get some energy out,” said his mother, Ann Haderlein.
“There was a girl working there who would watch him every morning and she was like, ‘One day, I bet he’s going to be in the Olympics,’” Ann said. “Now, he is!”
It may not be in the international Olympics, but the state Summer Games are exhilarating for Eric, 29. He has competed for many years and relished the bronze medal he won Saturday. Asked what he likes best about the Special Olympics Illinois, he replied, “Winning and having fun.”
“He really looks forward to it,” his mother said. “It gets him out and it’s social. He was very excited (by the medal). He feels very proud of himself.”
To learn more about the 2025 Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games, please visit soill.org/summergames.
