Each June, Dara DiBenedetto travels from Fort Myers, Florida, to Bloomington-Normal to volunteer at Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games — something she’s done almost every year since 1993.
“I love Summer Games so much, I not only fly to Bloomington and rent a car, but I take a week off work as well,” Dara said. “The five days I take for Summer Games inspire and motivate me for months afterwards.”
Dara first volunteered with Special Olympics Illinois the summer after graduating college. Her parents had already been volunteering for several years, inspired by Dara’s uncle, Dick Strauss, who helped coordinate the swimming competition in the late 1980s.
Her first weekend volunteering, Dara worked at awards with her mom. “I was surly and mopey on the drive down,” she recalled. “But after we completed the set up and the swim meet got underway, there was no way to not be excited, energized, and amazed. High fiving and hugging the athletes as they received their awards was inspiring and uplifting.”
She’s returned almost every year since.
“If you are sad, exhausted, or in a bad mood, there is something about the Summer Games that will get you out of that mojo and put a spring in your step,” Dara shared.
Dara volunteers each year at the swimming venue, and she’s quick to share why it’s her favorite. “Our team is energetic and upbeat, making the venue fun and engaging for volunteers and athletes. We’ve worked together for more than 15 years,” she said. “New team members always end with a smile on their face and a request to return the following year.”
The athletes are what truly make the weekend special, according to Dara. She has seen many of the same swimmers return year after year, growing in skill and confidence. “They are so excited to get to that point,” Dara said, referring to athletes moving up to more advanced events. “And even if an athlete didn’t qualify for Summer Games, they are still all smiles. They’re here to support their team and hang with their friends — which includes the volunteers.”
Some memories stick out more than others, but it’s the bigger picture that keeps Dara coming back. “It’s the smiles, hugs, and knowing that I made people happy that keeps me going. I’d also like to think that the energy and love we give to our teams, parents, and athletes motivates them as well,” she said.
To anyone thinking about volunteering for the first time, Dara says: “Do it. It will change your life.”
She hears it all the time from others — how one volunteer experience stuck with them long after it ended. “Their eyes light up as they tell me about it, and they end with ‘Wow, it was so much fun, I should do it again.’”
“I wouldn’t do this if it weren’t fun, and I didn’t get something out of it myself,” Dara added. “Anyone volunteering will have fun, make memories, and go home with an inner glow that will inspire and motivate for months.”
Learn more or become a volunteer for 2025 Summer Games, happening June 20-22 in Bloomington-Normal.