LiveWell Louisiana

Making Strides

A local fundraising event benefits children and adults with intellectual disabilities in Louisiana.
January 2nd, 2017 by: Misty Miloto

Special Olympics Louisiana recently held its annual NOLA Over the Edge: Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T) fundraising event to raise money and awareness for the organization. Each year, participants pay a $25 registration fee, raise a minimum of $1,000 and then have the opportunity to rappel the 25 stories down Benson Tower, followed by a helicopter ride across New Orleans to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office to undergo S.W.A.T. training. The 2016 Over the Edge event included 70 participants and raised more than $72,000. All proceeds go directly to the SOLA fund to provide sports training and competitions for more than 14,600 children and adults with intellectual disabilities across Louisiana.

“Without fundraising events such as Over the Edge, Special Olympics Louisiana would lack crucial funding for our programs,” says Casey Minton, director of communications and marketing for SOLA. “In addition to hosting over 100 yearly sporting events and competitions, we offer medical examinations through our Healthy Athletes Program, and, through our Unified Champion Schools program, it is our objective to make a large impact across the state and offer all of our life-changing programs to Louisiana schools. I would like to extend a special thank you to Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office, Kenner Police Department and all of our sponsors. Without them, this event wouldn’t be possible.”

Register for Over the Edge 2017 and get a head start on fundraising at specialolympicslouisiana.donordrive.com.