Past

Special Olympics began in 1968 when the first Summer Games were held at Soldier Field in Chicago. Six athletes from New Hampshire attended those first games and about 1,000 athletes from all over the nation took part.

The first SONH Summer Games were held at Phillips Exeter Academy in 1970. About 130 athletes participated in athletics and aquatics.

In 1972 SONH was incorporated in New Hampshire and was recognized as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation by the Internal Revenue Service.

In 1975 the Volunteer Board of Directors hired a full time Executive Director, Fred Toll, to manage the continued growth of the program.

In 1977 SONH held its first Winter Games offering competition in Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing.

Growth continued and in 1986 about 850 athletes participated.

Mike Quinn was hired as President & CEO in 1987.

The Board of Directors determined to expand the number of athletes in the program and their opportunities for quality sports training and athletic competition in Special Olympics.

In 1996 SONH received the prestigious Walter J. Dunfey Award for Excellence in management presented by the NH Corporate Fund.

In 1998 2,000 participants participated in twenty Olympic type sports.

In 2006 3,100 participants participated in twenty Olympic type sports.

In 2009 Mike Quinn retired as Executive Director of SONH. Mary Conroy was appointed by Special Olympics New Hampshire's Board of Directors to serve as the organization's President and CEO.

Present

(Data as of January 2012)
Participants = 3,651

2,377 athletes
1,274 Unified Partners

Volunteers = 4,861

2,522 Local Program Volunteers
2,339 Day of volunteers

Local Programs = 109

Families = 1,628

Donations = 14,454 annually

12,557 individual donors gave an average of $55.84.
776 corporate donors gave an average of $431.98.

Future

On March 24, 2011 the SONH Board of Directors approved the SONH Strategic Plan. The plan, which was developed with the help of more than 700 volunteers will help guide the organization over the next three years. Included in the plan are goals to grow the number of families, volunteers and athletes within Special Olympics New Hampshire.

Click here to see a copy of our Stratigce Plan.

2012 STATE SUMMER GAMES

The State Summer Games are the largest of more than 20 competitions Special Olympics New Hampshire holds each year! Join hundreds of volunteers, coaches and Local Programs in cheering on our athletes as they compete May 31st - June 2nd at UNH in Durham. Learn more about the event here.