The recipient entity's physical address:
           46 Louis Prima Dr., Suite A
Covington LA 70433

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           46 Louis Prima Dr., Suite A
Covington LA 70433

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
Sharon Ann Sofford
Jessie May Dykes
James R. Austin
Gary S. Grand
Dr. Charles C. Foti, Sr.

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  6608

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $500,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Peyton Lambert, Chair, 415 Bonnabel Boulevard, Metairie LA 70005
Claris Smith, Vice Chair, 1205 St. Charles Avenue, #1308, New Orleans LA 70130
Brandon McNabb, Treasurer, 3315 Quiet Lake Dr., Katy, TX 77450
Paul Tanguis, Secretary, 832 East Boston Street, #14, Covington LA 70433
Frenchie Kessler, 2224 Roosevelt Blvd, Kenner, LA 70062
Craig Blackburn, 3805 Houma Blvd, Unit C210, Metairie, LA 70006
Randy Davidson, 10450 Ellerbe Road, Shreveport, LA 71106
Ashleigh Clare-Kearney Thigpen, 1831 Royal Aberdeen Ave, Zachary, LA 70791
Jill Egle-Athlete, 6555 Wuerpel Street, New Orleans LA 70124
Peter Seidenberg, 1501, Kings Hwy., Shreveport LA 71103
John Guzzardo, President & CEO, 46 Louis Prima Drive, Suite A, Covington, LA 70433

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Special Olympics Louisiana will offer sports training & competition, health programming to include inclusive health & fitness programs and inclusive education programming to the current 11,298 people with intellectual disabilities (referred to as athletes) in Louisiana in order to improve their quality of life through improved health outcomes and to ensure an equitable place of learning for ALL through our programs while educating the public regarding the needs and abilities of persons with intellectual disabilities.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $193,505
          Professional Services. . . $10,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $276,495
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $20,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The ultimate goal of Special Olympics is to help persons with intellectual disabilities participate as productive and respected members of society at large, by offering them a fair opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills and talents through sports training and competition, and by increasing the public's awareness of their capabilities and needs ultimately affecting public attitudes toward and treatment of people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics has evolved into so much more than a sports organization. While sports is key in achieving our purpose, not only do we offer sports training & competition, but we also offer health programs to include inclusive health & fitness programming to improve their quality of life through improved health outcomes and also offer inclusive education programming that ensures an equitable place of learning for ALL students. Educating the public regarding the needs and abilities of persons with intellectual disabilities and advocating for people with intellectual disabilities is also our purpose. Special Olympics is the only organizations that provides the services we provide for people with intellectual disabilities free of charge. Our programs are life changing and improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Special Olympics Louisiana (SOLA) will offer a minimum of 100 events annually and offer sports in 13 Olympic type sports. More than 55 training schools will be conducted to teach individuals in the community to become Special Olympics unified coaches. SOLA will provide training for key leaders in the organization. SOLA will conduct a minimum of 25 health & wellness activities and provide a minimum of 660 health exams free of charge through our Healthy Athlete programs across the state in the health fields of podiatry, dental, hearing, and vision, physical therapy, over health including education in nutrition and healthy behaviors, provide physicals, and psychological wellness. We will continue to reach new Young Athletes (ages 2-7) as we continue to provide early intervention for children through sports play, utilizing physical activities to develop fundamental motor tracking & eye-hand coordination play. We will continue to try and reach the more than 100,000 people across Louisiana with intellectual disabilities who are not yet utilizing the life changing programs offered to them free of charge through a statewide media campaign. We will continue to take Special Olympics programming into as many school systems as possible though our inclusive education program that also includes fitness programming in schools. Currently 299 schools (15 of which are college campuses) across 53 school districts across Louisiana have committed to implementing our Unified Champion Schools inclusive education program. This includes 185,628 athletes and partners who are engaged annually through our inclusive education program in grades Pre-K through college level. We are working with the Department of Education, and we have recently started working with Head Start programs in Louisiana to bring early intervention programming to their curriculum. Unified Sports program in schools and local community recreation centers along with our local, area and state competitions pairs Special Olympic athletes with people without an intellectual individuals in sports in schools and the community on sports teams, as well as in our inclusive health & fitness clubs in schools and communities, a component in our Health & Fitness Program.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           1 Year

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 None
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 None

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 None

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  None

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               None

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               None

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                None

          What is the nature of the relationship?  None

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 Special Olympics Louisiana has signed a contract to provide services to the State of Louisiana since 1971, for citizens with intellectual disabilities.
LA Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               We are the only program in the state who provides these services to Louisiana citizens, children and adults with intellectual disabilities. We provide a sports training and competition program teaching them self-confidence and to give most of them a purpose in life. 50% more Special Olympics athletes have jobs compared to their counterparts who are not in Special Olympics. Though sports is at the core of our work, Special Olympics Louisiana focuses on the whole athlete by providing a holistic approach to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through our health & fitness program, inclusive leadership, and inclusive educational school-based programming and fitness programs.


Contact Information
name:  Carlos Alessi 
                                       address:  46 Louis Prima Dr., Suite A
Covington LA 70433
                                       phone:  800-345-6644
                                       fax:  888-836-2187
                                       e-mail:  calessi@laso.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Sr. Director of Foundation Relations