The recipient entity's physical address:
           1010 W. 21st Ave.
Covington, LA 70433

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           1010 W. 21st Ave.
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:
          Sharon Ann Safford
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
Paul Tanguis, Treasurer, 832 East Boston Street, #14, Covington LA 70433 Frenchie Kessler, Secretary, 2224 Roosevelt Blvd, Kenner, LA 70062
Randy Davidson, 10450 Ellerbe Road, Shreveport, LA 71106
Ashleigh Clare-Kearney Thigpen, 1831 Royal Aberdeen Ave, Zachary, LA 70791 Peter Seidenberg, 1501, Kings Hwy., Shreveport LA 71103
John Guzzardo, President & CEO, 1010 W. 21st Avenue, Covington, LA 70433

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Executive Narrative: Special Olympics Louisiana Program Overview

1. Mission and Strategic Intent - Special Olympics Louisiana (SOLA) is dedicated to transforming lives and fostering systemic community inclusion through year-round athletic, health, and educational initiatives. Currently serving approximately 12,500 children and adults with intellectual disabilities—referred to proudly as our athletes—SOLA delivers multi-faceted programs designed to empower individuals, break down societal barriers, and cultivate equitable learning and living environments across the state.

2. Year-Round Sports Training & Competition - At the heart of SOLA’s model is high-quality, year-round athletic training and Olympic-style competition. Athletes participate across a diverse spectrum of individual and team sports (including athletics, basketball, bocce, bowling, flag football, swimming, golf, and powerlifting).
- Physical & Emotional Development: Continuous training builds physical fitness, cardiovascular strength, coordination, and motor skills. Beyond physical gains, athletic competition instills self-confidence, goal-setting, discipline, and emotional resilience.
- Social Connection: Participation provides regular opportunities to develop lasting friendships, build social connectivity, and experience the transformative joy of shared effort and achievement.

3. Inclusive Health & Fitness Programming - Individuals with intellectual disabilities face significant health disparities, including reduced access to quality preventative care, higher rates of chronic illness, and limited fitness opportunities. SOLA addresses these outcomes through comprehensive health programs:
- Healthy Athletes® Initiatives: Free health screenings delivered by trained clinical volunteers in key areas such as vision, hearing, podiatry, dental health, physical therapy, and emotional wellness. These screenings identify unaddressed health issues and provide crucial referrals.
- Fitness & Lifestyle Programs: Structured wellness education focusing on nutrition, hydration, daily physical activity, and stress management, empowering athletes and their support networks to sustain long-term healthy habits.

4. Inclusive Education & Unified Champion Schools® - To ensure equitable learning environments for ALL students, SOLA expands its reach directly into Louisiana schools through the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® (UCS) framework:
- Unified Sports®: Bringing together students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same sports teams, creating authentic peer connections and promoting shared responsibility.
- Inclusive Youth Leadership: Empowering student leaders of all abilities to organize school-wide awareness activities, advocate for equal opportunities, and actively combat bullying and isolation.
- Whole-School Engagement: Cultivating a school culture rooted in empathy, respect, and mutual understanding, establishing schools as models of genuine community inclusion.

5. Community Education & Public Awareness -
In addition to direct athlete programming, SOLA serves as a vital public advocate. Through statewide events, community outreach, and volunteer engagement, the organization educates the general public regarding the unique needs, dignity, and abilities of persons with intellectual disabilities. By challenging stigmas and demonstrating human potential on and off the field, SOLA advances a more inclusive, equitable Louisiana for everyone.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $242,599
          Professional Services. . . $73,700
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $183,741
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

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 public purpose sought to be achieved through the use of public funds centers on improving public health, enhancing educational equity, and advancing civic inclusion for citizens with intellectual disabilities across Louisiana.

In Louisiana jurisprudence and grant standards, a valid public purpose generally requires a public benefit, a legal obligation/authority to achieve that benefit, and a clear public return on investment. Below is a structured breakdown of the specific public purposes fulfilled by this project:

1. Public Health Improvement & Disparity Reduction

- Targeting Health Equity: Individuals with intellectual disabilities experience disproportionately high rates of preventable chronic conditions and barriers to medical care.

- Preventative Care & Screening: Public funds directly support free health screenings (vision, hearing, dental, podiatry, physical therapy) and wellness/nutrition education, reducing the long-term burden on Louisiana’s public healthcare system and emergency care resources.

- Physical & Mental Well-being: Year-round physical training combats sedentary lifestyle diseases, improves cardiovascular health, and boosts mental health outcomes for 12,500 state residents.

2. Educational Equity and Anti-Bullying in Public Schools

- Creating Inclusive Learning Environments: Through the Unified Champion Schools® framework, public funds foster equitable education for students of all abilities, directly supporting state and local educational goals.

- School Climate & Youth Development: Unified Sports and student leadership programs reduce school isolation, combat bullying, and promote positive peer dynamics, improving safety, empathy, and learning conditions across Louisiana schools.

3. Public Safety, Integration, and Community Cohesion

- Public Education & Stigma Reduction: Educating the public about the abilities and needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities fosters a safer, more accepting community structure statewide.

- Civil Rights & Accessibility: Funding ensures that a historically underserved population gains equal access to public recreational, physical, and social development opportunities, fulfilling broader public commitments to equal opportunity and non-discrimination.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          To fulfill our public purpose of improving quality of life, advancing health equity, and fostering inclusive communities across Louisiana, Special Olympics Louisiana (SOLA) establishes clear, actionable goals and operational objectives across four core pillars:

Goal 1: Improve Physical & Emotional Health Outcomes
Overarching Goal: Eliminate systemic health disparities for individuals with intellectual disabilities through accessible healthcare, health education, and fitness programs.

- Objective 1.1 (Free Preventative Screenings): Deliver continuous, free health screenings—including vision, hearing, podiatry, dental care, physical therapy, and emotional wellness—via the Healthy Athletes® program, identifying untreated medical conditions and issuing local clinical referrals.

- Objective 1.2 (Health Literacy & Fitness): Provide structured wellness and fitness initiatives focusing on nutrition, hydration, regular exercise, and stress management to empower athletes and families to sustain lifelong healthy habits.

- Objective 1.3 (Healthcare Provider Training): Train local medical professionals, clinical volunteers, and students to effectively communicate with and care for patients with intellectual disabilities, enhancing statewide healthcare system capacity.

Goal 2: Expand Year-Round Sports Training & Competition
Overarching Goal: Deliver year-round sports training and Olympic-style competition to build physical fitness, motor skills, social connectivity, and personal resilience.

- Objective 2.1 (Increased Access): Maintain and scale sport offerings (e.g., athletics, basketball, bocce, bowling, flag football, golf, swimming, pickleball) to ensure equal access for 12,500 athletes across both urban and rural Louisiana communities.

- Objective 2.2 (Early Intervention): Expand developmental offerings, including the Young Athletes program (ages 2–7), to promote early childhood physical, social, and cognitive development.

- Objective 2.3 (Athletic Progression): Provide structured progression from local and regional events to state, national (USA Games), and world competitions, fostering goal attainment and self-confidence.

Goal 3: Foster Inclusive and Equitable Learning Environments
Overarching Goal: Leverage school-based programming to reduce social isolation, combat bullying, and create equitable educational settings in Louisiana schools.

- Objective 3.1 (Unified Sports®): Implement and expand Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® (UCS) in K–12 schools and universities, joining students with and without intellectual disabilities on the same sports teams.

- Objective 3.2 (Youth Leadership): Support student-led clubs that give peers of all abilities equal opportunity to lead school-wide inclusion projects and peer-advocacy campaigns.

- Objective 3.3 (Whole-School Engagement): Host anti-bullying campaigns, assemblies, and awareness events to build empathy and respect across entire school communities.

Goal 4: Educate the Public & Advance Athlete Leadership
Overarching Goal: Shift public perception, dismantle social stigmas, and empower athletes to serve as active community leaders and advocates.

- Objective 4.1 (Athlete Leadership): Train athletes through specialized leadership coursework, enabling them to serve as coaches, public speakers, board members, and health ambassadors.

- Objective 4.2 (Public Awareness): Execute public engagement and volunteer campaigns that highlight the abilities and achievements of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

- Objective 4.3 (Systemic Partnerships): Collaborate with state agencies, school districts, and civic leaders to embed inclusive policies directly into community infrastructure.

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:
                 Not applicable
    
     (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:
                 Not applicable

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 Not applicable

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  Not applicable

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: 
               Not applicable

(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:
               Not applicable

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                Not applicable

          What is the nature of the relationship?  Not applicable

(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:
                 Not applicable

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               Not applicable


Contact Information
name:  John Guzzardo 
                                       address:  1010 W. 21t Ave.
Covington, LA 70433
                                       phone:  800-345-6644
                                       fax:  888-836-2187
                                       e-mail:  john.guzzardo@specialolympicsla.org
                                       relationship to entity:  President/CEO