Stephanie DePrizio Upton of Rockingham, North Carolina, has been named the local program co-coordinator for Special Olympics Richmond County effective immediately, according to Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) President/CEO Keith L. Fishburne.
DePrizio Upton is a special education teacher with Richmond County Schools and has served on the local committee for Special Olympics Richmond County for the past nine years. In this role, she has assisted with school-based Special Olympics initiatives and fundraising. She is a certified Special Olympics coach in every sport offered through Special Olympics Richmond County, including athletics, bocce and bowling.
As local program co-coordinator, DePrizio Upton will assist Theressa Smith, who has been serving as coordinator for Richmond County, in the implementation of Special Olympics activities within Richmond County by leading a volunteer committee that will provide sports training and competition opportunities along with health and wellness initiatives for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This involves recruiting, training and managing volunteers, increasing athlete participation and raising funds in support of the program.
To get involved in the local program committee or to donate to Special Olympics Richmond County, please contact richmond@sonc.net.
About Special Olympics North Carolina
Since 1968, the organization has used the transformative power of sports to improve the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Nearly 40,000 athletes in North Carolina inspire thousands of coaches, sports officials, local program committee members and event organizers involved in Special Olympics statewide. SONC offers year-round training and competition in 20 Olympic-type sports on local and state levels as well as health and wellness initiatives to improve the health status and increase access to community health resources for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Youth become agents of change through Unified Champion Schools, an education and sports-based program created by Special Olympics to build an inclusive environment among youth with and without intellectual disabilities as well as empower them to become youth leaders and create change in their community. Visit Special Olympics North Carolina at www.specialolympicsnc.com. Engage with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
