By Gene Galin
Pittsboro, NC — A renewed effort to build Special Olympics Chatham County is moving from idea to action, with Kathy Wasson helping lead the local program, families beginning to recruit athletes, and organizers using community events to raise visibility for residents with intellectual disabilities who want more opportunities to compete, volunteer, lead and belong close to home. The local push, discussed in our conversation on May 7. comes as supporters work to strengthen a county-level program within the broader Special Olympics North Carolina network.
A Local Program Takes Shape
For years, some Chatham County families have looked beyond county lines for Special Olympics opportunities. The central goal of this effort is to provide Chatham County athletes with a recognizable local home base, rather than requiring families to rely primarily on programs in neighboring counties. Organizers are not simply trying to stage a single event. They are trying to build a structure that can recruit athletes, identify volunteers, raise funds, schedule practices, connect families and eventually support local competitions.
Wasson, who is also a volunteer and outreach coordinator for Second Bloom of Chatham County, is one of the new local coordinators helping lead the Special Olympics Chatham County effort. Johnson is assisting with volunteer coordination, while Trevor Johnson is expected to help recruit athletes and families.
The program is still in an early-building phase. Possible first sports discussed include soccer, golf and flag football, with basketball also a possibility depending on the athlete and family interest.
Why County-Level Organization Matters
Special Olympics North Carolina is built around local programs, most of them organized by county. Special Olympics North Carolina local programs are managed by local coordinators who oversee work ranging from athlete registration and fundraising to training and competition planning. The organization has nearly 100 accredited local programs serving almost every county in North Carolina.
That county-based model matters because the first barrier for many families is not talent or interest. It is access. Athletes need to know a program exists. Parents and caregivers need to know where to register. Volunteers need clear roles. Coaches need training and support. Local sponsors need confidence that money raised in the community will produce visible benefits for athletes.
A Chatham County program can also make Special Olympics more visible in the places where families already live, work, worship and attend school. Instead of treating inclusion as an occasional event somewhere else, the local chapter can turn it into a regular part of community life.
That structure has existed before in Chatham County. In 2019, Special Olympics North Carolina announced Kylie Finley of Pittsboro as a local program co-coordinator for Special Olympics Chatham County, assisting Salita Calicut. At the time, SONC said the role involved leading a committee, providing sports training and competition opportunities, supporting health and wellness initiatives, recruiting and managing volunteers, increasing athlete participation and raising funds for the local program. (SONC)
The current organizing effort is following that same basic blueprint: build a committee, recruit athletes, identify volunteers, select sports, raise money and create a dependable local program.
Wasson Brings Experience and Community Connections
Wasson’s role is significant because local Special Olympics programs depend heavily on coordination. They require someone who can talk with families, recruit volunteers, manage communication, work with the state organization, help raise funds and keep momentum alive between events.
Wasson brings prior Special Olympics experience from New Jersey, where her family volunteered through youth sports connections.
That kind of experience may prove useful in Chatham County, where the challenge is not only to start activities but to make the program sustainable. A successful local program will need volunteers who can coach, help with events, transport equipment, communicate with families, assist with registration, handle fundraising and support athletes during practices and competitions. There are also plans to build the program’s social media presence with support from Special Olympics North Carolina.
That may sound small, but for a new or reenergized community program, communication is often the difference between an idea and a functioning organization. Families cannot sign up for what they cannot find. Volunteers cannot serve if they do not know whom to contact. Sponsors are more likely to help when they see a clear mission, visible leadership and regular updates.
Fundraising as Introduction, Not Just Revenue
The first major public boost for the renewed effort is tied to a Texas Hold ’Em fundraiser at The Mod in Pittsboro. The May 16 event is being promoted as both a fundraiser and a community introduction for Special Olympics Chatham County. Organizers have described it as a way to raise money, recruit volunteers and spread the word to families who may benefit from the new program.
The tournament is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at The Mod, with card play set to begin at 3 p.m. The buy-in is $20 for 20,000 chips, and spectators are welcome.
The fundraiser is expected to include buy-ins, re-buys, raffle prizes and food and drinks. Sharon Payne, described as a well-known local card player and professional dealer, is expected to direct the tournament, including table movement and tournament structure.
In one sense, the poker tournament is a simple local fundraiser. In another, it is an organizing tool. It gives Wasson, Johnson and other supporters a room of people they can talk to about the new program. It gives potential volunteers a low-pressure way to ask questions. It gives families a reason to connect. It gives the broader community a first look at a program that organizers hope will grow beyond one afternoon.
Proceeds are expected to support Special Olympics Chatham County and other organizations serving people with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Camp Royall and the Carolina Living and Learning Center.
The Statewide Network Behind the Local Effort
While the Chatham County effort is local, it is part of a larger statewide and national movement.
Special Olympics North Carolina says it offers sports training and competition in 20 Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Athletes age 8 and older can compete, and Young Athletes programming is available for children ages 2 to 7 with and without intellectual disabilities as a Unified program.
The organization also requires athletes to register each program year for participation in practices, local events and competitions. For the 2025-26 program year, that period runs from Aug. 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026.
Those details show why local coordination matters. A family may be enthusiastic about Special Olympics but still need help understanding registration, schedules, eligibility, sports seasons and volunteer requirements. A local coordinator can translate the statewide structure into practical next steps for Chatham County families.
The renewed Chatham County push also comes shortly before one of the largest statewide events on the Special Olympics North Carolina calendar. The 2026 Summer Games are scheduled for May 29-31 in Raleigh, Cary and surrounding areas. SONC describes the Summer Games as its largest state-level event, with competition in eight sports and more than 1,000 volunteers needed.
The 2026 Summer Games will include nearly 1,700 athletes competing in eight sports. Those sports include athletics, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, gymnastics, powerlifting, swimming and volleyball.
For Chatham organizers, the statewide event provides both inspiration and a reminder of the work ahead. A county program can become the place where local athletes first hear about opportunities, begin training and eventually connect to larger competitions.
Inclusion Through Sport
The Special Olympics mission is built on the idea that sport can change how communities see people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics International says its 30-plus Olympic-style sports give children and adults with intellectual disabilities many ways to be involved in their communities and show their abilities.
That principle is central to the Chatham County effort. Organizers are not simply trying to provide recreation. They are trying to create a public platform where athletes can be seen for their skill, courage, leadership and personality.
Special Olympics’ athlete oath is often recited at competitions: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
The oath helps explain why the program can be powerful for athletes and families. Winning matters, but effort, courage and belonging matter too. For many athletes, the chance to wear a uniform, practice with teammates, compete before spectators and receive applause can be transformative. For families, it can be a source of connection and pride. For volunteers, it can be a reminder that inclusion is built through repeated acts of welcome, not only through statements of support.
Unified Sports, another part of the Special Olympics model, joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. Special Olympics describes the concept as a path to friendship and understanding through shared training and competition.
That approach could be especially meaningful in Chatham County, where schools, recreation programs, civic groups and churches may all have roles to play in supporting athletes and building community relationships.
The Volunteer Challenge
The success of Special Olympics Chatham County will depend heavily on volunteers. A local program can have strong leadership and enthusiastic families, but it cannot grow without people willing to coach, assist at practices, help with events, manage communication and support fundraising.
The statewide Summer Games offer a clear example of the scale of volunteer involvement required. SONC says more than 1,000 volunteers will be needed for the 2026 Summer Games.
A county program operates on a smaller scale, but the principle is the same. Volunteers are the infrastructure. They make practices possible. They help athletes feel safe and welcome. They manage the details that families may never see but always depend on.
For Chatham County, the early recruitment effort may include several types of volunteers. Some may have coaching backgrounds. Some may be parents or caregivers. Some may be high school or college students looking for service opportunities. Some may be retirees with time to give. Others may be business owners willing to sponsor events, provide space or donate goods.
The key will be matching people to roles they can sustain. Not every volunteer needs to coach. Some can help with registration. Some can coordinate refreshments. Some can manage social media. Some can take photographs. Some can make phone calls. Some can simply show up consistently and cheer.
Choosing the First Sports
The choice of first sports will be one of the most important early decisions. Soccer, golf and flag football as possible starting points, with basketball also under consideration.
Each option presents opportunities and challenges.
Soccer can be accessible, familiar and adaptable. It can be practiced in groups and can support athletes with different skill levels. Golf may appeal to athletes and volunteers who prefer a more individualized sport and could draw support from Chatham County’s golf community. Flag football has grown in popularity and may offer a high-energy team option. Basketball is one of the most recognizable Special Olympics sports and already connects to the statewide Summer Games calendar.
The best first sport may not be the one that sounds most exciting on paper. It will likely be the one where athlete interest, volunteer capacity, practice space and scheduling align. A successful first season in one or two sports could build confidence and create a foundation for expansion.
Organizers will also need to consider transportation, equipment, coaching knowledge and athlete safety. Families will want clear practice times and locations. Volunteers will need training. Athletes will need encouragement and consistency.
A Program Built Around Families
The story of Special Olympics Chatham County is also a family story. Heather Johnson’s comments about Trevor’s participation in Orange County show why local access matters. Families often carry the burden of finding opportunities, managing schedules, driving to practices and advocating for their children or adult family members.
A Chatham County program can reduce some of that burden by bringing opportunities closer to home. It can also create a local support network among families who understand the same challenges.
That family network may become one of the program’s most important assets. Parents and caregivers often know other families who could benefit but may not yet be connected. Athletes can recruit friends. Teachers and school staff can identify students who may be interested. Local churches and civic groups can help spread the word.
The challenge is to make the first point of contact easy. A family should not need to know the structure of Special Olympics North Carolina to ask a basic question. They should be able to hear about the program, contact a local organizer and receive clear guidance.
Pittsboro as a Launch Point
The choice of The Mod in Pittsboro for the fundraiser reflects the importance of local gathering places. A new program needs more than a name; it needs rooms where people can meet, talk and build trust.
Pittsboro is a logical launch point because it sits near the center of much of the county’s civic and media life. But the larger goal will be to reach families across Chatham County, including Siler City, Goldston, Bear Creek, Bennett, Bonlee, Moncure and the county’s rural communities.
That broader reach will matter. Chatham County’s geography can make participation challenging. A program that becomes too concentrated in one part of the county may miss families who would benefit from it most. As the program develops, organizers may need to think about regional practice sites, transportation support and partnerships with schools or recreation facilities.
What Success Could Look Like
In the short term, success may be modest but meaningful: a well-attended fundraiser, a growing contact list, a few committed volunteers, a handful of athletes registered and a first sport selected.
In the medium term, success could mean regular practices, trained coaches, a local competition opportunity and visible participation in statewide events.
In the long term, success would mean Special Olympics Chatham County becomes a familiar part of local life — the kind of program residents know how to support and families know how to find.
That growth will not happen automatically. New local programs often depend on a small core of determined people. If that core burns out, the program struggles. If the community surrounds it with volunteers, sponsors and families, it can grow.
The early signs suggest organizers understand that reality. Wasson and Johnson talked not only about fundraising, but about visibility, recruitment and long-term volunteer development.
The Road Ahead
The renewed Special Olympics Chatham County effort arrives at a moment when the county is growing and changing. New residents are arriving. Schools are expanding. Civic groups are looking for ways to serve. Local businesses are seeking meaningful community partnerships.
A county-level Special Olympics program gives all of those groups a practical way to support inclusion.
The next steps are clear: recruit athletes, recruit volunteers, identify first sports, raise funds, build communication channels and connect families with the Special Olympics North Carolina registration process. Organizers will also need to keep the public informed so the effort does not fade after its first fundraiser.
Residents who want to help can ask about volunteering, spreading the word to families, supporting raffle efforts or connecting local businesses with organizers. Families with potential athletes can begin asking questions now, even if they are not yet sure which sport is the right fit.
More Than a Game
The effort to build Special Olympics Chatham County is about more than sports schedules, fundraising totals or a single afternoon of cards at The Mod. It is about whether athletes with intellectual disabilities can find opportunity, recognition and community in their own county.
For Trevor Johnson and other athletes, a local program can mean a shorter drive, a familiar team and a chance to help recruit others. For parents and caregivers, it can mean support and connection. For volunteers, it can mean a direct role in building a more inclusive county. For Chatham County, it can mean turning goodwill into a lasting program.
The first steps may look simple: a meeting, a fundraiser, a sign-up sheet, a social media page, a first practice. But those steps can become something larger if the community responds.
As Johnson put it, Chatham families have been trying to get a program here. Now that the opportunity is taking shape, the question is whether enough residents will step forward to help it grow.