A note from the Chair
Hello Area 26 Community...
How are you holding up these days?
If you are anything like us, this economic uncertainty has thrown us for a loop too. We are facing budget challenges that could impact the number of sports, number of teams and roster spots for the 2026 season. I am not asking for money from you, I am asking for your help...
In the past, your support has been invaluable and I am writing to you today to ask for your help as we adapt to our current situation. To be clear, your ongoing support is key to our organization's continued ability to serve the Area 26 athletes - our mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for them.
Each year we run a golf tournament fundraiser to raise funds for the 24 sports we offer to the more than 2100 athletes we serve. The Mark J. Emery Memorial Golf Fundraiser will be held at the Westfields Golf Course on October 16th. The Area 26 dedicated golf program volunteers have been putting in extra hours and working hard to make this a successful fundraiser. Their hard work includes (just to name a few) event preparation, logistical support, leveraging their own personal network, managing and overseeing event schedules and activities. The committee chair, Chuck Roney informed me today that there are only 30 golfers registered, per our contract with Westfields we have to pay for 75 registrations. The cost for an individual golfer is $300. which includes 18 holes, lunch, a steak dinner menu at the banquet, and more. We need 45 more golfers to break even and not pay out of Area 26 funds. However, we obviously want many more than 75 golfers, and we also need more golf tournament sponsors and donations to help fund our sports.
Last year, at this point we had a significantly higher number of registrations and sponsors. We have to ramp the signups significantly to make what is needed. This truly is an existential issue for our program. We do not receive any financial support from Special Olympics VA, Special Olympics North America and Special Olympics International (SOVA, SONA, SOI) - we must raise the funds for the Area 26 operations/programs.
Today I am asking that you please send out the Mark J. Emery Memorial Golf Tournament link below to your network. Again, we need golfers, sponsors and donations! Please forward the link to your entire network along with any personal notes explaining why giving our community the chance to play and compete is so critical to their well being.
Area Council
Chair: Elaine Tilton
Secretary: Abby Whidden
Treasurer: Jeff McGiboney
Fall/Winter Sports Director: Elaine Tilton
Athlete Representative: Kia Hill
IT Coordinator: Barry Tilton
Referee Coordinator: Open
Athlete Registration Coordinator: Nancy Robbins
Fundraising Chair: Patrick DeLapp and Katherine Martin
Medical Coordinator: Christine Fowler
At Large: Jay Hoffmeir, Allen Flanigan
Athlete Rep Mentor: Max Hershberger
Who We Are
Special Olympics Virgina (SOVA) Area 26. provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This gives them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Area 26 services SOVA in Fairfax County, Arlington and Alexandria as part of the Potomac Region.
Our Local Sponsors
Five 9 Group Inc.
Alexandria Fraternal Order of Eagles
Azalea Charities
BASH Boxing Rosslyn
Bronson Bierhall
Civitan Club of Arlington
Mt.Vernon Columbus Club, Inc.
Fairfax Neonatal Associates
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do you support?
We are primarily focused on the local population of Adults (22 and over) in our Area with intellectual disabilities who want to participate in a competitive sports environment. While there are a few limited slots for younger athletes, they are most commonly supported within school programs until they age out..
What sports do you offer?
We currently offer over 20 different sports, with activity in all seasons. The full set of sports and the points of contact can be found here .
What are the boundaries of Area 26?
We - Area 26 covers all of Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria and the cities (both incorporated and unincorporated) within (Fairfax City, Falls Church, Herndon & Vienna). Loudoun County is in Area 14, and Prince William County is in Area 23.
NOTE: Our Area has the largest athlete population in Virginia, and as students age into the program we have more athletes than we have space for. Due to this fact and to the continually increasing facility costs for Out-of-Area participants, we must give priority to Athletes who reside in Area 26.
How are your programs funded?
ALL Special Olympics programs are locally funded. While you may receive solicitations from the State - SOVA, National - SONA and International organizations - SOI, any funds donated to them do NOT flow down to the Areas. We are 100% donor and local-fundraising supported, and rely on volunteers for all Coaching and Chaperoning. If you would like to help out, you can donate to our program, or contact us to become a volunteer. Links to do both are at $upport (this will take you to our Tournament Donation Page, which is our primary fundraising event) and Volunteer.
Revealing the Champion in all of us
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Area 26 is the local organization managing Special Oympics teams, athletes and events in Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria. We support over 3500 competitors in sports year-round.
If you have questions, feel free to contact us by clicking below.
Newsletter Archive
For more information about our activities, past editions of the newsletter are available here
Just Click the month/quarter to view.
Special Editions
Besides the normal Monthly edition, we have published several special editions for events that stand on their own. These can be found by clicking their links here:
2019 Fall State Games
2020 NBA Cares with Chris Carter
2020 Basketball State Games
2020 Athletes at Home Edition