Special Olympics Iowa

10/20/2026

This year's Truck Convoy was axle-ent! 🚛106 trucks raised more than $20,000 for SOIA athletes and programs this past Saturday!

To our sponsors, law enforcement, truck drivers, and families - thanks a ton...or two...for driving change and keeping the wheels turning for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Truck Convoy Photo Gallery >>> https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD7Z4h

10/19/2026

October is . People with intellectual disabilities are estimated to face 3 times higher unemployment rates than the general population. However, employers that hire people with ID report stronger workplace culture, higher employee loyalty, and lower turnover.

Special Olympics Iowa athletes are employed in a variety of industries amongst their peers, including childcare, accounting and finance, health and recreation, food service, and retail, to name a few.

Thank you to employers such as Hy-Vee, Wells Fargo, Goodwill Industries, Muscatine YMCA, Texas Roadhouse, Fareway, New Horizons Daycare, Walmart, McDonalds, Pizza Ranch, and others for promoting inclusive workplaces, raising awareness about the importance of disability inclusion, and for giving Special Olympics Iowa athletes opportunities to contribute to their communities.

10/16/2026

Healthy habits don’t stop when we leave the office! This weekend, members of the Special Olympics Iowa staff are lacing up their running shoes for the IMT Des Moines Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k, and 5k races! 🏃‍♂️

Promoting health and wellness is part of what we do every day, and our staff is putting that commitment into action both on and off the clock. From supporting our athletes on their health and fitness journeys to tackling miles of our own, we believe that healthy, active lifestyles are worth celebrating.

Good luck to everyone hitting the course this weekend!

10/15/2026

There's nothing that quite compares to the sight of over 100 semis on a 20-mile convoy in support of Special Olympics.

If you're not a trucker but still want to partake in this incredible event, you are invited to view the Truck Convoy on its 20-mile trek from West Des Moines to the Iowa State Fairgrounds, and welcome the Convoy as it arrives!

Trucks will be arriving to the Iowa State Fairgrounds around 11:30am this Saturday, October 17th. Community members, fans, friends, and family are all invited to welcome the convoy upon its arrival with cheers, pom poms, signs, and smiles.

10/14/2026

There are plenty of ways to spend a fall day. We think one of the best is doing something a little ridiculous for something incredibly meaningful.

The weather is cooling off, and so are the waters. Dress up, jump in, make a splash, and join us at an upcoming Polar Plunge®.

📍Siouxland - Saturday, October 24th
📍Dubuque - Saturday, November 14th
📍West Des Moines - Saturday, December 5th

www.soiowa.org/polar-plunge

10/13/2026

We brought the game night energy, you brought the generosity, and together we raised more than $50,000 for Special Olympics Iowa athletes at last weekend's Tailgate for Teammates! 🙌

A huge thank-you to everyone who came ready to play, our incredible sponsors, in-kind donors, and of course the VIP players - our athletes! Your support helps create more opportunities for athletes to compete, connect, and show the world what they can do.

Thanks for making this year’s Tailgate for Teammates one for the highlight reel! 💙💛

10/12/2026

Congratulations to our friends with Decatur County Iowa for a great Solar Plunge this past Saturday, and thanks so much for supporting Special Olympics athletes in Decatur County and all around Iowa!

This was the 2nd year of the Decatur County Solar Plunge, and we look forward to many years ahead!

☀️🐻‍❄️💦 WE MADE A SPLASH, DECATUR COUNTY! 💦🐻‍❄️☀️

💰 $2,341.00 RAISED FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS IOWA! 💰

WOW! What an incredible day! 🎉

On Saturday, October 10, 2026, we held our 2nd Annual Decatur County Solar Plunge at Little River Lake in Leon, Iowa, and thanks to our AMAZING community, we raised $2,341.00 to support Special Olympics Iowa! ❤️💙

Some people woke up Saturday morning and thought, “What a beautiful day to stay warm and dry!”

Others thought, “You know what sounds fun? Jumping into a lake in October!” 🥶🤣💦

And we’re sure glad they did!

But seriously, this event was about so much more than jumping into some chilly water. It was about inclusion, friendship, teamwork, and supporting our incredible Special Olympics athletes! 🏅❤️

👏 A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR CO-SPONSORS!

🚨 Special Olympics Iowa

🔥 Decatur County Iowa LETR for Special Olympics

⭐ Decatur County Sheriff’s Office

🚓 City of Lamoni Police Department

🌳 Decatur County Conservation Board

🚒 Mount Ayr Volunteer Fire Department and Ember’s

👻 Mid Iowa Ghostbusters

We couldn’t have made this event possible without your support, dedication, and willingness to help make a difference!

❤️ TO OUR PLUNGERS, DONORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND SPECTATORS:

THANK YOU!

Whether you jumped into the lake, donated a few dollars, helped behind the scenes, or simply showed up to cheer everyone on, YOU helped make this event a success!

Every dollar raised helps support the mission of Special Olympics Iowa and its athletes.

And to everyone who took the plunge… don’t worry, we’re giving you plenty of time to warm back up before next year’s event! 😂🥶

💙 Our Decatur County Law Enforcement Torch Run committee is proud to stand alongside our community in supporting Special Olympics athletes and promoting inclusion for ALL!

🔥 Lighting the Way for Inclusion! 🔥

📣 NOW WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

👇 Were you at the Solar Plunge?

📸 Drop your favorite pictures in the comments!

💦 Did you take the plunge, or were you smart enough to stay on dry land? 😂

🏅 And who’s already planning their costume for next year?!

THANK YOU, DECATUR COUNTY! You helped make a difference, one splash at a time! ❤️💙

10/10/2026

✅Sports Enthusiasts
✅Pet lovers and bird watchers
✅Kids, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends
✅Holiday and home decorators
✅Cooks
✅Beauty connoisseurs
✅Tool collectors

There's no shortage of incredible items in this auction for every person in your life. Bid now before time runs out. Our silent auction closes TONIGHT at 8:00pm!
onecau.se/soia

10/09/2026

The Tailgate for Teammates silent auction is now LIVE! Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, self care, or just because - we have you covered for gifts of all kinds.

Bid early and bid often. The auction closes at 8:00pm Saturday night!
onecau.se/soia

10/08/2026

We will wrap up and towel off the fall Polar Plunge® season in West Des Moines on Saturday, December 5th.

Did you know the West Des Moines Polar Plunge® is one of the only plunges that still uses a lake and is unique because it serves breakfast during a plunge pre-party instead of a post-party lunch?

www.soiowa.org/polar-plunge to join the fun!