Special Olympics Project UNIFY® is an education-based project that uses sports and education to create a school-wide atmosphere where every child is accepted and welcomed, regardless of intellectual levels. We will demonstrate how to build relationships through Buddy Clubs, Pep Rallies for Special Olympics, and “Ban the R Word” campaigns.

2. Judging someone does not
define who they are.
It defines who YOU are.

3. NOT IN OUR HOUSE!
Granite Falls Middle School
Project UNIFY

4. What is Project UNIFY?
Project UNIFY is an education-based
project that uses the sports and
education programs of Special
Olympics to activate young people
across the U.S. in order to promote
school communities where all young
people are agents of change -
fostering respect, dignity and
advocacy for people with intellectual
disabilities.

5. What makes up Project
UNIFY?
 Inclusive Sports Opportunities
 Youth Leadership
 Whole School Involvement
 Community Connections

6. Inclusive Sports
 Unified Sports
 Can be competitive, developmental
or recreational
 Young Athletes Programs
 2-7 year old inclusive program
focusing on training and
participation in play activities

7. Youth Leadership
 Youth Coaches
 Youth Volunteers
 Games Management Team
Members
 Buddy Club Members
 Youth Activation Council

9. Whole School Involvement
 Get Into It®
 R-Word Campaign
 Pep rallies for Local Winter and
Spring Special Olympics
 Fundraisers--5Ks Run/Walks,
Polar Plunges, Tournaments
 Spirit Days—Superhero, Everyone
Counts, We All Rock, We’re All a
Little Wacky, School Pride, etc.

10. Community Connections
 Games Management Team
 Group Home Activities and
Volunteerism
 Community R-Word
Campaigns
 Community-based
Fundraisers
 Family involvement
opportunities

11. Effects of Project UNIFY
 Decrease in bullying, harassment, and
intimidation incidents
 Increase in acceptance
 Friendships made
 Relationships built
 Success in Inclusion settings
 School feels more like family
 Students become agents of change
instead of teachers or administrators

12. We started Project UNIFY in 2011. We have
grown in membership from 22 to 78
members this year!

13. Commitment Contract
 Commitment Contract
 Must commit to following 10
standards
 Consequences
 Must fully participate in at least one
activity per semester
 Must be a positive role model
 Student and parents are required to
sign
 Teachers must recommend

14. Project UNIFY Activities at
Granite Falls Middle School
Designed and manned an exhibit at the
Caldwell County Anti-Bullying Fair.
Awarded First Place for Best Exhibit!

15. Caldwell County Special
Olympics

19. Special Olympics Award
Ceremony

21. Spring Special Olympics
Pep Rally

22. Other Activities
 Christmas party with Santa and
Buddies
 YES Summit—attended in 2012,
held at GFMS in 2014
 Lunch buddies, morning buddies,
and afternoon buddies
 Peer tutoring in Inclusion Classes

23. Contact Information
 Wendy Miller, Program
Innovations Director, Special
Olympics of North Carolina, 3012
Roanoke Avenue
 New Bern, NC 28562
 Cell: 919.818.5947
 Office: 252.633.0522
 Fax: 252.633.0523
 Email: wmiller@sonc.net

24. Contact Information
 Stephanie Helton
shelton@caldwellschools.com
 Laura Brinkley
lbrinkley@caldwellschools.com
 Kimberly Story
kcstory@caldwellschools.com
 Bill Schreiber
bschreiber@caldwellschools.com
 Granite Falls Middle School 828-
396-2341
 We are on Facebook!

25. Be kind. Always be kind.