iCan Bike
iCan Bike

During the week of July 7-11, 2025 we were able to partner with iCan Shine, Kenyon College, and Get Healthy Knox County to bring the iCan Bike program to Knox County! iCan Bike uses adapted bicycles, a specialized instructional program and trained staff to empower kids and adults with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheeled bicycle.

Thank you to all the volunteers that made this program a reality:

Alexandria Magers, Jessica Parker, Bridget Lomax, Tami Ruhl, Jennifer Kennedy, Heather Neipling, Pat Heithaus, Elizabeth Lebold, Darya Aminia, Lucy Rush, Rebeka Lebold, Keiran Hoffman, Walt Lewis, Brody Boggs, Sophie Taylor, Kristina Hagermann, Abby Gantt, Molly Taylor, Starr Roden, Sala Glandon, Abby Taylor, Dani Korman, and Erin Humphrey.

1st Session

2nd Session

3rd Session

Brittany CoonKenyon College Lowry Center
Community Volleyball Game [Eagles vs. Mount Zion Lodge #9 Freemason's]

On May 23rd the Knox County Eagles hosted a fun community volleyball game against our friends the Freemason’s! Part of the fun of this game was that people in the stands could bribe the officials to make athletes and volunteers do some fun and goofy things during the game! Thank you to everyone that participated, cheered on, and donated to the benefit of our Special Olympics program!

Brittany Coon
Special Olympics Winter State Games
Brittany Coon
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Luncheon

Each year in March we celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! On March 12, 2025 we held our 17th annual DD Awareness Month Luncheon and had almost 240 guests join us at MVNU!

During our luncheon, we reviewed all the wonderful projects we were able to do for our community using ARPA funding. We had a panel of people that are involved with our Special Olympics program to share about their experiences!

  • Matt Royer, Freemason’s, Volunteer

  • Blake Berger, Athlete

  • Calli Finnell, Athlete

  • Erin Tenney, Bocce Coach, MVNU IGNITE program

We were also able to give out awards to seven different people/groups!

  • Employer Award: Wishmaker House Bed & Breakfast

  • Community Partner Award: YMCA of Mount Vernon

  • Local Hero Award: Retired Sheriff David Shaffer, Tina Davis & Brandi Swingle of Creative Foundations

  • Individual Spotlight Award: Cheyenne Proper & Sabrina Wilson

Brittany Coon
The Annex

“Located in a restored storefront in downtown Mount Vernon, The Annex is an extension of Kenyon College's teaching museum, The Gund. Through programs informed by The Gund’s growing permanent collection, we reimagine what it means to "learn with art” as a community. We invite neighbors, families, students, and lifelong learners to discover new connections to art, ideas, and each other through free workshops, creative activities, and events.” - Kenyon College

John Paul is an avid photographer, always looking for new ways to grow his skill and enhance his creativity. He thoroughly enjoyed learning about creating Photograms during an “Alternatives in Photography” session at The Annex!

Brittany Coon
Special Olympics Winter Sports Photo Day
Brittany Coon
Sensory Santa Event 2024

On Saturday, Santa Claus spent some time with these amazing families and kiddos at our Sensory Santa event! The kiddos even got to do so many fun crafts and activities while they were there!

Thank you to The Autism Society of Central Ohio and everyone else that pulled together to host this event!

Brittany Coon
Special Olympics Banquet 2024

On August 8th, more than a hundred athletes, volunteers and family members gathered to celebrate the wonderful accomplishments of the Athletes in our Athletics, Basketball, Bocce and Bowling programs. Congratulations to each and every person that is involved in making this program so successful!

Brittany Coon
Limitless Livestock Show 2024

Ansley Daubenmier, Mount Vernon High School Senior brought the Limitless Livestock Show to the Knox County Fair! The Limitless Livestock Show allows an opportunity for children with developmental disabilities to show an animal without the obligation of purchasing the animal.

There were several children that participated in the program with mentors that showed horses, cows, chickens, pigs, goats and rabbits.

Thank you, Ansley for putting together a wonderful and memorable event. Thank you to all the mentors, friends and family that also made this event so wonderful. Congratulations to Ciarra, Alex, Dalton, Ayden, Annie, Nevaeh, and Makenna! You all did a fabulous job showing the animals!

Brittany Coon
Special Olympics Powerlifting Meet

On June 8th, Lashley Training Center hosted our first Powerlifting Meet! Knox, Stark and Madison counties all came together to show off how hard they have been training. Thank you so much to everyone that helped make this event a reality!

Brittany Coon