Volunteer Your Time
"I volunteer with Special Olympics because I know what a difference it makes to the athletes. Although there are lots of details to attend to, it's all worth it when the program comes together, and I see the smiles and joy on our athletes faces." -- Sarah Robinson, volunteer and event coordinator
Special Olympics Southern California would not exist today without the time, energy, commitment and enthusiasm of its volunteers. The time commitment for Special Olympics volunteers varies from a few hours per year at specific events to working several hours a week year-round. Whatever your interests, talents, background and availability, there are volunteer and opportunities for you.
We also offer internships to students throughout the year. Internships are available in marketing and communications, event planning and corporate sponsorships, sports management or human resources and volunteer management. For more information on internships, visit our Internship page.
To volunteer, complete a volunteer interest form and send it to the contact listed in the table below.
|
Category |
Description |
Commitment |
Contact |
Coaching |
Work directly with athletes to improve their skills in specific Special Olympics sports. |
Participation is seasonal for each sport. The usual commitment is two hours per week for 8 - 20 weeks (depending on sport).
|
|
Championship Competitions |
Volunteer to help with championship competitions on the day of the event (i.e., annual Summer Games).
|
Four- to eight-hour shifts, one
|
Crystal Pauley Fax: 310.400.3138 |
Local Sports Competitions |
Perform short-term tasks at local sports competitions.
|
Four- to eight-hour shifts, one or more days a year. |
|
Competition & Event Planning/Management |
Help to plan and manage competition and competition-related special events. |
Commitment begins 4-6 months before competition or event date. Specific hours will vary with position.
|
|
Fundraising |
Plan and/or implement activities to raise financial and in-kind support. |
Commitment ranges from three to four hours for a single event to one year as a committee member.
|
Kris Drummond Fax: 562.354.2619 |
Corporate Volunteers |
There are many opportunities for corporations to participate as group volunteers. It's a great team-building activity.
|
Usually a one-day commitment for a specific event.
|
Laura Seckel volunteer@sosc.org Fax: 310.400.3138 |
Medical |
Provide basic first aid at competitions. Please note that this category requires medical training and certification.
|
Four- to eight-hour shifts one or more days a year. |
Laura Seckel Fax: 310.400.3138 |
Office Support |
General office work and administrative tasks. |
Varies from four pre-scheduled hours per week to ten pre-scheduled hours per month. |
|
Public Relations |
Prepare and/or convey information about Special Olympics to various media outlets or assist with copywriting projects. |
Commitment ranges from a few hours for one specific activity to a year-long commitment for various projects.
|
Kim Pine Fax: 562.354.2619 |
Sports Volunteers |
Assist coaches during practice. |
Participation is seasonal for each sport. Generally one or two practices per week throughout the season. |