NEW ORLEANS — Through sports, Special Olympics Louisiana (SOLA) offers individuals with intellectual disabilities a chance to challenge themselves in a fair competition, develop their character, foster friendships, and have their abilities and accomplishments celebrated by others.
Kieran Bulger, the director of corporate relations for SOLA, believes sports bring people together in a powerful way – and that no city knows this better than New Orleans. So he’s promoting SOLA’s fundraiser called Geaux Over the Edge, where guests rappel down Benson Tower and SWAT train with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. To Geaux Over the Edge, participants must raise a minimum of $1,200 by Dec. 6, the day the event takes place.
All of the proceeds benefit Special Olympics Louisiana.
Businesses can participate through sponsorships and something called Toss Your Boss, which basically entails the head of a company rappelling down 25 stories of Benson Tower on a Friday afternoon.
“Toss Your Boss is a campaign that we use specifically with businesses, because we recognize that most businesses have their fearless leader, and we like the idea of creating a fun environment around the staff where they have a chance to help raise the funds for Special Olympics, to send their boss over the edge, and to help discover if they truly are a fearless leader,” said Bulger, noting that the company can nominate another person, other than the boss, to Geaux Over the Edge. “We respect that heights aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.”
Bulger believes the event creates company camaraderie, because employees are rallying around the same cause and they feel unified in their mission to raise money for Special Olympics Louisiana.
“It creates such a fun atmosphere when companies come out to the event to support the person going over,” he said. “They cheer the person going over, whether it’s their boss or another staff member, and create some excitement and buzz.”
Bulger said the SWAT component was added since SOLA has “a strong bond with law enforcement” and already hosts a Law Enforcement Torch Run each year.
The daylong event takes place alongside the 11thannual Health Fest, which will feature free fitness classes, food trucks, and health vendors. Companies interested in sponsorships are encouraged to notify Bulger (kbulger@laso.org) by Nov. 6.
Visit www.laso.org/ote for more information.
Bulger plans on promoting the event through social media, by having participants challenge friends and family members to #GeauxOver the Edge.
“We really use sports as a means to the end. It’s the engine driven by creating more inclusive communities, bringing people together, and recognizing that everyone has something to contribute,” said Bulger. “I think this is an important time in our lives and in our nation to come together around a diverse group of people and promote that idea of inclusion.”
Event Details
What: Geaux Over the Edge, Toss Your Boss, and Health Fest
When: Friday, Dec. 6, from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Benson Tower (situated at 1450 Poydras Street between the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the Hyatt Regency New Orleans)
Tickets: Purchase tickets through flipcause.com
Suzanne Pfefferle Tafur is the associate news editor of BizNewOrleans.com
