$100K surplus for Special Olympics

By Collin Gallant on August 22, 2017.

Medicine Hat News

Organizers of the Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games say the locally held event in Medicine Hat featured joy and a spirit that money can’t buy, but also produced close to a $100,000 surplus.

About 1,400 competitors from across Alberta took part in the 11-sport Games held here on the July 7 weekend.

A final report to city council Monday by chair Brian Varga (city councillor) and vice chair Ken Sauer stated few problems along with strong volunteer effort and sponsorships had led to a top-rated event.

“The temperature was just about the only glitch we had,” said Sauer, referring to near 40-degree heat during the Games.

“We believe that experience will be a life-long memory for a lot of people … All have a special talent and a kind of spirit that you like to have.”

Varga said the theme of the Games was to witness pure joy.

“It turned out to be a great success,” he said.

About 800 volunteers helped out during the event, staged mainly at the Family Leisure Centre.

A preliminary financial statement shows that revenue of $489,000, including $176,500 of gifts in kind, compares to cash expenses of $313,300. The statement is still being finalized.

General donations and sponsorships made up the largest parts of the revenue at $112,800, plus $33,000 in specific event sponsorships. Grants from Special Olympics Alberta ($100,000), the City of Medicine Hat ($60,000) and the Community Foundation ($10,500) also made up major portions. Registration fees totalled $94,600.

Sauer said the surplus comes in part from the securing a fundraiser under the Alberta Lottery Fund and partly do to hustle and ingenuity by the local committee.

“The (directors) did a very good job of staging the event for the least possible cost,” said Sauer.

The accommodation budget was trimmed with the use of 1,400 cots from CFB Suffield.

Under agreement, any surplus is paid out by a formula of half to Special Olympics Alberta and half to the local Special Olympics affiliate.

Sauer said the local share would involve $10,000 paid out immediately and the balance put in an interest-bearing endowment.