Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/105435
Mohammad is autistic. He has spent the majority of his short life in special education classes. One day, Joe from Special Olympics shows up in Mohammad's high school class and asks if he wants to play soccer. He couldn't be talking to me, Mohammad thinks. But he is. The next Saturday, a coach picks up Mo and some of his new teammates and drives them to a tournament. Mo receives his first ever school uniform. Next it's time for the team photo. Mo stands to the side, watching. He's never been on a team before and certainly R o d M a R , S p e c i a l o ly M p i c S a R c h i v e never in a team photo. He's surprised when they ask him to move closer. Fast forward: Mo has made the Special Olympics Sounders allstar team. He's wearing a Sounders uniform. He's been on the field at CenturyLink. He's traveled to Denver and Portland and could qualify for the Special Olympics World Cup in Rio de Janeiro. He's even made the varsity squad at his school. Now Mo is celebrated. He has self-esteem. He holds his head high. Washington sent six athletes to represent Team USA at the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in South Korea. The event runs January 29 through February 6. In addition, marathoner Andy Bryant carried the Flame of Hope. "If you're intellectually disabled, you're one of 1.5 percent of the population," Beth says. "You're really rare. You're different. You come to Special Olympics and you're normal. Everybody else is like you, and it's one big party." NAtioNAl lEAdER Jon Fine was attending business school along the banks of the Connecticut River when he realized how he wanted to spend his summer. For Jon, that three-month break from Dartmouth wasn't a time to relax but rather an opportunity to start a small nonprofit daycare center. It became a quick success and still exists today. We're chatting inside Jon's office at the corner of Second and Columbia downtown. It's a simple space on the second floor of United Way of King County, where Jon took the helm 12 years ago. Like Jamie and Beth, Jon began volunteering early. In high school, he tutored. In college, he served as a volunteer income tax assistant. Growing up in Philadelphia, he watched his mom lead scout troops and the PTA. His dad coached youth baseball. Two hours down Interstate 95, in Baltimore, one of his great uncles led the Associated Jewish Charities. —Beth Wojick In part because of that exposure, Jon angled his career toward nonprofits. After moving to Seattle and a stint in the banking world, he spent three and a half years as a stay-at-home dad. During that time, he also started playing basketball at the WAC. He joined in the 1980s and continues to exercise regularly. Jon returned to work with four years as CEO of the Seattle and King County chapter of the American Red Cross before joining United Way. He continues to volunteer and was named a 2012 United Way Volunteer All-Star. "I always knew nonprofits were where I wanted to be," he says, leaning forward in his chair. Behind him, a framed picture of Wilt Chamberlain during his playing days in Philly rests on a bookshelf. On the wall, a drawing from a historical Red Cross campaign asks viewers to "GIVE." Jon talks about a lifelong interest in helping people and a belief that working for nonprofits is "a wonderful way to do that." At United Way, he sits near the top of the nonprofit world. King County Beth Wojick leads an all-staff meeting at Special Olympics Washington's downtown Seattle office. FEBRUARY 2013 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | 29