Auberle Children Hosted the 2006 Home Olympics

Thirty-Six Auberle children played host to and competed in the National H’Olympics, which stands for Home Olympics. Three hundred participants came from residential facilities, like Auberle, from around the country including some from as far away as Texas and Maine. From the opening ceremony at PNC Park Picnic Pavillion to the Closing Ceremony at Kennywood, the week was all about attitude, sportsmanship and fellowship as the kids got to meet, compete and spend time with others who share similar life experiences.

Competing in games such as track and field, basketball, softball and more, each of the 36 Auberle H’Olympians came home with a medal:

• The senior boys won the softball gold for the 2nd straight year.
• Two of our children won hustle awards, recognizing their hard work and dedication.
• The kids came back with silver for the following teams: junior boys softball, senior boys volleyball, junior boys basketball, and junior girls volleyball.
• In track and field, the following were events where Auberle children won gold: senior boys high jump, senior boys long jump, junior girls softball throw, senior boys softball throw, and junior girls high jump.
• The following track and field events presented the opportunity for the kids to bring home silver: senior boys 100 meters, junior girls 200 meters, 4x100 junior girls relay, senior girls softball throw, junior boys softball throw, and senior boys high jump.
• The children brought home bronze in the following track and field events: junior girls 100 meters, senior boys 200 meters, senior boys 400 meters, junior girls long jump, 4x100 junior boys relay, junior girls softball throw, and senior boys softball throw.

More important than any medal, the children, who are selected for the team because they meet their behavioral, academic or other goals, learn the value of teamwork, positive attitude, sportsmanlike conduct and the importance of fellowship.

Auberle donors, volunteers, friends and dedicated staff make it possible for the children to compete in the H’Olympics each year. As the hosts for the 2006 National H’Olympics, Auberle employees Ralph Wagley and Ron Malcolm and more than 50 volunteers went above and beyond to make the experience unforgettable. The week’s events included a dinner cruise on the Gateway Clipper and a game at PNC Park in addition to the opening ceremony at the PNC Park Picnic Pavilion and the closing ceremony and a day of fun at Kennywood. Judge Kim Clark (Administrative Judge of the Family Division), Dr. Marcia Sturdivant (Deputy Director of the Department of Human Services), Jim Rieland (Supervisor of Adult and Juvenile Probation for Allegheny County) and Matt Borelli (Senator Jane Orie’s office) were all on hand to welcome the children to Pittsburgh at the opening ceremony. Mayor James Brewster (McKeesport), Bob Macey (Allegheny County Councilman) and Father Tom Sparacino (Auberle Board Director) welcomed the kids to McKeesport at lunchtime on Tuesday while Andy Quinn (Kennywood) was on hand to bid them farewell.

Auberle children and staff will look forward to competing in Springfield, Missouri, next year.

Judge Clark	Jim Rieland	Matt Borelli

Dr. Sturdivant	Mayor Brewster & Father Tom	Andy Quinn (Kennywood)

Thanks to the H’Olympics Volunteers

On July 25, 2006, kids and staff put together a luncheon to thank the more than 50 volunteers who worked together to make the H’Olympics happen. They refereed sports, set up lunches and drink stops, kept scores, directed everyone where they needed to go, decorated locations and organized many activities to the delight of the participants. Kara Mason was highlighted at the luncheon as the outstanding youth volunteer and Willa & Don Miller were recognized as the outstanding adult volunteers. However, as County Councilman Bob Macey mentioned in his brief remarks, it took every volunteer we had to make it come off so smoothly!

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