Sunday evening’s benefit softball game between the Fayette County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ Special Olympics Dragons and the county’s first responders was a rousing success for everyone from families to the athletes. The Guns-N-Hoses probably had the more powerful hitters; the Dragons had the more vocally enthusiastic fans. And the local Special Olympics benefited greatly from the little extras that accompanied the dime-a-dog offer, such as a bake sale that occupied two long tables, lemon shake-ups and snow cones, and a 50/50 raffle. The festivities began with the annual group photo in front of a flag-bedecked fire engine and the singing of the national anthem. On the left are the Dragons in green; on the right, the first responders in navy and red.

Community support was an important factor in the financial success of Sunday’s softball benefit game, and here is one example: Manning the busy concession stand were well-known business-people Hank and Gamma White. The main attractions here were the popular hot dogs (at only a dime apiece), which were grilled by a Highland County colleague of local Special Olympics coordinator Tim Stewart; they were then wrapped and delivered to the concession stand by John and Joyellen Pickelheimer, active leaders in this area’s Scouting program. Shown in the center between the Whites is the Fayette County Board of Developmental Disabilities staffer who oversaw the event: Betty Hodges, wearing the traditional Dragon green.

One of Fayette County’s most active volunteers is Debra Grover, currently serving as Special Olympics bowling coach as well as assistant track coach, in addition to accepting numerous responsibilities in various other organizations. Grover donated the proceeds from her famous lemon shake-up operation—a decades-long favorite at each year’s Ohio State Fair—to the Special Olympics fund. Debra Grover also recruited volunteers for this Sunday evening softball benefit from her large networking roster. Standing behind her at the snow cone and lemon shake-up stand are two of her fellow Altrusans: Shelia Johnson and Gamma White.

A second example of community support was the bake sale, which occupied every inch of two long tables by the time the benefit game started. Women from various organizations—Miami Trace Elementary School, Altrusa, FCBDD staff, athletes’ families—contributed home-baked goods, fresh fruits, colorful peppers straight from a rural garden, and more. There were even specially-designed green “Dragon Cookies” created by Altrusan Shelia Johnson. Photographed early in the evening were Kim Butcher (at front right), who oversaw the bake sale; two Altrusans standing just behind the table who had just brought in baked goods: Teresa Combs and Missy Marsh; and a back row of customers: (from left) Janet Wilson, Wayne and Jackie Smith, and Patricia Burt.

Sunday evening’s benefit softball game between the Fayette County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ Special Olympics Dragons and the county’s first responders was a rousing success for everyone from families to the athletes. The Guns-N-Hoses probably had the more powerful hitters; the Dragons had the more vocally enthusiastic fans. And the local Special Olympics benefited greatly from the little extras that accompanied the dime-a-dog offer, such as a bake sale that occupied two long tables, lemon shake-ups and snow cones, and a 50/50 raffle. The festivities began with the annual group photo in front of a flag-bedecked fire engine and the singing of the national anthem. On the left are the Dragons in green; on the right, the first responders in navy and red.

https://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2019/09/web1_20190908_175732-2-.jpgSunday evening’s benefit softball game between the Fayette County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ Special Olympics Dragons and the county’s first responders was a rousing success for everyone from families to the athletes. The Guns-N-Hoses probably had the more powerful hitters; the Dragons had the more vocally enthusiastic fans. And the local Special Olympics benefited greatly from the little extras that accompanied the dime-a-dog offer, such as a bake sale that occupied two long tables, lemon shake-ups and snow cones, and a 50/50 raffle. The festivities began with the annual group photo in front of a flag-bedecked fire engine and the singing of the national anthem. On the left are the Dragons in green; on the right, the first responders in navy and red.

Community support was an important factor in the financial success of Sunday’s softball benefit game, and here is one example: Manning the busy concession stand were well-known business-people Hank and Gamma White. The main attractions here were the popular hot dogs (at only a dime apiece), which were grilled by a Highland County colleague of local Special Olympics coordinator Tim Stewart; they were then wrapped and delivered to the concession stand by John and Joyellen Pickelheimer, active leaders in this area’s Scouting program. Shown in the center between the Whites is the Fayette County Board of Developmental Disabilities staffer who oversaw the event: Betty Hodges, wearing the traditional Dragon green.

https://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2019/09/web1_20190908_concession-stand-w-Hank-Betty-n-Gamma-3-.jpgCommunity support was an important factor in the financial success of Sunday’s softball benefit game, and here is one example: Manning the busy concession stand were well-known business-people Hank and Gamma White. The main attractions here were the popular hot dogs (at only a dime apiece), which were grilled by a Highland County colleague of local Special Olympics coordinator Tim Stewart; they were then wrapped and delivered to the concession stand by John and Joyellen Pickelheimer, active leaders in this area’s Scouting program. Shown in the center between the Whites is the Fayette County Board of Developmental Disabilities staffer who oversaw the event: Betty Hodges, wearing the traditional Dragon green.

One of Fayette County’s most active volunteers is Debra Grover, currently serving as Special Olympics bowling coach as well as assistant track coach, in addition to accepting numerous responsibilities in various other organizations. Grover donated the proceeds from her famous lemon shake-up operation—a decades-long favorite at each year’s Ohio State Fair—to the Special Olympics fund. Debra Grover also recruited volunteers for this Sunday evening softball benefit from her large networking roster. Standing behind her at the snow cone and lemon shake-up stand are two of her fellow Altrusans: Shelia Johnson and Gamma White.

https://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2019/09/web1_20190908_Debra-s-lemonade-w-Shelia-n-Gamma-4-.jpgOne of Fayette County’s most active volunteers is Debra Grover, currently serving as Special Olympics bowling coach as well as assistant track coach, in addition to accepting numerous responsibilities in various other organizations. Grover donated the proceeds from her famous lemon shake-up operation—a decades-long favorite at each year’s Ohio State Fair—to the Special Olympics fund. Debra Grover also recruited volunteers for this Sunday evening softball benefit from her large networking roster. Standing behind her at the snow cone and lemon shake-up stand are two of her fellow Altrusans: Shelia Johnson and Gamma White.

A second example of community support was the bake sale, which occupied every inch of two long tables by the time the benefit game started. Women from various organizations—Miami Trace Elementary School, Altrusa, FCBDD staff, athletes’ families—contributed home-baked goods, fresh fruits, colorful peppers straight from a rural garden, and more. There were even specially-designed green “Dragon Cookies” created by Altrusan Shelia Johnson. Photographed early in the evening were Kim Butcher (at front right), who oversaw the bake sale; two Altrusans standing just behind the table who had just brought in baked goods: Teresa Combs and Missy Marsh; and a back row of customers: (from left) Janet Wilson, Wayne and Jackie Smith, and Patricia Burt.

https://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2019/09/web1_20190908_First-bake-sale-table-3-.jpgA second example of community support was the bake sale, which occupied every inch of two long tables by the time the benefit game started. Women from various organizations—Miami Trace Elementary School, Altrusa, FCBDD staff, athletes’ families—contributed home-baked goods, fresh fruits, colorful peppers straight from a rural garden, and more. There were even specially-designed green “Dragon Cookies” created by Altrusan Shelia Johnson. Photographed early in the evening were Kim Butcher (at front right), who oversaw the bake sale; two Altrusans standing just behind the table who had just brought in baked goods: Teresa Combs and Missy Marsh; and a back row of customers: (from left) Janet Wilson, Wayne and Jackie Smith, and Patricia Burt.