An evening honoring Special Olympians

The fourth annual celebration of “Olympians on Parade,” a benefit for Special Olympics Orange County, was presented March 17 at the Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom in Anaheim. Attracting some 500 guests, including a major contingent of Newport-Mesans, the evening honored the outstanding achievement of both U.S. Olympians and Special Olympics athletes.

The highlight of the event was the Parade of Champions, in which athletes entered the ballroom in a procession that brought cheers and tears from the large crowd. The parade was led by Disney’s Pluto and Goofy characters, who were followed by athletes including Vince Ferragamo, Bobby Grich, Rex Hudler, Rafer Johnson, Liz Masakayan, Butch May, Misty May-Treanor, Velma Dunn Ploessel, Rich Saul, Elaine Youngs and Paula Weishoff.

Special Olympians on parade included Deborah Anderson, Jennifer Apalatequi, Carly Dodds, Chris Dorsey, Joseph Gorin, Sergio Gutierrez, Jeannie Harrison, Ben Hernandez, Kenji Horita, Timothy Johnson, Jessica Kelly, Michael Magan and Jeffrey Preston.

Ed Arnold served as emcee for the evening. He also received the 2006 Madeline Evans Humanitarian Award, presented to Arnold by Olympic gold and silver medalist Rafer Johnson. Also honored were generous underwriters and patrons Dorothy and Donald Kennedy, recipients of the Champion Spirit Award.

Chaired by the indefatigable Betty Belden-Palmer and co-chaired by Harry Adler with committee support from dedicated local volunteers including Joann Waldron, Carol Jacobs, Mike Simko, Jerry Hime and Jan Landstrom, the evening netted $300,000, setting a record for Special Olympics Orange County.

Newport-Mesa citizens in the crowd were Wally and Mary Frome; Bob and Jan Wilhelm; Bill and Jean Wenke; Joe and Shirley McPherson; Peter West; Rich and Elaine Saul; Corine Couwenberg; Don and Betsy Tarbell; and Barbara Campbell Ramsey. To learn more about Special Olympics, go to www.sosc.org.