The Special Olympics Maine Unified Champion Clubs, a program in partnership with the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation, is dedicated to promoting social inclusion by joining adults with and without intellectual disabilities through shared inclusive recreational sports and activities. A simple principal that playing and competing together creates a quick path to friendships and understanding. The program serves as an extension of the Special Olympics Maine's Unified Champion Schools program which aims at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change (PK-College). With sports as the foundation, the three component model offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip people with tools and training to create sports and community climates of acceptance. These are community climates where people with disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions.

This is accomplished by implementing inclusive sports, inclusive leadership opportunities, and community engagement. The program is designed to be woven into the fabric of the organization, enhancing current efforts and providing rich opportunities that lead to meaningful change in creating a socially inclusive community that supports and engages all people. What a Unified Champion Club “looks like” can vary greatly from organization to organization, based on the needs, goals, schedules and other factors unique to each organization; but the basic building blocks remain the same.

Together we are creating a Unified Generation that Chooses to Include. Join us.

1. There should be more opportunities in organizations across the state for people of all ages and all ability levels to make friends, play and work together for change.   
2. People with intellectual disabilities should become part of the fabric of the community and be perceived as assets in their communities.
3. People without intellectual disabilities can and should increase their knowledge, skills and comfort in forming positive social relationships with people with intellectual disabilities and should come together to address societal issues.
4. Policymakers and community leaders should develop policies and support quality practices that encourage positive community climates characterized by safe and nurturing environments for all people.

1. Special Olympics Unified Sports: This means two things in Unified Champion Clubs: One, people with intellectual disabilities are provided the opportunity to participate in sports. Two, people with and without intellectual disabilities participate in sports alongside each other – inclusively.  
2. Inclusive Leadership & Advocacy: Opportunities for community members with and without intellectual disabilities to fulfill meaningful roles and lead together in their Unified program, the community and within the organization. 
3. Whole Club Engagement: inclusive community engagement opportunities through Acceptance and Inclusion Campaigns, Fans in the Stands, fundraising and other inclusive community engagement activities.

• Special Olympics Maine Unified Champion Clubs
• Special Olympics Maine Unified Champion Club Starter Guide
• Special Olympics Unified Sports® Educational Video
  
• Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools 
• Special Olympics Maine Unified Champion Schools
• Generation Unified

• Unified Sports
• Inclusive Leadership & Advocacy
• Whole Club Engagement

1. Project Plan: a written plan describing the implementation of your project within your organization 
2. Leadership Team:  The team will be responsible for establishing the vision and overarching goals for the club within the organization, coordinating early stages of implementation, and working with leaders of specific events. The team will also monitor the success of the strategy, with an eye toward continuous improvement.
3. Budget: What expenses do you anticipate and how much will you spend on each?  What is the total budget for your project?  What expenses can be donated or shared?
4. Project Documentation: photos, video, written updates/journal, Facebook posts, receipts
5. Project Evaluation:  Completion of National and State level survey capturing what worked.  What would you change?  What improvements would you make?  What challenges did you face?  How did you overcome them?
6. Final Report, including receipts, unused funds and any post-project action plan, must be submitted to Special Olympics Maine no more than thirty (30) days after the project concludes.

• Complete entire Unified Champion Clubs funding application
• Merits/quality of proposed project
• Concise, clear and straightforward answers to the proposal questions
• Written sections show attention to spelling, grammar and punctuation
• A clearly-defined, appropriate budget

• Organizations will be notified within 2 weeks of their grant submission.