The Special Olympics Amerika Samoa (SOAS) tonight is hosting a benefit dinner to raise funds to send our Special Olympic Athletes to compete in Track & Field and Soccer at the 2015 Special Olympic World Games, in Los Angeles, California from July 25 to August 8, 2015.

“This will be the first international event competition at this level in 14 years,” wrote SOAS chairperson Tafaimamao Tua-Tupuola in a letter to local companies seeking their support for this worthwhile fund raising activity. “Our Athletes and Team Amerika Samoa are looking forward to representing the territory at the 2015 World Games.”

The fund raising event is set for 6 p.m. (tonight) starting at the Gov. Rex Lee Auditorium, with entertainment provided by Samoan comedian Tofiga Fepulea’i from the Laughing Samoans comedy group. The benefit dinner is one of the two fund raising events scheduled to raise money to send our team to Los Angeles next year.

Special Olympics is a non-profit charitable organization that targets sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to help them develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and interact with other athletes within the Special Olympic community. Athletes competing will represent American Samoa at the 2015 World Games in Los Angeles, according to the chairperson.

Mrs. Tupuola  provided to Samoa News late yesterday afternoon additional information on the team and the fund raising event:

• Each delegation has to raise funds for airfare, accommodation and meals 'before and after' the event, uniforms, and incidentals.

• Team Amerika Samoa was given a quota of 32 to send to compete in 2 sports: Athletics and Soccer. It will be our first Female team ever in addition to competing in Unified Sports that supports athletes with and without disabilities to compete 'on the same team'.

• Last year 12 athletes competed in the Regional Games in Australia and the athletes brought back 2 Gold, 8 silver, and 2 ribbons.

• Bessie Fepuleai, Tofiga’s wife, is a presenter for the Special Olympics Amerika Samoa Project Unify activity this weekend. She has extensive background in New Zealand working with many youths of diverse background in building leadership and full inclusion within the community.

• First Lady Cynthia Moliga is the patron of Special Olympics Amerika Samoa and will provide a message to be read at the event to acknowledge those who are supporting a great cause for our Special olympic athletes to represent our territory in 2015.

• U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle are honorary Chairs of the Special Olympic World Games.

For more information call 733-1775 or 731-7233.