Special Olympics New York Announces Statewide Athlete Leadership
Billy Seide, Paul Asaro, & Jonathan Beiner Elected to Leadership Positions on Statewide Council
Albany, NY – Special Olympics New York today announced the results of its Statewide Athlete Leadership Council elections. Billy Seide, 35, of New Rochelle was elected as chair, Paul Asaro, 43, of Eastchester, was elected vice chair and Jonathan Beiner, 25, of Bayside was elected as secretary.
The Special Olympics New York Athlete Leadership Program gives athletes an expanded voice and greater opportunity to participate in the organization’s strategic planning and day-to-day operations while also providing athlete leaders with advanced training and life-skills development. The Council is comprised of 15 athletes who serve two-year terms.
Council members also serve as spokespersons for the organization and as liaisons to athletes in their local communities. In this recent video, Council members share what Special Olympics means to them.
“So much of the Special Olympics movement takes place off the field, and the Athlete Leadership Program is chief among our expanded services to athletes,” said Special Olympics New York President & CEO Stacey Hengsterman. “Our athletes inspire communities with their commitment, drive and athletic skill; and then they go a step further, showing that they are capable of shaping leadership decisions for the organization, on behalf of their peers and within their own lives. We have an exciting future ahead under the leadership of Billy, Paul, Jonathan and each of our statewide Council members.”
“I am honored to have been elected to lead this amazing group of athletes,” said Seide. “It is my hope to lead by example and give a voice to every athlete across the state. This program has changed my life and I look forward to giving that back to as many of my fellow athletes as possible by using our Special Olympics experiences to help grow the organization we love.”
A focus of the Statewide Athlete Leadership Council over the next three years will be implementation of the organization’s Strategic Plan: Growing an Inclusive New York 2022-25, in which Special Olympics New York sets out to double athlete participation and attract an unprecedented percentage of New Yorkers to #JoinTheMovement.
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About Special Olympics New York
Special Olympics New York is the largest state chapter in the country, serving more than 31,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings. The organization also partners with about 250 schools statewide to offer Unified Sports, where students with and without disabilities compete as teammates. All Special Olympics New York programs are offered at no cost to athletes, their families or caregivers. The organization has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.com, making it one of the most trusted charities in the business nationally. For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.specialolympicsNY.org.
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