Meet Amber Mott: Making an Impact Behind the Scenes

For Amber Mott, Special Olympics New York started with one athlete.

In 2009, Amber began volunteering with Special Olympics by taking an athlete to practice as his one-on-one. What started as a simple opportunity to help quickly became something much more meaningful. A year later, Amber became a coach in the Central Square area, where she met countless athletes and began building connections that would shape her journey.

“I started as a volunteer in 2009, taking an athlete to practice as his one-on-one,” Amber said. “And then in 2010, I became a coach in the Central Square area where I met a ton of amazing athletes.”

From there, Amber continued finding new ways to get involved. She volunteered at Polar Plunges, supported events across New York, and became increasingly connected to the Special Olympics community.

“And then I was hooked,” she said.

Today, Amber serves as the Associate Director of Development for the Central and Southern Tier regions of Special Olympics New York, helping support the organization and its mission throughout the region.

Although her role has changed over the years, one thing has remained constant: her connection to the athletes.

“I think getting to know the athletes and watching, like, my athlete that I used to go to practice with become such a big part of Special Olympics” has been one of the most rewarding parts of her journey, Amber said.

That connection has given Amber the opportunity to witness firsthand how Special Olympics can grow from a sports program into a community. Athletes, coaches, volunteers, law enforcement, families, schools, and supporters all play a role in creating an environment where everyone belongs.

One of Amber’s favorite memories came during her first Opening Ceremonies as a Special Olympics New York staff member. Held in Syracuse during the winter, the event brought together so many of the people who make Special Olympics possible.

“It was one of my favorite ones to see all of the hard work of everyone coming together for the one big event,” she said. “That’s law enforcement, volunteers, athletes, coaches, everybody coming together for that Opening Ceremonies.”

For Amber, inclusion is something that extends far beyond the competition floor. Before getting involved with Special Olympics, she says her perspective on inclusion wasn’t as broad as it is today. Working alongside athletes opened her eyes to just how far the organization’s impact reaches.

“My world really wasn’t open to Special Olympics until him,” Amber said, referring to the athlete she originally began volunteering with. “And then after that, it’s really amazing to see the inclusion where it’s everywhere.”

Today, Amber sees that impact throughout the community. From schools and law enforcement to everyday interactions.

“Everything you do within Special Olympics impacts not just the athletes, but the community as a whole,” she said.

And for anyone who has never experienced Special Olympics, Amber believes the best way to understand the organization is to see it firsthand.

“I feel like you have to see it,” she said. “I feel like going to an event, even if you’re not volunteering, but just going to be a fan in the stands and watching is going to show you everything you’ve ever needed to know about Special Olympics.”

She points to the athletes competing, cheering each other on, and the atmosphere surrounding every event as something that can’t fully be explained until you experience it yourself.

“It will hook you in. And then you’ll stay forever.”

When Amber isn’t working with Special Olympics New York, she stays busy with two of her other passions: camping and dirt racing. She serves as the ticketing manager for a local dirt track, where she spends many of her weekends.

But even outside of her day-to-day work, the spirit of volunteering remains a major part of how Amber views Special Olympics.

She knows firsthand what volunteers bring to the organization because she started in their shoes.

“The biggest thing is how much we depend on our volunteers,” Amber said. “That’s where I started.”

Amber says she reminds herself every day how thankful she is for the volunteers who give their time and energy to help make Special Olympics possible.

“We don’t have a lot of staff people here in the Central Region, and we couldn’t do it without our amazing volunteers every day.”

From volunteering with one athlete more than 15 years ago to becoming a coach, supporting events across New York, and ultimately joining the staff, Amber’s journey is a testament to the lasting impact that getting involved with Special Olympics can have.

What began with one volunteer opportunity became a career, a community, and countless relationships with athletes and supporters along the way. And for Amber, it all started with simply showing up.

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