Iowa Community Care Foundation

05/27/2026

05/26/2026

Success at the State Special Olympics doesn’t happen by chance—it comes from dedication, determination, and countless hours of practice. ICCF would like to recognize and congratulate the Ft. Madison Special Olympics team on their many accomplishments at the State Special Olympics competition in Ames. From impressive performances in track and field to competing in bicycling—a sport unique to their team among our local groups—these athletes represented their community with pride and determination.

Behind every athlete is a strong support system, and Ft. Madison’s team is a remarkable example of that. With nearly 35 athletes competing at the state level, it speaks volumes about the commitment and leadership of Head Coach Brad Benge, along with the many coaches, parents, families, and supporters who have dedicated years of time and encouragement to helping these athletes succeed.

The teamwork, dedication, and heart shown by this program is truly something to witness. Congratulations to the Ft. Madison team on an outstanding State Special Olympics season!

photos courtesy of Amy Schierbrock

05/26/2026

05/26/2026

What an incredible journey and experience for the Burlington Special Olympics team! Their recent trip to Ames for the State Special Olympics competition brought many reasons to celebrate, including numerous outstanding accomplishments including 1st and 2nd place finishes. These photos capture more than competition results — they reflect confidence, friendships, growth, and memories made along the way. With support from ICCF and assistance through a grant from Community Foundation of Des Moines Co. Iowa, an affiliate of Keokuk Area Community Foundation, athletes enjoyed snacks for the journey, a fun stop at the Blue Zoo Aquarium in Des Moines, and a meal at Hickory Park in Ames. The stop in Ames also provided a meaningful learning opportunity as athletes practiced ordering for themselves and managing a spending allowance before competition the following day. What better way to end the day but with ice cream. The joy, pride, and excitement seen in these photos remind us that these experiences create much more than medals — they create confidence and memories that last a lifetime. 💙🏅
photos courtesy of Coach Kelli Bonar

05/23/2026

Iowa Community Care Foundation would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Central Lee Community School District Special Olympics team on an incredible first appearance at the State Special Olympics meet.

The smiles in the photos truly tell the story of what a meaningful and memorable day it was. Beyond the results, it was especially wonderful to see these athletes come together as a team—supporting one another, celebrating each other’s efforts, and building genuine camaraderie throughout the day. The joy, laughter, and even a few “bite-the-medal-to-make-sure-it’s-real” moments say just as much as the placings themselves.

Congratulations to all of the athletes and coaches on this first-year milestone team:

Winnie – 3rd place Softball Throw
Greyson – 2nd place Tennis Ball Throw (youngest competitor)
Kobe – 4th place in the 50M Dash and 2nd place in Softball Throw

A special thank-you to the coaches who made this experience possible: Coach Erin, Coach Kassidy, and Coach Cam.

Coach Cam has been an asset to the coaching team and will be missed as he heads to college in the fall. We wish him the best and hope he can be a part of the team when possible.

This being the team’s very first year makes these accomplishments even more meaningful, and it was exciting to see such strong teamwork, sportsmanship, and pride on display. We look forward to watching this Special Olympics team continue to grow this fall and participate in many more competitions throughout the year ahead.

A sincere thank-you as well to the Keokuk Area Community Foundation and Lee County Youth Service for their grant support and partnership in helping make this new team possible. Your investment helped turn this vision into a reality for these athletes and families.

Congratulations again to all on a fantastic State meet and an exciting beginning to what is sure to be a great program!

photo credit to Erin Benner, Kassidy Simmons & Gary Lightfoot

05/23/2026

Iowa Community Care Foundation was proud to send off our local Special Olympic teams heading to State in Ames with 60 backpack/cinch bags filled with snacks and drinks to help fuel their journey!

We hope the Burlington, Fort Madison, and Central Lee teams had an amazing time at State—competing, connecting, and celebrating all their hard work.

So proud to support these incredible athletes and the programs that make moments like this possible! 💙💛

05/20/2026

What a wonderful day at the ballpark! ⚾❤️

Approximately 90 veterans, residents from our small group homes for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and participants from our Day Habilitation program from across the state enjoyed an afternoon at the Iowa Cubs game as guests of Iowa Community Care Foundation (ICCF).

The day included an all-you-can-eat meal before the game, along with everyone proudly sporting their ICCF t-shirts. A special thank you goes to Community Care of Iowa staff Tina Streeper and Sara Brown, who stepped up and prepared all of the shirts in a very short amount of time. We are incredibly grateful for their willingness to take on such a big task and help make the day extra special.

For many, this was their very first visit to a ballpark. One participant shared that he had never seen baseball in "real life" before. Moments like that remind us how meaningful experiences like these truly are.

It was a beautiful day at the ballpark. excitement cheering for their team, reaching for a foul ball, visiting with friends as well hoping to catch a "flying" Iowa Cubs t shirt as it was shot into the stands. It was clear everyone was enjoying the beautiful afternoon creating memories together.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this special day possible, especially to all the staff for organizing and transporting the residents ⚾😊

04/27/2026

04/26/2026

What an exciting milestone for our new Central Lee Special Olympics team!

Although only two of our five athletes were able to attend Districts due to the rescheduled event date, Winnie and Greyson proudly represented the team with determination, heart, and true sportsmanship.

Both athletes earned BLUE RIBBONS in the tennis ball/softball throw and have now qualified for the State Competition!

For a brand-new team, this is an incredible accomplishment and such a proud moment for everyone involved. Their smiles say it all—confidence, joy, and the reward of hard work shining through.

A special thank you goes to our amazing coaches—Erin, Kassidy, and Cam—who have helped build this team from the ground up. While Kassidy had a prior commitment and Cam was celebrating Prom night, Coach Erin was there cheering on and supporting the athletes every step of the way. It truly takes a team, and these coaches are helping create something special.

We also want to thank Central Lee Community School District for giving Winnie and Greyson a wonderful send-off on Friday before competition day. That encouragement and school support means so much to our athletes and their families.

We are grateful for the grant support, school and community encouragement that helped make this opportunity possible for our athletes and our growing Lee County Special Olympics Iowa teams.

Congratulations Winnie and Greyson—we are so proud of you!

04/13/2026

💙 A Small Coin… A Big Meaning 💙

One of the most powerful moments from our Mitchellville Elementary pen pal visit wasn’t loud or busy—it was simple.

Each veteran was handed a small coin… but behind it was a story.

Earlier this year, a veteran visited the students and shared the tradition of military challenge coins—what they represent, where they come from, and the pride behind receiving one.

The students didn’t forget.

Made possible with the help of a generous community supporter of Southeast Polk schools, the school created their own “challenge coins". During their visit… they made sure every veteran received one. 🎖️

Inspired by their school’s RAM mascot and their own challenge coin tradition—where students are recognized for kindness, effort, and doing the right thing—they wanted to pass that same sense of honor on to the veterans.

In the military, challenge coins represent pride, recognition, and belonging—making this gesture even more meaningful.

For our veterans, it was more than a coin.
It was recognition.
It was respect.
It was a connection to their service—and to a younger generation who truly sees them.

For the students, it was a full-circle moment—turning something they learned into something they could give back.

💙 As the visit came to an end, many students made it a point to personally thank each veteran for their service.
A small gesture—but one that speaks volumes about the kind of lessons being taught by their teachers and parents.

That’s what this program has been about all year.
Not just letters… but understanding.
Not just visits… but relationships.

💙 And in the quiet moments— smiles, and simple “thank yous”—you could see exactly what this program has meant on both sides.

We’d call that mission accomplished.