Farm Bureau Salutes 2008 SOVA Volunteers

Farm Bureau Insurance and Special Olympics Virginia have announced their annual award winners, honoring the top volunteers across the state. Congratulations to this year’s winners:

• Program Volunteer of the Year: Bill McKinney (Richmond) -McKinney is a long-time volunteer who has helped with the Alpine Championships and Summer Games as a “do anything” that’s needed volunteer. He is a key member of our Alpine and Summer Games management teams, and has been essential in organizing and carrying out the logistical support needed to make these events a success. Beyond planning and working the events, McKinney often volunteers to fix equipment and build new equipment, which makes all of Special Olympics Virginia’s state championships better for the athletes and volunteers. His caring and flexibility, as well as management of problems and compassion for our athletes are what great volunteers are all about.
• Outstanding Area Volunteer: Tim Hartle (Fairfax) - Hartle has been involved in Special Olympics in Fairfax County for 15 years. He helped develop the golf program and has been a coach and assistant golf coordinator for the Area’s golf program over the years. Hartle is an avid supporter of Area 26’s fundraising efforts. He has been involved in gymnastics both as a coordinator and a coach. He reworked the entire Area 26 database of athletes and volunteers, which includes about 1,000 athletes and 600 volunteers. Volunteers are now able to look up athlete eligibility, contact information and volunteer eligibility. This is a tremendous resource for any area, but given the size of Area 26, this is a necessary resource that helps volunteers provide the best
  customer service possible. He is also an active member of the Porto Caravan No. 104 on the International Order of Alhambra. The Alhambra is dedicated to assisting and supporting persons with developmental disabilities through a variety of housing and other programs. It has also supported Area 26’s efforts to provide outstanding programs for its athletes.
• Outstanding Family of the Year: The Ruley Family (Churchville) - The Ruley Family has been involved in Special Olympics Virginia since Jennifer Ruley was 8 years old. Jennifer, who sings in the choir, has been involved in bowling, volleyball, basketball and swimming during her 20-year commitment to Special Olympics. Audrey Ruley, Jennifer’s mom, has been a volleyball coach for 11 years, a bowling coach and volunteer chair for 10 years and a co-fundraising chair for the past 2 years. Audrey and Roger Ruley, her husband, have been working on the major fund-raiser in Area 5, the Fall Fest, as coordinators for 12 years. Stacey Ruley, Jennifer’s sister, has been a unified partner in volleyball and been a great friend for the athletes in Area 5 her entire life. She also helps with Fall Fest. In addition to immediate family, it is not unusual for aunts, cousins and friends of the Ruleys to help with the Fall Fest both at the event and collecting items for the silent auction.
• Coach of the Year: Billy Brock (Norfolk) - Quiet, humble, committed and a strong advocate for Special Olympics are only a few characteristics of Billy Brock. He has dedicated 20 years to serving the athletes in Area 2. He coaches, cooks, and serves as a unified partner, fundraiser, chaperone, driver, equipment manager, and special events coordinator, and he is always there to help clean up. Brock's biggest contribution to Area 2 is the one-on-one attention he devotes to each athlete. His patience and common-sense approach to coaching even the most challenging of athletes makes him magnetic. In essence, Brock is the backbone of Norfolk Special Olympics.
• Athlete of the Year: Karen Dickerson (Springfield) - Karen Dickerson is an extraordinary long-distance runner and a tireless advocate for Special Olympics. As a testament to her achievements both on and off the track, she was selected in October as one of 11 Special Olympics athletes to run the Final Leg of the 2007 Special Olympics World Games in China. As part of that experience, Dickerson was also invited to the White House in July to carry the Flame of Hope into the Rose Garden, where President Bush welcomed her.
  
  “One of the athletes who is going to carry the torch today is Karen Dickerson,” President Bush said during the ceremony. “Karen should serve as an inspiration for a lot of folks in our country. You're a true champ, just like every other Special Olympian that has joined us today, and the millions who will be in Shanghai later on. Your success is best measured not by the medals you win, but the kind of courage you show. You follow your dreams, you never gave up, and you’ve shown us what the Olympic spirit is all about.”
  
  Prior to the 2007 World Games, Dickerson, who hails from Northern Virginia, ran the Boston Marathon in three hours, 24 minutes and 58 seconds. She finished 19th out of 897 women in her age group. Dickerson’s other achievements include participation in the 2005 and 2006 Marine Corps marathons. In 2006, she finished in three hours, 29 minutes and 16 seconds, 24 minutes faster than the previous year. In 2002, she was selected to be part of Team USA to compete in the 2003 World Games in Dublin, Ireland. While in Ireland, Dickerson competed with stress fractures and still managed to bring home the bronze medal for Virginia! Dickerson, whose interest in running began in 7th grade at Thomas Edison High School, hopes one day she will run beside another Special Olympics athlete in a long distance race. Until then,
  she will continue inspiring others and working to open hearts and change minds with her passion for running.
• Virginia H. Foster Winning Spirit Award: Grace Anne Braxton (Fredericksburg) - Foster has participated in Special Olympics for 25 years. During her tenure, she has been an athlete, global messenger, fundraiser, volunteer and has served as the athlete representative to the board of directors. She has competed in two national games, eight national invitational golf tournaments and two World Games. It was at the World Games that she earned the distinguished title as the best female golfer in the world by beating her closest opponent by 36 strokes. She was featured on the cover of the September/October, 2007 issue of Virginia Golfer’s magazine. Anne’s presence and uplifting attitude embodies the true spirit of Special Olympics.

Learn more about Farm Bureau Insurance's partnership with Special Olympics Virginia.