For more than three decades, Bob Bowler has been a volunteer coach and mentor for Special Olympics North Carolina, having the opportunity to impact more than 2,500 Special Olympic athletes. In recognition of his commitment to community service, Bob was selected as a finalist for The NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide in 2015, an honor for which he was presented with a $25,000 donation for Special Olympics North Carolina.
“I was very honored to be chosen as one of the four finalists for the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award,” Bob said in an interview with WBTV-Charlotte in February. “It allowed me to really bring awareness to the program, recruit more volunteers and Special Olympics athletes, and help with fundraising opportunities.”
Thanks to the support provided through the award, Special Olympics has been able to create more opportunities for athletes to participate in their programs, including adding more teams, providing uniforms and food, and procuring facility space for competition.
Specifically, the donation has contributed to the growth of the Unified Champion Schools program, which brings youth with and without intellectual disabilities together through sports and education to create school communities of acceptance and respect. As a part of the program, Special Olympics Guilford/Greensboro hosted “The Big G” Winter Classic at the Greensboro Sportsplex in December 2016. More than 550 students from 20 area high schools came together to compete in both traditional and Unified Special Olympics competition during the 7th annual event.
“Special Olympics really gives athletes the opportunity to come in and be a part of a community and be accepted by others,” Bob said.
“Being a finalist really was the highlight of my 33 years as a Special Olympics volunteer, and has given me an opportunity to be an ambassador and represent the 40,000 Special Olympics athletes in North Carolina.”
