Special Olympics
Phillip Loerzel has participated in Special Olympics for over 21 years. During his time in Special Olympics, he has competed and won gold medals in swimming, tennis, track and field, snowshoeing, volleyball and bocce. Phillip not only competes, he also loves singing the national anthem before events and being a Global Messenger for Special Olympics. As a Global messenger, Phillip attends community events where he can share his friendly joker personality and talk about Special Olympics and how it changes athletes’ lives. Phillips motto is “Try something! You won’t know if you like something unless you try it!”
Sherrie Fischer is the Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation Supervisor with Davenport Parks and Recreation. Sherrie is a qualified Recreation Supervisor and holds two national certifications: Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) and Certified Park and Recreation Professional from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).In her role as the Adaptive & Inclusive Recreation Supervisor, Sherrie coordinates all aspects of Inclusive Recreation, including hiring instructors, researching the latest trends in programming, as well as facilitating classes and events that assist people in developing and using their leisure time in ways that enhance their health, well-being, and independence. Sherrie is passionate about offering recreation activities and services specially designed for children, teens, and adults with disabilities and/or special needs. She believes the health and well-being of every individual is important, and she supports coordinated efforts that ensure quality recreation activities are available to everyone.
The Presentation on February 9th will discuss one of our favorite programs, Special Olympics. Special Olympics Scott County Thunder, a Special Olympic delegation within Davenport Parks and Recreation, has been proudly serving more than 160 individuals with cognitive disabilities in our community for over 30 years. Our program not only helps keep our Scott County Thunder athletes physically fit, but also gives them an opportunity to gain self-confidence, learn perseverance, feel a sense of achievement and experience friendship, which in turn enhances every aspect of their lives. Scott County Thunder is a highly active, diverse and inclusive team offering over 16 sports annually.