2-13-2023 10:09am

WCBDD Superintendent is elected to Chair of Special Olympics Ohio Board

(Lebanon, OH) - Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities (WCBDD) Superintendent, Megan Manuel, was recently elected Chair of the Special Olympics Ohio Board of Directors for the 2023-2024 term. Special Olympics Ohio is part of the global inclusion movement using sports, health education, and leadership programs to empower people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition in 19 different sports for nearly 22,000 children and adults.

Manuel, who has served as WCBDD Superintendent for the past 14 years, was initially appointed to the Special Olympics Ohio Board in June of 2018. Manuel served as Board Secretary in 2019, until she was elected as Vice Chair in 2020. A total of 19 members serve on the board with a variety of experience and expertise. Manuel’s experience includes assistant basketball coaching and serving as a unified golf partner (in Marion, Ohio) for Special Olympics.

A long-time supporter of the Special Olympics mission, Manuel follows in the footsteps of her late father, Jerry Manuel, who passionately served as a member and past Chair of the Special Olympics Ohio Board. Manuel recently demonstrated her support as a top fundraiser for the Warren County Team at the annual Special Olympics Ohio Caesar Creek Polar Plunge. Polar Plunges are nationally recognized fundraisers that challenge community members to jump into frigid mid-winter waters. Several Polar Plunges were held throughout the state, with the local Warren County plunge taking place at Caesar Creek Lake.

In addition to Manuel’s fundraising efforts, Special Olympics basketball team, the Warren County Wildcats were named as one of the top fundraising groups. Both Manuel and the Wildcats were significant contributors to the $44.1K raised at this year’s Caesar Creek Polar Plunge. All proceeds benefit Special Olympics Ohio’s efforts in providing athletes, the opportunity to develop fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.

Each year more than 11,000 people donate their time, talent, and energy to volunteer for Special Olympics Ohio events. To learn about volunteer opportunities with Special Olympics Ohio, go to www.sooh.org.