• About

    Find Your Local Program

    Special Olympics Indiana energizes athletes by organizing 10 dynamic Areas, each led by dedicated volunteers to support County Programs and host exciting regional competitions. Athletes thrive in vibrant community events, competing in various meets to earn their place in state-level championships.
    Find Your Community

    Our Initiatives

    Engage with athletes and volunteers across Indiana through our different Initiatives.

    About us

    Special Olympics Indiana engages and energizes athletes and volunteers throughout Indiana.

  • Competitions

    Next up, Fall Games!

    Each fall, state tournaments are held at multiple locations in eight traditional and Unified sports, including: cornhole, distance run and walk, flag football, golf, equestrian, soccer, softball, and unified volleyball.
    Explore the Competition

    State Competitions & Beyond

    Special Olympics Indiana hosts a variety of state-level competitions year round and participates in a different national or global competition each year.

  • Sports

    Explore our Sports

    Join Special Olympics Indiana, where 19,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities compete year-round in over 20 sports, enhancing fitness, showcasing courage, and sharing joy. Our Unified Sports® program fosters teamwork and inclusion by uniting athletes with and without disabilities. Be a part of something extraordinary!
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    For Coaches

    Become a Special Olympics coach and drive athlete performance and well-being with exceptional training and support.

    For Athletes

    Our programs build skills, confidence, and relationships, creating a supportive community where inclusion thrives.

  • Volunteer

    Explore Volunteer Opportunities

    Whether you volunteer year-round, seasonally, or for just one event, you'll create unforgettable moments and make a significant impact. Support over 19,000 athletes to encourage their growth and foster meaningful connections.
    Become a Volunteer
  • Special Events
  • Ways to Give

    Featured Fundraiser

    Special Olympics Volunteers
    Plane Pull Challenge
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The Carl and Betty Erskine Society

To join the Carl and Betty Erskine Society there are no membership fees or minimum gift amounts. The size of your gift is entirely your choice and is kept confidential. Whether you want to make a gift that costs you nothing during your lifetime or a gift that gives you guaranteed income for life, Special Olympics Indiana will work with you if you are ready to start a thoughtful process of integrating a charitable gift into your overall financial and estate plans.

A native of Anderson, Carl enjoyed a successful Major League Baseball career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers between 1948 and 1959. He pitched in five World Series, winning one in 1955 against the New York Yankees. He pitched two no-hitters and led the National League in 1953 with a 20-6 decision record. He played baseball during an era of transformation — the introduction of night games, jet travel, television, and racial desegregation.

As a teammate and friend of Jackie Robinson, he witnessed how the silent perseverance of one man changed society. These lessons learned became part of his legacy when his son Jimmy was born with Down syndrome in 1960. In 2012 Carl wrote “The Parallel” which documents how Carl has seen society change for people with intellectual disabilities through the power of Special Olympics.

Carl and Betty Erskine have had an immeasurable impact on our movement. Special Olympics Indiana is committed to raising awareness of the Erskines’ legacy by supporting the award-winning documentary, “The Best We’ve Got: The Carl Erskine Story.”

The film was inspired by Carl’s book “The Parallel.” To obtain a copy of “The Parallel” or for more information about the Carl and Betty Erskine Society, please contact Scott Furnish at Special Olympics Indiana at 317-328-2009 ext. 1236.

This site contains general gift, estate, and financial planning information for educational purposes. It does not provide legal or tax advice. For advice or assistance on specific gifts and decisions, please consult an attorney or other professional advisor.

Erskine Society Interest Form

Do you want to learn more about joining our planned giving society, named after Carl and Betty Erskine? Provide us with your contact information and we will be in touch.

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SO Indiana State Office Contact

Scott Furnish
Vice President of Development & CDO

Members

Kevin, Lisa and Gabby Aders

Marjorie Ashby

Sherry and Bill Benner

Mary Bibler

Judi and Phil Bounsall

Carole Caselli

Danny and Deborah Dean

Tom and Deb Easterday

Cathy and John Elzinga

Carl and Betty Erskine

Gary Erskine

Gerald Francis

Rebecca and Michael Furnish

Stanford Goldberg

Julie Goodrich

Richard Edward Hay

Catharine L. Harris

Mary Ellen Hission

James H. Huffman

Victoria Johnson

Phyllis Kingery

Genevieve Kubelius

Larkin (Buzz) Lail

Carrie and Justin Leibering

Mark C. Sherman and Anne Murphy

Karen S. Sostack

Ron and Catherine Stiver

Robert G. and Imogene M. Taylor

James E. Teall

John Vanderbilt (Ruth Judge)

Joan E. Wheatley

Kathy L. Wyman

Jackie Lee York

Robin J. and Brian J. Zipperle

John F. McGinty

Lisa and Jeff Mohler

Bob and Susan Pensec

D. Craig Peterson

Barbara Reed

Paul G. Reis and Mo Merhoff

Kelly A. Ries

William Saler

James K. Searles