News Photo by Darby Hinkley Pictured, from left, Jackie Schaedig, general manager of Pizza Hut in Alpena, receives a plaque from Jenny Gawne, Special Olympics Michigan coach, and Mary DeLong, assistant director of Special Olympics Michigan Area 3, including Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency, and Presque Isle counties. Also pictured are athletes Charlie DeLong, Lester DeLong, and Ryan Gawne.

ALPENA — Representatives from Special Olympics Michigan Area 3 recently presented a plaque of appreciation to Pizza Hut of Alpena for their support in hosting a fundraiser on March 18 to benefit Special Olympics.

The March 18 fundraiser allowed Special Olympics athletes to act as servers to customers, with tips going toward funding for athletes to travel to competitions statewide.

The plaque states, “In sincere appreciation for opening your establishment for our fundraiser. Your contribution was critical to our success.”

Jackie Schaedig, general manager of Pizza Hut in Alpena, said the restaurant staff enjoys hosting fundraisers for nonprofits and community organizations.

“We love to support our community,” Schaedig said. “We’re happy to help. It’s very fun.”

“They’re great here,” said Jenny Gawne, Special Olympics Michigan coach and mom of athlete Ryan Gawne. “They were really supportive in letting us pick a date and allowing us to do the serving.”

She said some of the athletes worked as hosts, greeting customers as they came in, and others led people to their seats.

“They also would take the orders themselves,” Gawne said of the athletes. “I was really impressed with how well they did … It went really smoothly.”

Mary DeLong is the assistant director of Special Olympics Michigan Area 3, which includes Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency, and Presque Isle counties. Her sons, Charlie DeLong, and Lester DeLong, are Special Olympics athletes who also participated in the fundraiser with Ryan Gawne.

All three of them said they had fun, and they enjoy playing sports in Special Olympics.

“The boys, they work, through NEMROC, and so they had some of their employers come here,” Mary DeLong said. “They enjoyed serving them. And they got reports back from people at work, and they said they were just excellent.”

She said a lot of customers came out to the fundraiser, which raised $605 for Special Olympics.

“It was really nice to see the support,” Mary DeLong said, adding that people from their church, TriPoint Church of God, also came to support them.

Jenny Gawne said the fundraiser was a great opportunity for the athletes to socialize with community members. She explained some of the benefits of being a Special Olympics athlete.

“My son, Ryan, he improved, leaps and bounds,” Jenny Gawne said. “Last year, he did bocce ball, and he had a natural talent for it.”

She said it helped him learn to communicate better with others, as he has autism. This year, he’s been playing volleyball and basketball.

“What we’re trying to do, also, is show the community the need for special needs athletes,” Jenny Gawne said. “If there are any special needs children out there that want to participate in Special Olympics, we want them to get ahold of us so they can participate. All they need to do is get a physical, and make sure that they qualify for Special Olympics.”

She said they are also working on putting together a unified team.

“Next year, we’re going to plan on doing a unified basketball team,” Jenny Gawne said. “Which is where healthy athletes come onto the team with the athletes with special needs. The Special Olympics organization is trying to develop a more close relationship with healthy athletes and the special needs athletes, together.”

She said it is beneficial to all the athletes involved.

“Some kids just don’t understand how to deal with special needs kids, and this shows them that they’re not much different than anybody else,” Jenny Gawne said. “It allows the healthy kids the opportunity to get to know the special needs kids, and work with them as a team, and bond … And the healthy kids can actually help us in teaching, because sometimes there’s a communication gap.”

“A lot of them needs hands-on attention,” Mary DeLong said. “It just gives them a little more support.”

She said special needs athletes tend to learn best by doing the exercises and drills.

“The special needs athletes, they just consider everyone family,” Mary DeLong said. “We’re just one big, happy family.”

“If someone’s having a bad day, they’ll all come around them and hug them and say, ‘It’s OK,'” Jenny Gawne said, adding that there is never any trash talking in practice or games, “because they just don’t think that way. They’re all about supporting and loving each other.”

For more on Special Olympics, visit somi.org.

“Volunteers are always needed,” Mary DeLong said. “All of our athletes, right now, are all up in their ages. We want the younger generation to come up.”

Barton City Eagles is hosting a snowshoe/horseshoe tournament today, with sign-up at noon and play starting at 1 p.m., with proceeds to Special Olympics.

Reach Mary DeLong at 989-916-3547, or Jenny Gawne at 989-590-7020.