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Special Olympics swim meet honors longtime volunteer
More than 100 swimmers from six teams in six counties participated.
WARREN — The Area 11 Kelly Jo Carlson Memorial Special Olympics Swim Meet is an athletic event, but it is also a tribute to the spirit of the woman for whom it is named.
More than 100 swimmers from six teams affiliated with developmental- disabilities programs in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Ashtabula, Summit and Stark counties participated in the sixth annual Kelly Jo Carlson meet Saturday at Warren G. Harding High School. The previous five meets were at Youngstown State University.
The meet was inspired by Kelly, who died at 33 on April 21, 2004. The daughter of Paul and Lois Carlson of Bazetta, Kelly was a competitive swimmer at Warren Western Reserve High School and enjoyed volunteering and had helped at Special Olympics events since she was a child.
Because of her interest in Special Olympics, Kelly’s family asked that monetary tributes at the time of her death go to the Special Olympics program at Trumbull County’s Fairhaven School.
The fund is used to sponsor the event. Contributions can be sent in Kelly’s name to Special Olympics, Fairhaven School, 420 Lincoln Way, Niles 44446.
The donations help pay for meet expenses such as pool fees, lifeguards, insurance, security, officials, medals and T-shirts.
Kelly’s father said he and his family plan to underwrite the annual Area 11 Kelly Jo Carlson Memorial Swim Meet indefinitely.
The Carlson family has always been active in Special Olympics activities.
It’s nice to see them keep the legacy of service to Special Olympics alive with the swim meet, and it’s a wonderful tribute to their daughter, said David Grossman, coach of the Mahoning County team.
Kelly’s brother and sister, K.C. Carlson and Kristin Matthus, and several of her friends volunteer for the meet each year, and now their children are also beginning to participate.
“It’s a time to get together with Kelly’s friends and nice to see the younger generation getting involved,” Matthus said.
The meet, hosted by the Trumbull County Fairhaven Program, serves as a qualifying event for the state Special Olympics, said Carol Kirsch, Special Olympics coordinator at Fairhaven.
“The event has tons of volunteers and great support from the community,” she said.
That the event has grown from 40 swimmers the first year to more than 100 this year is very gratifying, Kelly’s father said.
“It’s a tough day for us but also very rewarding. Kelly would have enjoyed herself,” he said.
alcorn@vindy.com