Large Volunteer Network
The Special Olympics has a volunteer network of 750,000 around the world and more than 300,000 coaches around the world from all different walks of life. Their roles consist of coaching, training, serving as officials, event organizers, fundraisers and managers. These volunteers can also become Unified Partners, which allows them to play alongside athletes or cheer as fans in the stands. The organization seeks volunteers, who they refer to as heroes, with big hearts, big smiles and big commitments to their mission. Volunteers of the organization are the back bone of the Special Olympics movement. There are also a number of celebrity ambassadors who support the organization and its mission.