Ross County & Chillicothe — A fun way to support local athletes in the national Special Olympics games is this Friday. “A Night for the Champions” at Creekside Occasions will feature a catered dinner, fundraisers, and athlete success stories.
Layla Halm, an intern at the Ross County Board of Developmental Disabilities, describes the fundraiser for the local Special Olympians in the below video. She announced the event in the July 15th, 2026 “Business After Business” monthly event by the Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce.
Halm said Ross County just had its first athlete go to the USA Special Olympics games, and win silver in the 50-yard breaststroke. She said the effort is growing fast, and the Board of DD is trying to offset its cost so they can send more in 2030.
The last Special Olympics games were in Minnesota, and the next will be in Cleveland.
Halm plans to graduate early from Ohio University, focusing in hearing, speech & language sciences in pre-speech pathology. She says she attended Pioneer School as one of two neurotypical children in her class, and since then knew that she wanted to work with people with disabilities.
Halm said she worked with the Ross County Board of Developmental Disabilities last summer, and will again until she graduates. She says she wants to open her own clinic for children in the autism spectrum and hopes to further work with Ross County DD.
And yes, she says she was named after the popular Eric Clapton song.
To get tickets, Halm says to email her at [email protected] or visit the Pioneer Center website. You can pick up tickets at the office at 167 West Main Street in Chillicothe. The event is at Creekside Occasions at 14847 State Route 772, just south of Chillicothe.
From their Facebook post:
“Our Champions are the dedicated supporters, sponsors, and community members who help make our mission possible. Their generosity allows Ross County Special Olympics to provide year-round training, competitions, and life-changing opportunities for our athletes.
“Through events like ‘A Night for the Champions,’ we celebrate not only the accomplishments of our athletes, but also the incredible people who champion inclusion, confidence, and growth for individuals of all abilities.
“Join us for A Night for the Champions — an unforgettable evening benefiting Ross County Special Olympics!
“Come celebrate the incredible athletes of Ross County with a fun-filled night of excitement, inspiration, and community support!”
The Ross County Board of Developmental Disabilities has a website and Facebook page. Creekside Occasions also has a website and Facebook page (and is allied with “Cats & Company” cat rescue and “Nine Lives Thrift Company” in Central Center).
Two recent stories about Ross County Special Olympics on the Scioto Post:
Ross County Special Olympics Competes at State Summer Games (6/30/2025)
