Special Olympics to hold fundraiser

Ventura County Special Olympics will hold its second annual Parking Lot Sale from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., March 17 in the Ventura Harbor Village overflow parking lot on the corner of Schooner Drive and Harbor Boulevard in Ventura.

Because the sale is taking place on St. Patrick's Day, all purchasers, and anybody stopping by wearing green, will receive a free raffle ticket to win a Special Olympics gift basket valued at $100. Included are items donated from Ventura Harbor Village as well as Special Olympics signature items. The winning ticket will be drawn at the end of the sale, and the winner need not be present.

Donations for the sale are accepted and are tax deductible. All proceeds from the sale benefit Ventura County Special Olympics programs and athletes.

Also in March will be the Ventura County Special Olympics Aquatics Tournament Sun., March 25 at Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Road. The event is open to the public and free of charge. Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. and competition starts at 9:45.

More than 150 Special Olympics athletes from San Luis Obispo, Kern, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and Santa Clarita Valley will compete. Events include 25- through 1,500-meter freestyle, 25- through 200-meter backstroke and breaststroke, individual medley and other shallow water events. Medals will be awarded to first through third place finishers and will be distributed throughout the day.

Snacks will be available for sale, the proceeds of which will help underwrite the cost of the tournament.

Ventura County Special Olympics offers year-round sports training and competition opportunities to more than 800 children and adults, ages 8 years and up, with intellectual disabilities, in 18 Olympics-style sports at 45 different training sites throughout Ventura County. Programs are free to participants. Sponsors are needed to help with program delivery.

For more information, please call (805) 650-7717 or e-mail Ppreston@sosc.org or Dcleaver@sosc.org.