Members of Naugatuck Valley Community College’s Student Government Association presented Special Olympics Waterbury with a check for $1,001.78 on January 13—the result of student fundraising efforts during the fall semester, which included bake sales, candy sales and game-room activities.  The contribution puts the non-profit group over the top in a $10,000 fundraising challenge from MacDermid Inc. of Waterbury, which is matching the first $10,000 raised.

“This is amazing,” said Rich Kalcznski, a local coordinator with Special Olympics Waterbury, who accepted the check on behalf of the organization. The donations will fund uniforms for athletes, transportation and sporting equipment, he said. “Our budget is typically about $20,000 a year and that’s just enough to make ends meet. This will put us in a category where we can get really good uniforms and not have to shop at used stores for our equipment.”

Connecticut’s largest local chapter of the group, Special Olympics Waterbury serves more than 400 athletes ranging in age from 8 to 74. With the help of 85 coaches, they compete in 13 sports ranging from skiing and basketball to curling and softball.

“Every academic year we pick a community organization to support and we selected to help the Special Olympics for the 2015-2016 year,” said NVCC Student Activities Director Karen Blake, who’s also a volunteer basketball coach for the Special Olympics. “For the spring, we will assist in planning, decorating for and chaperoning their prom and banquets.”