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Central Area

Area Contact Information

305 Special Olympics Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: 573-635-1660
Fax: 573-635-8233

Area Staff:
Tim Schuster, Program Director

Alex Jones, Development Director

Counties served:
Audrain, Benton, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Chariton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Gasconade, Henry, Howard, Johnson, Lafayette, Macon, Maries, Marion, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Osage, Pettis, Phelps, Pulaski, Ralls, Randolph, and Saline

Area Sponsors

Columbia Missourian logo
RRCU Logo Full Color
Horseman Challange Logo
Quaker Windows & Doors Corporate Logo
BSL Logo 200x85

Thank you for Sponsoring an Athlete

 

Help a Central Area athlete today. Your donation helps cover the cost of equipment, facilities, and meals for a year, ensuring individuals with intellectual disabilities can experience the joy of sports through Special Olympics Missouri.

Boone Supported Living LLC

Alia Jones

Zach Robinson

Heather Soberano 

Seth Hall

Central Area events

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Central Area- Lexington Basketball Tournament

January 30 @ 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
2309 Aull Ln
Lexington, MO 64067 United States
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Central Area- Russellville Basketball Tournament

February 4 @ 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
13600 Rt. C
Russellville, MO 65074 United States
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Central Area Basketball

February 7 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
1690 W Ashley Road
Boonville, MO 65233 United States

  Tournament will take place at Boonville High School, LSE Middle School, and David Barton Elementary. Coaches will receive locations for competition. Souvenirs will be available for purchase at the…

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2026 Lake of the Ozarks Polar Plunge & 5K Strut

February 28 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

This “unbearable” event is a unique opportunity to show your bravery as you support local Special Olympics Missouri athletes by walking, running or crawling into the frigid winter waters. In…

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Columbia Polar Plunge

March 14 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
2001 E Broadway
Columbia, MO 65201 United States

Join us Saturday March 14 at Stephen’s Lake in Columbia for our 19th Annual Polar Plunge! This “unbearable” event is a unique opportunity to show your bravery as you support local…

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State Basketball 2026

March 21 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
2026 MO Magic Logo

Team Missouri Meeting/Training

March 27 - March 29
Purdy, 65734 United States

Details coming. Questions? Contact Susan Shaffer

2026 MO Magic Logo

Team Missouri Meeting/Training

May 9
305 Special Olympics Dr.
Jefferson City, MO 65101 United States

Details Coming. Questions? Contact Shaffer

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State Summer Games

May 29 - May 31
Kirksville, Missouri

reach out to Craig Hall for information hall@somo.org

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2026 USA GAMES

June 20 - June 26

SOMO Sum Ups - weekly recaps & headlines

A group of athletes and volunteers pose for a photo on a track in front of a banner

‘Unified Days’ kick off Return to Play activities

By DILLEN MAYFIELD Festus High School Festus High School Student Council hosted a Unified Track day for their entire district on April 15, culminating several months of planning. I went…

Matt LaCaille stands in front of the dental exam room at Special Olympics Missouri's Training for Life Campus.

SOMO wows Knights of Columbus

By JODIE JACKSON JR. | Special Olympics Missouri JEFFERSON CITY – Seeing really was believing for Matt LaCaille and a hundred or so other Knights of Columbus members who recently…

Gary Brimer wears a smiley face sticker and a bandana while smiling at the camera

Gary Brimer’s legacy

On Friday, November 20, 2020, Gary Brimer passed away after a battle with cancer. He left a legacy behind that includes the biggest heart for our athletes, building the SOMO…

An aerial photo of a corn maze with the Special Olympics globe logo and a torch

Midway Golf & Games creates Special Olympics Missouri corn maze

For the first time ever, Midway Golf and Games has decided to add a corn maze to the number of attractions they provide during the Fall season. This year, they…

Athlete poses with volunteer holding an award

Lou Holtmann named SOMO Volunteer of Year, others honored

All of the volunteers below were recognized for their outstanding contributions to Special Olympics Missouri from their respective areas at the SOMO Annual Awards Luncheon Oct. 19 in Columbia. Each year, Special…

SOMO staff poses with students and holds up a big check

Laura Speed Elliott Middle School students raise money for Special Olympics through coin wars

On May 22, an EF3 tornado tore through Jefferson City, destroying our athletic field and damaging the roof and most interior spaces at the Training for Life Campus. Due to…

Young athlete laying on belly under a parachute and looking up while smiling

The Impact of Young Athletes

 Editor’s note: This session of Young Athletes concluded in early May 2019. On May 22, an EF3 tornado tore through Jefferson City, destroying our athletic field and damaging the roof…

Athlete gives tour of the Training for Life Campus

Special Olympics Missouri Athlete Finds A “Place to Belong”

Inspired by our mission, SOMO offers programs that cultivate the whole athlete on and off the sports field. It’s easy to see that lives can’t help but be changed through…