Portrait-one-river-team-melissa-sawyer.j

Sawyer Boulette

Director

207-873-0684

sboulette@clubaycc.org

Cassie Contigiani

Coordinator

207-872-8584

ccontigiani@clubaycc.org

PROGRAMS

IN THE NEWS

Subject to Amendment as Needed

CORNAMENT

FUNDRAISER
FRIDAY, OCT 8

5PM Registration

5:45pm Start

Purnell-Wrigley Field

Details

Become a Sponsor

All money raised supports the Unfied Champion Club Program

SOFTBALL

Oct 5, 12, 19 & 26

Tuesdays 5:30-7:30PM

Purnell Wrigley Field

Schedule and Location of play

subject to change -

stay tuned for updates!

HIKING

Hike 1 - Wed, Oct 6 - 2pm

Frenchs Mountain,

Rome, Maine

Hike 2 - Mon, Oct 11 - 2pm

Blueberry Hill,

Rome, Maine

NEWS GALLERY

Sidelines: Love of the game is on display at Unified softball game

Alfond Youth & Community Center program is doing a lot of good for a lot of people, Travis Lazarczyk writes October 17, 2020, Morning Sentinel

WATERVILLE — It was 60 degrees just after 5:30 Wednesday evening when the lights came on at Purnell Wrigley Field. It was a perfect fall night for softball.
On this night, the Red Sox would play the Cubs, the two teams in the Unified softball program run by the Alfond Youth & Community Center. Unified sports programs for students with special needs have grown in Maine high schools over the past few years. The AYCC’s program began in January for adults. The goal is to expand the inclusion playing sports brings to these athletes after they leave high school.
Athletes of all ages took part in the softball league.
Read More ...

Former unified athlete combining his passions to raise funds for new unified program for young adults

Sunday, July 19, 2020 10:35
Written by John Wagoner
UNITY – One former Brewer High School student, and a fixture around UMaine athletics, is getting the community involved for a new program that gives young adults with intellectual disabilities new opportunities to play sports.

If you were looking for Kristian Joliat on a given day in the past few weeks, there is a good chance you will find him practicing his free throws in his driveway.

“I’m practicing mostly every day, when it’s not as hot outside.”

There are two things Kristian is passionate about: sports and all things fire departments. Both are key components to his and his family’s lives, as the son of two longtime firefighters. When he needed a partner for the unified walking program at the Alfond Youth and Community Center in Waterville, there was a natural connection to Skowhegan chief of police David Bucknam. (Click link to read mopre)

Inclusive sports program gives outlet to locals like Kristian Joliat - part one

By Eric Gullickson
Published: Jul. 29, 2020 at 11:09 PM EDT
BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - Sports have a way of unifying people. Over the next two nights we will showcase the growth of inclusivity through a new program in central Maine. In part one, we introduce one local who is growing with the new program. His name is Kristian Joliat...

“The team is a family by the way,” says unified athlete and UMaine honorary coach Kristian Joliat, “the hockey team and the basketball team is my family and i like that.”

“When I got to Maine, I remember the first time that I met Kristian,” says UMaine head men’s basketball coach Richard Barron, “and he came to women’s basketball camp and told me he was a counselor. That was my first introduction to him. He knew everything that was going on, so I trusted him, and that relationship has really blossomed since then.” (Click link to view video and read more)

Unified Champions Club inclusive sports program gives outlet to locals - part 2

By Eric Gullickson
Published: Jul. 30, 2020 at 8:44 PM EDT
WATERVILLE, Maine (WABI) - We featured Kristian, a local sports enthusiast, who now has an opportunity to play unified sports as an adult in part one of our series. In part two of our series we showcase the program he is a part of...

“I played unified in Abu Dhabi for Special Olympics World Games,” says Special Olympics Maine Board of Directors and Alfond Youth Center Wellness Director Sawyer Boulette, “and the experience! I came back to Maine. I was like holy smokes, this is something the athletes are missing after they graduate high school.”

Sawyer pitched the idea to the Head of Special Olympics International. He loved it! Unifed Champions Club presented by the Maine Masonic Charitible Foundation was born in Waterville. (Click Link to view video and read more)

Alfond Youth Center adds new huge indoor space, Unified Champion Club

(WABI)
By Bryan Sidelinger, Eric Gullickson
Published: Dec. 10, 2019 at 9:59 PM EST
The Alfond Youth Center unveiling two new aspects officially today.

They recently added a new 10-thousand foot space with an indoor track, fitness center, and spin studio for all ages to stay active. But the big announcement is its Unified Champion Club. It's partnered with Special Olympics for adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in sports. Also they've built a place of inclusion to allow everyone to participate in sport and have a space to grow... (Click link to see more)

Unified Champion Club Special Olympics.j

Tim Shriver, PhD

Chariman Special Olympics International

“The mission of the AYCC is laudable. But the vision to create a culture of inclusiveness and acceptance … is groundbreaking. AYCC will be the first club of its kind in the country. We hope to see it replicated broadly because it represents a model for the way every school, every club and every community could be – places of welcome, safety, and mutual respect -- and filled with the joy of togetherness.”

Susan Scacchi, the Executive Director of the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation (MMCF), was searching for an avenue to spread the Mason’s culture of volunteering and community building across Maine in an impactful way when she came to the AYCC for a visit. Kismet! This October the MMCF Trustees approved funding staffing for the AYCC’s Unified Club Program in the amount of $100,000 over two years. MMCF Grand Master, Mark Rustin, explained, “The Mason’s are builders, building lives with the purpose of building communities. We are dedicated to this project for two years and, with its success, beyond!”