Breakfast With Champions!
By Drew Milne
On October 23, 2025, the Sonoran Center participated in the 13th annual Breakfast with Champions event at the Skyline Country Club. Organized by the Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ) and presented by Tucson Conquistadores, the fundraiser aimed to highlight the work of athletes, coaches, families, and fans in Arizona that make the Special Olympics possible. The event also commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics, which began in 1975.
The event included a meet and greet with Special Olympics athletes, a breakfast catered by Skyline Country Club, a silent auction, and culminated in a presentation by a panel of Special Olympics athletes.
Because the Special Olympics provides equipment, uniforms, practice spaces, and other expenses at no cost to its athletes, events like the Breakfast with Champions raise valuable funds. Individuals or organizations can purchase tables at the event, and there is a donation drive following the presentation by Special Olympics athletes. During the presentation, the athletes told their stories of how the Special Olympics had a positive impact on them. It is this last presentation that made the event so special for many of its participants. One highlight was the story of Javion White, a 15-year-old athlete who was named Southern Arizona Athlete of the Year.
The Sonoran Center’s Loretta Alvarez sponsored a table at the Special Olympics, but the relationship between the Center and SOAZ runs deeper. Dr. Tamsen Bassford, in addition to serving as Sonoran Center Affiliated Faculty at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, is the medical director for the Coronado region of Special Olympics Arizona, supporting healthy athletes with health education activities along with U of A medical students and residents.
The two organizations’ most recent collaboration highlights their shared commitment to the holistic well-being of Special Olympics athletes - not just physical, but emotional and social health as well. Special Olympics offered Sonoran Center staff a training in Special Olympics’ Healthy Relationships curriculum. Gabe Martinez, Paavleena Madhivanan, Loretta Alvarez and Celina Urquidez were certified as healthy relationship facilitators, and the Sonoran Center is looking into offering a version of the Special Olympics curriculum in 2026. Special Olympics athletes have also been guest speakers at University of Arizona classes offered by Sonoran Center affiliated faculty, and the Sonoran Center has been a presence at Special Olympics events as well.
Paavleena Madhivanan is a Special Olympics athlete as well as a Project Aide at the Sonoran Center. Paavi helped carry the torch, along with a representative from the Tucson Police Department (TPD). This illustrated the cooperation and partnership between the TPD and the Special Olympics. Known as the ‘Flame of Hope’, the torch signifies unity and inspiration, and is also carried during the Law Enforcement Torch Run fundraiser.
The Sonoran Center is proud to have participated in this very special event. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Special Olympics moving forward into the future.