A $4,000 grant from the George H. Riedel Foundation fully funded the 2026 Special Olympics Track and Field event held today, Wednesday, April 8 at Hannibal High School.
Approximately 175 athletes from six schools in northeast Missouri took part in running, jumping and throwing events. Eighty percent of the Special Olympians are from Hannibal. About 60 volunteers from the Hannibal High School and Middle School helped with the event.
This is the second year that the Riedel Foundation has funded the Hannibal meet. The annual event ensures that youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to inclusive, empowering athletic opportunities.
Riedel Foundation Lead Trustee Michael Bukstein presented awards to the medalists. “This is a great event to be a part of,” Bukstein said. “The joy you see on the athlete’s faces is just priceless. I also like seeing the interaction between the student volunteers and their special needs peers.”
For more than 25 years, the Riedel Foundation has invested in programs that improve the quality of life for Hannibal residents, awarding approximately $7.8 million in grants to nonprofit organizations.