(Norristown, PA – April 22, 2025) – Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) is thrilled to announce it will host the 2025 Special Olympics National Golf Championship, presented by the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP), August 25-28, 2025, at Penn National Golf Club in Fayetteville, PA. SOPA will hold a press conference and celebration on Monday, May 5, 2025, at Penn National Golf Course to make this announcement alongside Special Olympics North America, GAP, WellSpan, and the PGA Tour.

Through this tournament, Fayetteville will bring together more than 300 top Special Olympics athletes from across 22 States and Canada.

“We’re incredibly proud to host the Special Olympics North America Golf Championships here in Pennsylvania. It’s a great opportunity to elevate our golf program, bring the local community together, and showcase the power of inclusion. We can’t wait to welcome athletes from across the nation and Canada to experience all that our great state has to offer,” said Special Olympics Pennsylvania Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Andrew Fee.

WHAT: A press conference announcing that the 2025 Special Olympics North America Golf Championship will be held in Fayetteville in August for the first time. This championship will bring over 300 golfers from across the country and Canada to compete for the gold.

WHEN/WHERE:   Monday, May 5 at Penn National Golf Course
(3720 Club House Dr, Fayetteville, PA 17222)

• 9:30 a.m. – Doors open; interview availability
• 10:00 a.m. – Light Breakfast
• 11:00 a.m. – Press conference begins
• 11:30 a.m.  – Program concludes, interview availability

WHO: Special Olympics staff, athletes and supporters will come together to announce Penn National Golf Course as the host course for the 2025 Special Olympics North America Golf Championship. Press conference speakers include:

• Patti Nitterhouse, Host, Penn National Golf Club
• Mark Peterson, Executive Director, Golf Association of Philadelphia
• Marc McCarey & Jeramy Kennerknecht, Special Olympics Pennsylvania coach & athlete
• Matt Aaron, President and CEO, Special Olympics Pennsylvania
• Niki Hinckle, WellSpan Health Representative
• Dr. Marilyn J. Wells, Ph.D., Chancellor, Penn State Mont Alto

Editors’ note: the following individuals will be available for media availability before and after the press conference to answer questions about the SONA Golf Championship.

• Craig Pippert, Director, Sports Development, Special Olympics North America
• Andrew Fee, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Special Olympics Pennsylvania
• Marc McCarey & Jeramy Kennerknecht, Special Olympics Pennsylvania coach & athlete

WHY: Special Olympics will welcome more than 300 athletes representing 22 States and Canada from August 25-28, 2025, for the 2025 Special Olympics North America Golf Championship. SOPA is dedicated to prioritizing the lifelong sport that is golf. Throughout this championship, SOPA aims to unite communities and is excited to showcase the talent and determination of hundreds of athletes. SOPA looks forward to seeing you at the Special Olympics North America Golf Championship press conference on Monday, May 5.

Media Contact: Larkin Richards, 610.630.9480, ext. 232, lrichards@specialolympicspa.org

About Special Olympics Pennsylvania
Special Olympics Pennsylvania provides year-round training and competition in 21 Olympic-type sports to more than 15,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities or closely related developmental disabilities.  For more information about how you can join “The Inclusion Revolution,” visit www.specialolympicspa.org.

About Special Olympics
Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. With more than six million athletes and Unified Sports partners in over 190 countries and territories and more than one million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and over 100,000 games and competitions every year. Engage with us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and our blog on Medium. Learn more at www.SpecialOlympics.org.