Transparency
REDDING, Calif. — Cheers, laughter and the sound of rolling pins filled the lanes as more than 100 athletes competed in the Shasta County Special Olympics Bowling Tournament, an annual event that continues to grow in size and community support.
“This event is our annual bowling tournament. We have over 100 bowlers,” said Michael Kiley, volunteer for Shasta County Special Olympics. “We’ve actually outgrown the bowling alley. So now we have two sessions, a morning and an afternoon, with lunch in between. It’s pretty much an all-day event.”
Athletes from Trinity County also joined the tournament as part of a growing partnership with Shasta County. Kiley said the collaboration helps Trinity County develop its own Special Olympics program.
“We’re dovetailing a lot of our resources currently to make Trinity autonomous eventually,” Kiley said. “We want to make sure we give them leadership and guidance so they can have their own identity.”
The tournament kicked off with a dinner and dance the night before, giving athletes a chance to celebrate together. “They get a chance to interact and socialize,” Kiley said.
For now, the tournament remains a regional event, but Kiley said organizers hope to expand in the coming years. “In 2026, that’s the evolution of our program — to not only have regional events, but go to the next level and make our athletes go as far as they can based on performance,” he said.
Community organizations played a key role in the tournament’s success. The Exchange Club of Redding, a longtime partner, provided volunteers and a $500 donation.
“It’s one of our cherished events,” said Bob Reinhard, chairman for the Exchange Club’s involvement. “We gave them a donation, but what they really need is manpower. When they serve lunch, everybody gets hungry at the same time, so we help there too.”
Reinhard, who has been involved for years, said the tournament’s impact is deeply personal. “It’s a feeling of love, really. Truly, I love it,” he said. “There’s a ton of people here, and the athletes are amazing. Our club has been doing this since the mid-1970s, and it’s one of our big events.”
Kiley said the program has seen enrollment in Special Olympics grow by about 25% over the past year, thanks to increased community support. “The community has really rallied, and that’s been the greatest reward — to see everyone embrace this organization and foster the growth,” he said.