A very big “thank you” to everyone at Incline Village who helped make this year's Special Olympics' Celebrity Winterfest a wonderful success this month. We were amazed by the number of organizations and individuals who offered to volunteer, provide auction items and be a part of the multi-event weekend, and to so many who understand and have a warm spot for supporting our many Special Olympics athletes.

Our guests were unanimous in their praise for this year's Celebrity Winterfest. Diamond Peak provided an ideal venue for our Ski Challenge, and the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe was the perfect spot to enjoy each other's company, build new relationships and form a beachhead of support for our Special Olympics programs.

For the first time, we opened our event to the community and local Incline Village residents did not disappoint. Many of you joined us for our reception, awards dinner, poker tournament and our big finale — the Plungefest. More than 100 individuals, including members of the Diamond Peak Ski Team, Sierra Nevada College and Hyatt jumped into the frigid 39 degree water and joined us for breakfast.

Moving an event of this size to a new location is never easy, but so many members of the Incline Village community rolled out the red carpet for Special Olympics.

I believe we have found a new home for one of our most important fundraisers.

Thank you Incline Village for your warm hospitality and making it possible for us to continue to provide free and life-changing sports training and competition to thousands of individuals with developmental disabilities.

We hope you join us again and participate in the 2011 Celebrity Winterfest March 4-6.

Richard Collett

CEO and President

Special Olympics Nevada and Northern California