Joe Jonas Runs to Raise Funds

Hundreds of pre-teen girls went googly eyed as Joe Jonas of The Jonas Brothers, dressed in form fitting exercise gear, sprinted past them on a track outside the Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheatre.

The eldest Jonas, woke up bright and early the morning before another concert, to host the Joe Jonas iWin Fun Run to benefit the Special Olympics of Northern California and lift the spirits of the pre-teens and the Special Olympics athletes attendance. In total, the event held on Sept. 18 raised over $70,000 directly for the athletes as well as awareness of the Special Olympics and its programs.

Hundreds of Jonas fans (and Special Olympics fans) ran a 5k run after gathering donations directly benefitting Special Olympic Athletes. Jonas, along with his brother Nick and members of the Jonas band started the race and cruised in for a fast finish beating the 22-minute mark.

"I chose to benefit the Special Olympics because I always see some of the athletes at our concerts and get so inspired. I want to give something back," Jonas said in an interview with Mountain View Patch prior to the run. "I want to do something where they feel at home."

In fact, Jonas even keeps a memento from the first run in his guitar case wherever he goes.

"When we did the first run, the top earner gave me her medal and I have it in my tour case so I see it before I go onstage every night," Jonas said.

But the event was as much about the Special Olympics athletes as it was the teenyboppers. Elizabeth Rangel, the event's top earner and Special Olympics athlete got to meet Jonas and went up on stage after the race where the crowd applauded her efforts.

On raising $4,600 for the Special Olympics by various efforts, including hosting garage sales, Rangel said, "I was happy to do it. I love the Special Olympics."

But, on meeting Jonas at a meet and greet for the top earners, Rangel said, "I have butterflies in my stomach!"

Lindsay Mibach, also a Special Olympics athlete, said she went to Washington DC to speak on behalf of the organization to Congress.

"I got to speak on behalf of the Special Olympics in Washington DC, where I met Joe," said Mibach. "The Special Olympics are fun and it's great how the staff is helping raise money for the athletes."

Kirsten Cherry, a spokesperson for the Special Olympics of Northern California also explained how the program benefits participants.

"It is a sports program, but it's so much more," she said. "The participants learn to socialize, have good health, and how to make friends. As a matter of fact, more than half the Special Olympics athletes go on to have jobs and all of them have a community that they didn't have prior to participating."

Founded in 1968, the Special Olympics has grown into a worldwide organization covering over 150 countries. Hosting featured competitions every other year for people with intellectual disabilities, as well as year round training for the athletes, the Special Olympics gives participants the opportunity to develop their physical fitness, courage, and form friendships. More events supporting the Special Olympics of Northern California will occur throughout this year and through 2011.