OUR HISTORY
motionball was founded in 2002 by 3 brothers – Paul, Mark and Sean Etherington. Growing up, they learned the importance of volunteerism through their parents, who were, and are to this day strong supporters and advocates of the Special Olympics movement. After many years of volunteering at events and coaching Special Olympics teams, the brothers decided to connect a cause they were passionate about with their peers. With the help of their friends and professional networks, motionball was born.
The first ever motionball Gala was held in Toronto, raising $45,000 for the cause, and run entirely by volunteers. Marathon of Sport came to be in 2003, and within a few years, the event was replicated in Vancouver, Halifax and Calgary. By 2013 motionball was operating in eight cities across Canada and began expanding to university campuses. By 2015, motionball delivered its first ever annual donation of $1,000,000 to the Special Olympics Canada Foundation.
Today, motionball continues to be a volunteer led organization, with many founding board members (the Etherington Brothers, Graham White and Darcy Montgomery) still volunteering their time to the organization. Mark and Paul Etherington remain heavily involved with the day to day operations acting as volunteer President and Chairman respectively, along with a small and passionate national office staff who support our volunteer Event Directors from coast to coast. In 2019, this ever expanding network were proud to donate for the year $2.1 million to Special Olympics.
VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS














NATIONAL OFFICE STAFF






VOLUNTEER EVENT DIRECTORS
Rob Riccardi
Caledon MOS
Jason Scorcia
Caledon MOS
Paul
Horton
Calgary Gala
Nathan
Smyth
Calgary MOS
David
Ogbuah
Cape Breton MOS
Chloe
Zinck
Cape Breton MOS
Hayley
Cross
Edmonton MOS
Celeste
Soete
Edmonton MOS
Matt
Graham
Halifax Gala and MOS
Dave
Jones
Halifax Gala and MOS
Cher
Digdon
Halifax Gala and MOS
Brittany
Graham
Halifax Gala and MOS
Chris
Rafuse
Halifax Gala and MOS
Alexandria
Haggarty
HAMILTON MOS
Jeremy
Haggarty
HAMILTON MOS
Derek
Fuhr
Kelowna MOS
Jamie
Carpenter
Kelowna MOS
Jessica
Heinrich
Kelowna MOS
Christian
Richardson
Kingston MOS
Emma
Lambert
Kingston MOS
Anthony
Colonna
Montreal MOS
Riccardo
Zerbino
Montreal MOS
Braeden Hunt
Oakville MOS
Shelby Letkemann
Oakville MOS
Shannon
Goby
Ottawa MOS
Paytonn
Abraham
Ottawa MOS
Ben
MacDonald
PEI MOS
Kayla
Blackmore
Saint John MOS
Danielle
Robertson-Boersma
Saskatoon MOS
Jasmin
Ogren
Saskatoon MOS
Reza
Askari
Vancouver MOS
Jimmy
Darbyshire
Vancouver MOS
Taylor
Conte
Windsor MOS
Marisa
Conte
Windsor MOS
Marina
Lovell
Winnipeg MOS
Paige
Small
Winnipeg MOS
motionballU Volunteer event directors
Meghan
MacLeod
Acadia University
Julia
Sylvester
Acadia University
Charley
Wing
Bishops University
Kyra
Simons
Bishops University
Michela
Venosa
Brock University
Curtis
Tenhag
Brock University
Nicolas
Molina
Concordia University
Chelsea
Morgan
Concordia University
Ethan
Merlin
Dalhousie University
Melanie
Clayton
dalhousie University
Subhan
Malik
Degroote School of Buisness
Jessica
Hanson
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
Roos
Nijzink
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
Gurleen
Sandhu
McMaster university
Emily
Van Berkel
McMaster university
Marlee
Ament
Memorial University
Rowan
Gibbson
Mount Royal University
Emma
Shimizu
Nippising University
Praveen
Manickavel
Ontario Tech University
Lexi
Gottlieb
Queens University
Rachel
Kailis
Queens University
Nathan Lee
Simon Fraser University
Alicia
Dubrogowski
Simon Fraser University
Ashley
Collins
St. FX University
Danny
Laursen
St. FX UNIVERSITY
Olivia Mclennan
Thompson Rivers University
Jeeva
Gill
Thompson Rivers University
Lhexen
Rabit
Toronto Metropolitan University
Aaliyah
Rabeeh
University of Alberta
Eman
Amerey
University of Alberta
Katelyn
Matchim
University of British Columbia Okanagan
Hailey
Wright
University of British Columbia Okanagan
Ysabelle
Tumaneng
University of British Columbia Vancouver
Maya
Lappin
University of British Columbia Vancouver
Donovan
Smith
University of Calgary
Christine
Tullio
University of Guelph
Maddie
Fischer
University of Guelph
Logan
White
University of Guelph Humber
Reese
Arsenault
University of Lethbridge
Minerva
Gabrial
University of Manitoba
Houda
EI Hajjaoui
University of New Brunswick
Ashlyn
George
University of New Brunswick
Madison
Taylor
University of Northern British Columbia
Bryce
Dodds
University of Ottawa
Hannah
Klassen
University of Regina
Logan
Heck
University of Saskatchewan
Katrina
Frankenberger
University of the Fraser Valley
Mara
Oita
University of Toronto
Andrei Uzumtoma
University of Toronto
Katelyn
Howie
University of Winnipeg
Sunpreet
University of Winnipeg
Lexi
Delisle
Western University
Cassidi
Nother
Western University
Melissa Pennington
WilfrId Laurier University
Gulkshayl
Bhalla
Niagara College
Shantal
Carrie
Niagara College
Sidhanth
Yaday Mekala
Niagara College
Accountability & Governance
motionball is a not-for-profit organization that prides itself on introducing Canadians to the Special Olympics movement through integrated and inclusive sport and social events. We appreciate there are costs associated with running fundraising events and we are mindful of the investment, however, we also firmly believe our events champion integration and awareness between those with intellectual disabilities and those without. The greatest tool we have in levelling the playing field and allowing our participants to meet, interact and engage with Special Olympics athletes is by having them spend a day together on the playing fields and creating meaningful relationships through sport.
As an organization, we acknowledge the importance of being good stewards of the dollars donated to motionball and therefore we follow an internal objective to ensure our Marathon of Sport events (which represent 80% of our fundraising totals) keep their event costs to under 20% of gross revenue; and our Gala events at below 50%.
We are proudly a volunteer lead organization. From inception, our Founders, Board Members & Volunteer Event Directors receive no compensation for their considerable time, effort and enthusiasm for making a difference in their communities.
As motionball has grown, so has our professional staff. As of 2023 motionball has 6 full-time employees who support our almost 100 passionate motionball Volunteer Event Directors and the 50 events hosted throughout the year. We are committed to a thoughtful investment in our paid team in order to expand motionball’s reach and ultimately increase funding and awareness of Special Olympics in Canada.
In terms of our 2022 Revenue & Expenses:
Gross 2022 Revenue $2,597,514.00
Gross Event Costs $834,637.00
Operating Costs $181,074.00
Donation to SOCF $1,600,000