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ABOUT US

WHO WE ARE

motionball is a national non-profit that empowers young Canadians to be leaders in their communities, raising funds and awareness for Special Olympics through integrated social and sporting events. We believe that the next generation of Canadians, today’s students and young professionals, are the future of the Special Olympics movement – with the power to make meaningful difference for generations to come.

Our purpose is to create a sustainable funding model and base of supporters for the Special Olympics movement.  At the same time, we’re providing more people with the tools to pursue their passions and make a difference in their own communities. 

Our mandate is to introduce the next generation of donors, volunteers and sponsors to the Special Olympics movement through integrated social and sporting events. motionball now proudly hosts 50+ annual events in 17 Canadian cities and 34 university campuses. Through these events and as a result of the many individuals, partners and organizations that have supported the movement, motionball has donated over $14,000,000 net since its inception in 2002.

Have more questions? Visit our FAQ.

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

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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

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