Special Olympics of Utah honors Knights of Columbus and Saint Rose of Lima parishioner for their efforts

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — At the Special Olympics Utah 2014 Hall of Fame gala Nov. 15, the Utah Knights of Columbus were recognized as the Community Partner of the Year, and Pamela Hayden was inducted as the 2014 Program Builder.

Hayden, a Saint Rose of Lima parishioner, has been involved with Special Olympics Utah for 21 years as a parent, coach and fundraiser; her husband, Barry Hayden, also is a coach. Pamela Hayden, whose daughter, Kelsey, was born with Down Syndrome, has received a number of honors from Special Olympics, including being named Coach of the Year and a member of the Family of the Year.

The Special Olympics, founded in 1968, provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. On the national level, the Knights of Columbus, the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world, have been involved with Special Olympics since its inception. According to the Knights’ website, www.kofc.org, “Special Olympics ranks among the larger gifts the Order makes annually of time and money.”

The Utah Knights have been involved with the state Special Olympics for at least 10 years, providing the color guard and helping with the Summer and Fall games, as well as raising funds.

“In the past 10 years they have raised nearly $100,000 for Special Olympics Utah,” said Linda Burt, the Master of Ceremonies for the Nov. 15 gala.

The Hall of Fame recognizes “companies, organizations or individuals who have made a significant impact on our mission and who help personify the values [of Special Olympics] and engage others in the Special Olympics Utah mission,” said Amy Hansen, president/CEO of Special Olympics Utah, adding that “the Knights of Columbus exemplify that perfectly. … The Knights are like friends to our athletes because they’ve been coming out for so long they know a lot of the athletes and the athletes can see them there. They are an integral part of our event.”

The athletes and their families participate in Special Olympics at no charge; locally, the program costs about $1.2 million annually, “so we really appreciate organizations like the Knights, who do fundraising and go out and spread the word about Special Olympics in the community and generate funds at the same time,” Hansen said.

The vast majority of the donations come from Knights assemblies and councils throughout the state, said David Matyjasik, who has been chairman of the Knights’ Special Olympics Committee for nine years.

Matyjasik also encourages his brother Knights to help out at the events to see “the courage that these athletes have. There are no pity parties; they’re enthusiastic and they’re happy. It’s just so inspirational being uplifted, being around the athletes.”

One of the reasons that Matyjasik became involved with the committee is because two of his cousins had special needs. As they were growing up, he remembers his uncle working three jobs and his aunt, in addition to caring for her children, scrubbing floors, washing windows and taking in ironing. Despite that, the family couldn’t afford a car because of the children’s needs: For example, one of the boys required special shoes that cost $200, he said.

“It’s not only what the athletes go through, or people with physical or mental disabilities, it’s what the parents go through,” said Matyjasik, adding that one of his cousins, now 62, continues to participate in Special Olympics.