{"id":2806,"date":"2026-03-19T00:49:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T00:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/2026\/03\/19\/celebrities-take-on-knox-county-special-olympians-at-mvnu-friday-night-knox-pages\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T00:49:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T00:49:54","slug":"celebrities-take-on-knox-county-special-olympians-at-mvnu-friday-night-knox-pages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalnewstoday.uk\/index.php\/2026\/03\/19\/celebrities-take-on-knox-county-special-olympians-at-mvnu-friday-night-knox-pages\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrities take on Knox County Special Olympians at MVNU Friday night – Knox Pages"},"content":{"rendered":"

Knox Pages – Knox County News & Info<\/a>
\t\t\t\t\tLocal News by Local People\t\t\t\t
MOUNT VERNON — Anyone looking to fill their Friday evening with a\u00a0SPECIAL EVENT\u00a0<\/em>need look no further than the Mount Vernon Nazarene University\u2019s Ariel Arena at 6 p.m.\u00a0
“We are excited about this special event, the Knox County Special Olympics basketball team (the Eagles)\u00a0 challenging local celebrities,\u201d said Talisha Beha, Knox County Special Olympics Coordinator for the Knox County Board of DD, as well as family engagement and community integration about the event.
There is no admission being charged to watch the battle, but\u00a0Beha said donations would be accepted.
\u201cWe will also be selling the remaining\u00a0candy bars we have and whatever shirts we have in stock will be for sale,\u201d Beha said.\u00a0
Paul McNeal, Coordinator of Development for Athletics at MVNU, and a member of the celebrity team, said he’s looking forward to the event.
\u201cMVNU Athletics has a strong tie of supporting our DD community and the Special Olympics is a great way to assist and help in any way we can,\u201d McNeal said.
McNeal outlined some of the ways the university assists the community.
\u201cKnox DD is an integral part of Mount Vernon\u00a0and Knox County and we are honored to be a small part,” he said. “Whether it is implementing the Bodies and Motion program, working together on a variety of projects together such as First Fridays, or hosting Special Olympics and even this celebrity basketball event.
“We are honored to be a part.\u201d
McNeal said that his background\u00a0gives him a unique insight into the special group.
\u201cAs a former intervention specialist of 22 years, I know the importance of community support and we are always looking at ways we can not only be a part of this great community, but give back to this community at every opportunity we can,\u201d he said.
The game is being played as a part of Disability Awareness Month. Beha said that the special month is important to bring the needs of the disabled to the forefront of the collective minds of the community.
\u201cWhen you make something accessible to one group, you improve the accessibility for everyone,\u201d she said.\u00a0
The remainder of the Celebrity team is Zach Thurman, Knox Community Hospital, Sarah Wheeler, Mount Vernon Police Department, J.D. Burke, Mount Vernon Fire Department, Brian Hess, Elite Preparedness, Colin Wirrig, Ariel Corporation, Josh Lopez Chevy\/GM, Ethan Joihnson, Park National Bank, Thom Collier,  Emerge Realty, Jared Ronai, Mount Vernon Nazarene University and maybe some surprise celebrities. 
Checks and cash are preferred for purchases or donations. 
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