A Day of Special Games and Family-Filled Fun

With 517 athletes and volunteers joining the fun along with their families for Loyola Marymount University's 49th annual Special Games on Saturday, March 21, 2026, they made the largest attended year following the pandemic in 2020.

Special Games, a celebration for members of the Los Angeles community with intellectual and physical disabilities, is a student-run organization through the Pam Rector Center for Service and Action (CSA). that brings together the disability community of Los Angeles and LMU for two days of fun, friendship, and personal growth. Participants celebrate non-competitive activities and friendships to foster love and make lifelong memories. The event also welcomed Momentum Refresh to provide ADA-compliant portable restrooms on site for athletes.

This year was marked with growth, not just in attendees and volunteers but also in group participation with over 25 departments, registered student organizations, service organizations, sororities, and fraternities, and athletic teams who participated in the event and hosted activities for the athletes. On March 9, Special Games successfully met its crowdfunding campaign goa l, raising more than $53,000 from 82 gifts and 79 donors. Kristi V. Frey '90 and J.C. Frey '90, who generously matched all gifts to the Robert Engh Special Games Memorial Endowment dollar-for-dollar, up to $25,000.

After the parade, President Thomas Poon, Ph.D. addressed the crowd, sharing, "Since 1977, Special Games has distinctly embodied LMU's Catholic mission and the values of our founding orders, particularly cura personalis, which means care for the whole person." He added, "This enthusiasm and genuine delight in one another, is what brings so many of our community back to Special Games over the years and even decades."

For co-director Thomas Dean '26, a mechanical engineering major from Chicago, Special Games was really a family affair, as his brother flew to Los Angeles to participate in the games as an athlete. "It's super great to see my brother be at this event and be coached by my roommate," said Dean. "This is my third year working on Special Games, so I know a lot about what is going on and it's nice to be in a leadership role to help people build and develop themselves into be a future leader for programs like Special Games. My advice to future students would be to get involved with the special needs community as much as you can, it's a really incredible community. Everyone is very friendly and supportive, and you realize everyone is more like you, than not like you. It's one of the best experiences you can have as an LMU student or alum."

For Special Games co-director and director of recruitment Elena Andrews '26, a mechanical engineering major, this year's event was more special with her family who joined her for the experience. Andrews' grandfather, William Espinosa, Ph.D., '70,'09, joined Andrews for the Special Games experience as a coach. For Andrews, Special Games is a big part of her life because special education has been important to her from a young age. "Ever since first grade, I've always worked and volunteered in the special education field, so when I came to LMU I knew Special Games was something I wanted to get involved with," said Andrews. "Becoming a co-director is such an honor, I've been volunteering since my first year at LMU and being able to run the event this year has meant a lot. It's helped me spread my gratitude to everyone and share in this joy. Special Games spread joy. It lets you do service, which is so key to a Jesuit education, and it lets you be in community with a group of everyone is so unique, so special, and you get to be yourself."

For Espinosa this was his second year as a coach for Special Games, coaching his favorite athlete, Jesse. "I really think this program is outstanding and with Elena's involvement as co-director this year, I really wanted to come back and be a part of this special day again," said Espinosa. "Jesse is a superstar, and he just keeps raving about how much this program means to him. Jesse's whole family shows up for this event, so it's more than just the athlete, this event is really about the whole family, they look forward to it, and they are already gearing up for next year. I'm so proud of Elena's work this weekend and for the work that she has done because this truly has been a passion for her life."

This year's theme, "Summer Camp," was selected by student leaders. The games included activities like rock painting, bracelet making, a dance party, a ring toss, snap string table hockey, basketball, rubber duck fishing, throw and catch, shuffleboard, a rainbow parachute, badminton, stickers, temporary tattoos, tee ball, rock painting, goalball, Connect4, Jenga, mini golf, a sensory table, bingo, hula hoops, field games, tabletop bowling, arts and crafts, kinetic sand and a self-love wall. A special thanks goes to the over 25 departments, registered student organizations, service organizations, sororities, and fraternities, and athletic teams who participated.

Special Games is made possible by its sponsor who continues to contribute to two weekends of fun and celebration that is free to all athletes. Special thanks also to the Los Angeles Rams, the LA84 Foundation, Skechers, and 24 Hour Home Care.