How an Alum’s Career with Special Olympics Became His Mission Field

As a teenager, Jeff Mohler (’94) babysat a young boy with autism—and it proved to be a lifechanging event. He discovered his natural ability to connect with individuals with intellectual disabilities. Little did he know at the time, God was beginning to prepare him for his future role as CEO of Special Olympics Indiana.

Mohler attended Indiana Wesleyan University where he studied Economics and ran for both the track and cross-country teams. “I was a distance runner because I wasn’t tall enough to play basketball, and I wasn’t big enough to play football,” Mohler joked. “And, I knew the value that sports could bring to people.

”After graduating from IWU and then earning his master’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Mohler began working for Special Olympics Indiana, a nonprofit organization that uses sport programs to empower people with intellectual disabilities. The organization offers more than 20 sports and serves approximately 18,000 athletes in the state, who range from two to 88 years old.

“We do sports—that’s our catalyst,” said Mohler. “I learned so much more than how to be a better runner during my time at IWU with the cross country and track teams. Those are the same lessons we want to give our athletes.

”One of the biggest lessons Mohler hopes the athletes takeaway is learning how to be a leader. Special Olympics Indiana has an athlete leadership program where individuals are trained to serve on the board of directors or to become a staff member. He even hopes to one day be replaced as CEO by one of the athletes.

“This is their organization,” said Mohler. “I tell people I’m the CEO, but it’s the athletes’ organization. I’m just the temporary caretaker.

”Mitch Bonar, a junior at IWU who was born with cerebral palsy, is one of the individuals who took advantage of the leadership program. He has been an athlete with Special Olympics Indiana since he was in sixth grade and has participated in seven sports. Bonar now serves on the organization’s board of directors.

“I like the way we leave legacies,” said Bonar, a Community Development major. “It’s been fun to get to learn and teach [as a board member].”In reflecting on his relationship with Bonar, Mohler can’t help but see how God has been at work. “IWU prepared me for Special Olympics, so that Special Olympics could prepare Mitch Bonar for IWU,” said Mohler.

“He can be a community leader. He is really that shining example of what Special Olympics can do for somebody with a disability.”

Outside of work hours, Mohler and Bonar often catch up over dinner on campus. “Mitch has this ability to see in all of us a goodness that we often can’t see in ourselves,” said Mohler. “He’s half my age, but he’s twice as wise as I’ll ever be.”

Mohler wholeheartedly believes individuals with intellectual disabilities are just as capable as individuals without a disability. With this in mind, Special Olympics seeks to equip athletes—like Bonar—with the confidence they need to achieve success. At each competition, athletes recite an oath

“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Mohler’s hope is that the athletes also apply that oath to their lives. “Not all our athletes will be successful at everything,” said Mohler. “But we hope they will be brave in every attempt and will, in fact, attempt. If they do, in many ways, that’s the definition of success.”

Mohler strives for that same success in his everyday responsibilities knowing he is in God’s will.

“I truly see Special Olympics as God’s direction to me,” said Mohler. “This is my ministry.”

Written by Ashley Witkowski ‘14