Supporting Special Olympics in Beaufort County has turned into a longstanding tradition for residents at Dataw Island. For 14 years, a handful of the island’s residents and local supporters have sponsored Northern Beaufort County Special Olympics Tennis.

From June 22-24, Dataw Island and the Splash Tennis Tournament will once again partner with Soar Special Recreation — a nonprofit organization providing activities and recreation for special needs children and adults throughout the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Soar works to give a voice to special needs athletes.

"This group of people doesn't have their own voice, and we want them to be treated like everyone else," said Kathy Cramer, Soar Program Director and a retired special education teacher who worked in the local school system for 33 years. "We need to help people understand who these people are so they can be included.”

In support of Soar Special Recreation in 2015, Dataw Island turned the Dataw Splash, an annual USTA tennis tournament, into a fundraiser for Special Olympics and has raised $6,500 for Soar to date. This year, Dataw Island plans to do it again with the 2018 Dataw Splash Tournament from June 22-24, as more than 100 tennis players from throughout the region converge upon Dataw’s eight courts to battle it out.

The Dataw Splash is a USTA level 3 tournament, sanctioned by the Southern South Carolina region. It will be held at the Dataw Island Tennis Center overlooking the scenic marshes of Jenkins Creek. Anyone who is a USTA member in the U.S. is welcome to play in this tournament.

“We love hosting this tournament,” said director of tennis Warren Florence. “The Splash is an event we enjoy putting together, as it draws fun competition from a tri-state area. Many of the players and spectators know that it supports a great cause, which makes all the effort worthwhile.”

Florence went on to say that Dataw Island is grateful to all the volunteers, community support and sponsors, without whom the event would not be possible.

If you would like to become a sponsor of the Dataw Splash please contact Dataw Island at 843-838-8416 or sign up online to register to play using USTA number 700070918. Players must register by Sunday, June 17.