By Jylian Vigar
This week, Noblesville’s own Mitch Bonar will help represent Indiana at the GenUin Social Impact Summit as part of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.
Bonar, a 2015 Noblesville High School grad, along with Abby Abel, a Carmel High School grad, together with their mentor, Champions Together director Lee Lonzo, worked together to secure their spot at the summit
“I am so proud of these two,” Lonzo said. “They have really distinguished themselves. They have made Indiana proud.”
Abel and Bonar are two of the 120 youth leaders from 30 countries selected to attend the summit.
Leaders were selected based on social impact proposals, which they presented at the summit to a panel of judges in the “Pitch Pit” to earn funds for their projects.
The five-day summit consisted of training, mentorship, powerful speakers and experiencing the World Games.
Abel and Bonar’s proposal is for a Unified Festival they hope to hold in Hamilton County. The goal it to bring everyone from middle school students to college representatives together to encourage unified events- events that promote inclusion for everyone- for every age.
Abel has worked with Special Olympics throughout her high school career.
“It’s awesome to end what I started at the World Games,” she said. “The best part is seeing where everyone is coming from and how we’re all unified through Special Olympics.”
Throughout the week Bonar received the full superstar treatment, meeting with Mattel Hot Wheels top executive team and Special Olympics chairman Tim Shriver, and that was just first few days.
Bonar said this week has been a blessing.
“This week is going to be awesome,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m most excited about but I know there will be a lot of open hearts.”
