Kyle Freeland has been involved with SOCO since his early years in pro baseball, beginning with the Rockies' Rookie League team, the Grand Junction Rockies. Kyle’s “host mom” in Grand Junction, Carmen Brown, was active in the Special Olympics community, and she introduced Kyle to the organization and its athletes. Kyle says it’s incredible to watch the Special Olympics athletes compete, just as it was back then.

Kyle’s dedication to the Special Olympics took hold in 2018 during an away series between the Rockies and Mariners. Kyle spent his off day at the USA Games in Seattle, interacting with Special Olympics athletes from Colorado. He met many competitors from the team and admired the passion and perseverance each one displayed. Since then, Kyle has been doing as much as he can to support the athletes of this organization.

Kyle has held various online fundraising raffles for SOCO, offering unique and one-of-a-kind baseball-related items. One year, a lucky raffle winner received Kyle’s exclusively-designed practice glove (created specifically for the SOCO raffle) at the end of the baseball season. He has raffled his game-worn spikes and other collectible MLB memorabilia. Kyle is engaged throughout the year with his creative fundraising initiatives, and all raffle proceeds benefit Special Olympics Colorado.

The Colorado Rockies Foundation has teamed up with SOCO to host the annual Fantasy Camp for Kids for many years. This event is specifically for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Kyle volunteers regularly throughout the baseball season in the Rockies-sponsored youth baseball clinics, and the Fantasy Camp for Kids event is always on his calendar. In addition to participating in Rockies team-sponsored events with SOCO, Kyle and his wife Ashley have been independently-dedicated supporters of Special Olympics. Like Kyle, Ashley was involved with the nonprofit for several years before they were married.