DETROIT -- In 2005, Tim Hileman’s oldest son was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate.

And after being at the hospital for his son’s first surgery, Hileman realized his true calling.

 “Seeing that so many children and their families were going to be in the hospital for a much longer time than my son changed my career path,” said Hileman, who was previously the executive director of IKUS Life Enrichment Services. “I just knew that I was called to serve individuals of different abilities.”

Since 2018, Hileman has served as the President and CEO of Special Olympics Michigan, a non-profit organization that provides year-round sports, health, leadership and educational programming for more than 20,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities and unified partners across the state of Michigan.

Throughout Disability Pride Month, the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Comerica Bank will recognize four individuals for dedicating their lives to helping people with disabilities.

“Tim is the true embodiment of a Game Changers honoree,” said Kevin Brown, director of community impact for Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “Under his leadership, Special Olympics Michigan continues to develop innovative ways to engage a largely under-resourced portion of our community by helping thousands of athletes create lifelong memories and achieve their goals in a welcoming environment.”

Special Olympics Michigan has been part of the Special Olympics movement since its inception in 1968. After being officially incorporated in 1972, Special Olympics Michigan has grown into one of the largest Special Olympics programs in the United States.

“We’re absolutely a grassroots organization,” Hileman said. “For being an organization that is now in every county in the state of Michigan, we’re only a staff of 40 people. We really rely on the support of volunteers as our impact expands.”

The organization currently offers 24 sports, six state-level competitions, four district basketball tournaments and more than 700 athletic competitions statewide. But according to Hileman, sports do not define Special Olympics Michigan.

“The best thing about Special Olympics Michigan is that we use sports as a catalyst for change,” he said. “We’re truly not a sports organization, rather an inclusion organization. We provide opportunities and a platform for individuals with intellectual disabilities to showcase their gifts.”

For Hileman, changing the conversation about disabilities by focusing instead on abilities is rewarding.

“When I’m speaking to our athletes or their family members, they will share stories of how they were told what they can’t do,” he said. “Here at Special Olympics Michigan, we provide that opportunity for athletes to prove people wrong and show what they can do.”

In addition to competitive sports, Special Olympics Michigan organizes development programs like Athlete Leadership, Law Enforcement Torch Run and Motor Activities Training Program as events to further promote inclusion.

“These people just need that one opportunity,” Hileman said. “Whether that’s on the sports field or even in the community, they just need that one chance. That’s what Special Olympics Michigan is all about.”

In his four years with Special Olympics Michigan, Hileman helped oversee the purchase and renovation of the Unified Sports and Inclusion Center in Grand Rapids, Mich., transforming a former high school into the largest Special Olympics facility in the world. He also was part of the bid process for the city of Detroit to host the 2022 Unified Cup, the World Cup of Soccer for Special Olympics.

“As we increase our presence, which is awesome, we’re also getting a lot more athletes and partners who want to be involved,” Hileman said. “To serve more athletes, we need more coaches to help out. We want to ensure there is never an athlete left on the sidelines.”

For individuals who are considering volunteering with Special Olympics Michigan, Hileman emphasized the experience is “life-changing.”

“I know it sounds cliché, but Special Olympics Michigan showcases everything that is great about sports,” he said. “Everything about why we love sports, from the competition to teamwork, that’s what you’re going to find at a Special Olympics Michigan event.”

To learn more about Special Olympics Michigan and to get involved, visit SOMI.org.