When Becca Hunnicutt was a young kid, she needed an outlet for her energy.
So when she became old enough to compete in Special Olympics when she was 8, her parents Andy and Melinda signed her up, and they began volunteering for Special Olympics themselves.
In the 13 years since then, Andy and Melinda have had various roles, both large and small, with Bartholomew Brown Jennings (BBJ) Special Olympics.
The Hunnicutts’ work led to a nomination as Family of the Year at the county level. After winning that, they were nominated and won Family of the Year for Area 2, which consists of 13 counties.
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That led to the Hunnicutts, who live near Hope, landing the nomination for the state award, and they recently were selected as the 2020 Spirit of Special Olympics Family of the Year.
“It’s quite an honor, and I am humbled about it,” said Andy, who has been assistant county coordinator the past four years.
After being nominated by BBJ coordinator Ellen Norfrey, the Hunnicutts won the BBJ Family of the Year award in 2019 and were submitted for the Area 2 awards. The area nominations are used for two years, so they were nominated for and won this year’s state award.
“The Hunnicutts are known for their generous donations of time, money, and resources, and they are outstanding advocates for Special Olympics in their community — helping to find new and continuing support for their local program and for all of Special Olympics Indiana. They have asked their local schools to become more inclusive and have worked to create volunteer opportunities to get local students involved. Andy and Mindy have also hosted exchange students from around the world and even they have gotten involved in supporting Special Olympics over the years.”
The Hunnicutts have won Family of the Year at the county level a few times and have won at area level twice, but this is their first state award.
“It was kind of surprising,” Andy said. “At the same time, I don’t do what I do with Special Olympics to get awards, but it is nice. I’m honored, along with my whole family.”
Because of COVID-19, this year’s awards program was presented virtually and recorded. The Hunnicutts were on vacation in Ohio when they saw the video.
“I was tuned into it,” Andy said. “I was very surprised. I was speechless. I didn’t know what to say. I was sitting there listening, and I yelled at my wife, ‘I think we won.’”
Becca now is 21. Andy and Melinda have three older children — Jacob, 30, who now lives in Philadelphia; Amanda, 28, who now lives in Detroit; and Abby, 25, who recently moved to Cincinnati. Abby was a basketball coach for BBJ the past couple years.
Andy coached the women’s basketball team for BBJ and also is head coach for its bowling and track and field teams. He just retired for the second time as soccer coach at Hauser High School, but is trying to get a soccer team started for BBJ.
“I can’t seem to stay away from soccer,” Andy said.
The Hunnicutts are the third BBJ to win the state Family of the Year Award. Mike, Janet and Miranda Bowling from North Vernon won in 2009; and Brad, Renee and David Parks from Columbus won in 2013
Jeff Mohler, president of Special Olympics Indiana, said Family of the Year is its the longest running award, starting in 1983. Since then, it has added Coach of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Athlete of the Year awards.
“In the 1970s, Special Olympics started at the grassroots level,” Mohler said. “Parents stepped up and said we need to offer something for our sons and daughters and then got the community involved. Family of the Year is a big award for us because it honors those families, and there’s no better family to honor than the Hunnicutts.”
