For the past three years, Meg Latshaw has been a driving force behind Special Olympics Pennsylvania in York County, giving her time, heart, and leadership to athletes across multiple sports. What began to support her son quickly grew into a full-family commitment to inclusion, community, and connection.
Meg is currently taking over leadership of the York County basketball program and coaches soccer, volunteers with golf, and is helping launch softball this year. A longtime advocate for youth sports, she previously spent more than two decades refereeing high school girls’ basketball and volunteered for years at the Gettysburg Invitational before officially joining Special Olympics.
One of Meg’s proudest moments came last year when the York County basketball team advanced to the Penn State Games and won gold in their division. As the first female coach to lead the team to that achievement, the victory was especially meaningful (and memorable) complete with a celebratory post-game water bottle “shower” from her athletes.
Beyond competition, Meg is passionate about building a true sense of belonging. She helps create opportunities for athletes to connect off the court through community events like pumpkin carving, summer picnics, Friendsgiving, and seasonal celebrations. For Meg, Special Olympics is about more than sports. It’s about building confidence, lifelong friendships, and a family-like support system for athletes and their families.
Meg is also a special education teacher and recently helped launch her high school’s first Unified Bocce team at New Oxford High School. The program has already gained local attention and is thriving, further reflecting her commitment to inclusion both in and out of the classroom.
Special Olympics has impacted Meg’s entire family, including her daughter, and has formed a stronger connection with her brother and other athletes. Seeing that growth has only reinforced Meg’s belief in the power of showing up.
Her advice to anyone considering volunteering is simple: you don’t need to be an expert, just be willing to care. The impact, she says, will change your life as much as it changes the athletes’.
We are so grateful for Meg Latshaw’s leadership, passion, and unwavering dedication to creating spaces where athletes can grow, succeed, and belong.
