‘Just what you do’
Cabot woman’s father instilled in her the value of volunteerism
S ome of 24-year-old Beth Hicks’ earliest memories revolve around volunteerism. With her father, Bobby Doyle, serving as director of Special Olympics Arkansas for 40 years, volunteering time to nonprofit organizations was just a way of life for her.
“Beth was raised as a Special Olympics baby, literally,” said her mother, Peggy Doyle. “She went to all of the events in her carriers and strollers from the very beginning.”
Special Olympics Arkansas is divided into 17 areas where those with intellectual disabilities have the opportunity to compete in 20 sports. Throughout the state, there are more than 15,000 registered athletes, 240 competitions and more than 5,000 dedicated volunteers who participate in the program, according to Special Olympics Arkansas’ website.
“The Special Olympics athletes love you for who you are,” Hicks said. “They don’t care anything about you other than you are there and supporting them. They are just full of love, and that is what you get when you are there. That is one of the coolest things about it.”
Aside from the lifelong friends she has made through the program, Hicks is quick to explain that there are many different aspects of Special Olympics Arkansas, and her dad introduced her to just about every single one before his sudden death from a heart attack in November 2014, only a couple of years after retiring as director of the organization.
From regional competitions to sports camps for the athletes to simple representation at events across the state, Hicks was there and loved every minute of it. If her dad couldn’t make it to an event, he commonly asked her or another member of the family to at least make an appearance and see how things were going.
“We all got involved,” Hicks said. “[My dad] poured his heart and soul into that job and career. He loved every ounce of that job. You very rarely find somebody who loves everything about what they do, but he put every hour and minute of the day into it.”
As a nonprofit organization, Special Olympics Arkansas relies heavily on fundraising efforts in communities across the state. Annual opportunities include the Law Enforcement Torch Run, when police officers take turns running with the Special Olympics torch across the state, and Tip A Cop, when officers work as servers at restaurants to earn tips that benefit the organization.
One of the most recognizable fundraising events, however, is the Polar Plunge, which involves diving into a local body of water during a winter month.
“I [plunged] one time, and I was done,” Hicks said. “That is one of those things you have to do once in your life to say that you’ve done it. I went with dad several times and dressed up as his sidekick. ”
In Doyle’s time as director, Hicks and her family were able not only to travel the state of Arkansas in support of the games; they also had the opportunity to travel abroad to see Arkansas athletes compete as a part of Team USA in the world games.
“You get to go and support and see our athletes, but you also get the opportunity to visit the countryside,” she said. “It is neat to see a country come together and be so warming and welcoming, not only to our country but just to all different countries and to these people who have intellectual disabilities.”
In 2007, Hicks traveled with her family and Arkansas athletes to China while she was a senior at Cabot High School, and in 2011 while she was in college, she visited Greece for the world games. Hicks said visiting these countries and seeing the impact of the games on an international level are experiences she will never forget.
“To be able to see our Special Olympics athletes performing in places where actual Olympic Games have been held was a really cool experience,” Hicks said.
Hicks said her dad was invested in maintaining the volunteer-driven environment of Special Olympics Arkansas and kept the staff to only about 10 members and relied heavily on those who were interested in donating their time to make the events a success.
“Dad was very avid about that,” Hicks said. “You appreciate your volunteers because they don’t have to be here, but something is calling them to be here.”
When Hicks met her now-husband, Bo, while in high school, of course he immediately got involved with the program as well. Beth simply said, “Hey, come on; we’ve got things to do,” and Bo was hooked, too.
“It is very rewarding getting to help them and see the kids happy,” Bo said.
The joy of volunteering isn’t the only thing Beth learned from her dad and her involvement in Special Olympics. The experience also led her to an interest in teaching.
The Special Olympics athletes love you for who you are. They don’t care anything about you other than you are there and supporting them. They are just full of love, and that is what you get when you are there. That is one of the coolest things about it.”
BETH HICKS
OF CABOT
“When we volunteer and work with the coaches, there are a lot of educators because you get [many of] your pool of athletes from school-age kids,” she said. “We’ve always been around educators, administrators and everything. My dad, once upon a time, used to be a principal. I really do enjoy giving back and working with young people, and that led me to wanting to go into education.”
After graduating from high school in 2008, Beth has obtained two bachelor’s degrees and recently completed a master’s degree in education. She is now in her second year as a teacher at Lonoke Middle School, where she teaches an EAST Lab, sponsors the Crown Club and helps with color-guard instruction.
She also volunteers her time with the Junior Auxiliary of Cabot, is an active member of Cabot United Methodist Church and remains involved in Special Olympics Arkansas every chance she gets.
“I always wished for a child that knew their mind, and I got it,” Doyle said.
Bo and Beth were married in June 2014 and will be first-time parents in a few months. The two are expecting a girl, and Beth said she will be happy to pass down the importance of volunteerism to her children by simply leading by example, as her dad did.
“[My dad] always raised me to know you give back,” Beth said. “That is just what you do. Whatever you do, you do it 100 percent and you give back to your community, and that is what I will do with my kids — I’ll lead them to do it by me doing it myself.”