CLARK HEADS SPECIAL OLYMPICS VOLUNTEERING BROUGHT CAREER CHANGE.

Byline: Amy Raisin Darvish Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The local Special Olympics chapter has named a new director to oversee the Valley's 400 competitors, a former volunteer who left his career in finance to give more time to the organization.

Chris Clark stumbled onto the Santa Clarita Valley Special Olympics program a few years ago, when a colleague at Six Flags California's Magic Mountain, where Clark served for seven years as a finance supervisor, asked him to volunteer at an event.

``The looks on the athletes' faces, just seeing them compete - I saw that and I couldn't stop volunteering after that,'' Clark said. ``I had to really think about (changing careers), but it didn't take too long. Special Olympics is such a great organization.''

Clark, who lives in Valencia with his wife, Christina, began working full time for the organization in October and was recently appointed to the fill the area director's post vacated by husband-and-wife team Gary and Maureen Spindt.

As area director and board of directors chairman for the SCV Special Olympics, Clark is charged with ensuring that the athletes' training and competitions meet the guidelines set by the Southern California Special Olympics.

Stints as a volunteer at events including the local Spirit Games - which draw competitors from as far away as Santa Barbara and San Diego - and individual sporting events were soon followed by Clark's participation in raising funds for the SCV Special Olympics.

Clark holds one of two full-time, paid positions at the organization's Newhall office. Two part-time staff positions are also filled, he said.

``I'm really looking forward to this,'' he said. ``I used to commute from Antelope Valley, but once we moved here about two years ago, I really was able to start spending more time with (the organization).''

Amy Raisin Darvish, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Special Olympics director Chris Clark, right, buddies up with Special Olympics athlete Jon Bird, who will be traveling to Japan next year to compete in the Special Olympics World Games. Clark recently was named director of the local chapter.