Haley McDaniel, an inspiring 25-year-old Special Olympics athlete and social entrepreneur as a business owner of Island Tie-Dye by Haley. During a pandemic Haley decided to start a home business with tie-dye masks, which she ended up selling over a 100 online and in her local community. With her recent relocation to Galveston Texas her business has grown with an expanded product line that includes t-shirts, baby clothes, pillow cases and tie-dye as a service. You can find her business on FB and attend a local pop up event to find her products!

This summer, Haley will compete as the only female powerlifter for Team Texas at the Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando. She continues to work on the new delegation that her mother Kimberly have started in Galveston TX. Her mission is to change the face of disability and inclusion on the island to provide sports for all with this new delegation “Island Heroes”.

Competing since the age of 7 with SOTX in various locations throughout the great state of Texas was not enough for athlete Haley McDaniel. Haley has medals from Area & Texas State games in Powerlifting, Tennis, Bowling and Gymnastics, but she had her eyes set on a bigger goal: the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi. In March 2019, she achieved her dream and placed third in mixed doubles with her partner, Andre Crout, earning a bronze medal. She also placed 4th in Singles coming home with a gold medallion representing the Special Olympics USA Tennis Team.

“I love my life and the Special Olympics,” McDaniel says. “I have competed in a lot of sports in my life. I’ve competed in basketball, gymnastics, bowling, tennis and powerlifting. My deadlift record is 200 pounds!”

“I also love living on Galveston Island, I work at the best hotel The Tremont House and love my work family. There is so much that we can do to stay healthy with physical activities everywhere and a beautiful Island to explore!”