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Come Play With Us!

from Business Magazine July 2023

from Business Magazine July 2023, page 22

Ways to Help Returning Veteran...

Special Olympics Pennsylvania provides yearround sports training and athletics competition in 22 Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism with cognitive delay. The nonprofit organization partners with K-12 schools to promote social inclusion through Unified Champion Schools programs. Special Olympics offers free health screenings and services to athletes through its Healthy Athletes initiative. The program empowers and encourages athletes to become advocates and leaders in their community.

Special Olympics is all about JOY and INCLUSION, and you can help provide both for the organization’s 13,000 athletes in Pennsylvania while building a positive footprint for your company both in your local community and around the Keystone State.

In the northwest Pennsylvania region, Special Olympics serves athletes in Erie, Crawford, Warren, Mercer, Venango, Forest and Clarion counties. Programming is provided free of charge to all athletes and families, and the organization relies on the community partners to support its mission.

There are numerous ways to engage employees in Special Olympics’ programming to foster inclusion, team building and giving back:

EVENT VOLUNTEERS: Bring a group of employees out to competitions and events for a day of volunteering. Celebrate joy and cheer on athletes!

SPORT VOLUNTEERS: For every one sport volunteer, four athletes can play! Get a group of employees together to coach a team. No expertise needed — just the desire to have fun, make friends and help athletes achieve their personal best.

TEAM BUILDING: Create a team for one of Special Olympics’ fundraising events (Polar Plunge, anyone?) or corporate challenges and work together to achieve your goals! Special Olympics also can customize a day of fun and inclusion with athletes at your site. Think bocce and food trucks!

ATHLETE SPEAKERS/MENTORS: Inspire your employees with Special Olympics’ mission and stories by welcoming an Athlete Leader into your company for a presentation. Athlete Leaders in training are also in need of mentors.

SERVE AS UNIFIED PARTNERS: Does your company have a soccer team or walking club? Promote inclusion by serving as Unified Partners and playing on a team with Special Olympics athletes during their competition season or by partnering to support its health initiatives.

TO LEARN MORE: Contact Deanna Renaud, executive director Special Olympics Pennsylvania – Northwest Region at drenaud@specialolympicspa.org or 814/315-2041 Ext. 310.

Visit

The Manufacturer & Business Association regularly hosts a variety of informational and networking opportunities for members in the region. To learn more about upcoming events, visit mbausa.org.

Matt Clark, vice chairman of the Manufacturer & Business Association Board of Governors and general manager of Humes Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM in Waterford, presented plaques to training graduates at the MBA’s recently Training Recognition Ceremony on April 25. At right is Casey Naylon, the MBA’s computer trainer and database administrator. In the middle is Excel Application Specialist Erie