In the same year — 2022 — Special Olympics Florida will celebrate its 50th anniversary, and Osceola County will host some of the events of the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games taking place June 5-12.
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will host events in 10 sports, and Osceola Heritage Park will host the Equestrian competition.
In all, the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games will unite more than 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean and 125,000 spectators.
And as Special Olympics Florida embarks on its 50th anniversary of working to build a more inclusive world for people with intellectual disabilities, the organization will partner with Publix Super Markets in an annual collaboration to help people with intellectual disabilities and provide more lifechanging opportunities to Special Olympics Florida athletes. This year, Special Olympics Florida will serve nearly 60,000 athletes who compete at the local, state, national and international levels.
Through Sunday, the two will hold the annual Torch Icon Campaign. This year, the campaign is reaching new communities throughout the Southeast U.S. and supporting more Special Olympics athletes, making this the largest campaign to date.
“Publix has been a supporter of Special Olympics Florida since the very beginning,” said Special Olympics Florida President and CEO Sherry Wheelock. “They have been with us since our founding 50 years ago, and they remain one of our most committed partners. Publix associates and company leaders always step up when we need them and work tirelessly to make the annual Torch Icon Campaign a success. We have an incredibly special relationship with Publix, and we are thrilled they are part of the Special Olympics Florida team.”
Through Sunday, Publix customers can help support their state’s athletes with a donation for as little as $1 or a specific desired amount. Donors will receive over $20 in product coupon savings.
Publix reports that, since 1993, more than $60 million dollars has been raised through the Torch Icon Campaign for Special Olympics athletes.
“As a supporter of Special Olympics, we’ve championed their mission through our annual register campaign which has raised more than $60 million dollars and associate volunteerism,” said Dwaine Stevens, Publix Director of Community Relations. “We’re honored to play a part in the good work of Special Olympics by helping empower athletes to discover new abilities and strengths and helping to make our communities more inclusive.”
In addition to training and competition for these athletes, Special Olympics Florida provides more than $2 million in free medical screenings for thousands of Floridians with intellectual disabilities through its health programs, including much needed access to free prescription glasses and hearing aids.
To learn more about the Torch Icon Campaign, visit www.specialolympicsflorida.org. Special Olympics Florida contributed background for this story.
