Celebrating Special Olympics USA
We have proudly partnered with Special Olympics for more than 40 years because we share the same values of creating environments where everyone - including those with non-visible and visible disabilities - has an opportunity to succeed and achieve their goals.
As part of this ongoing partnership, Bank of America serves as the premier sponsor of the Special Olympics USA delegation, which competed in the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023. The delegation of nearly 100 athletes and 34 Unified partners from across the United States competed alongside more than 7,000 athletes from around the world at the Games.
Get to know athlete Amanda and Unified partner Martha
Amanda has competed in Special Olympics for over 20 years in multiple sports, including basketball, bowling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, soccer, softball and swimming. Additionally, she represented Special Olympics USA in golf at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin with her Unified partner and friend Martha. The pair also represented Special Olympics New York in golf at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando.
Amanda advocates for Special Olympics as a Global Messenger in her community and is employed as a daycare assistant at a local YMCA, where she likes to exercise. Amanda always strives to do her best and brings a big smile and joy to everyone she encounters.
Martha has been involved with Special Olympics for 40 years in many capacities, including coach, clinician, committee member and Unified partner. Although she has experience in many of the sports offered through Special Olympics New York, she is focused on Alpine skiing, golf and swimming. In 2022, Martha received one of the highest honors being named the Special Olympics North America Annette Lynch Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for her outstanding commitment to coaching Special Olympics athletes.
Martha is a retired special education teacher and works seasonally managing a golf course pro shop. Of the many roles she has served in with Special Olympics, she has admired every athlete she has had the privilege to meet for their determination, perseverance and understanding.
Bank of America’s partnership with Special Olympics
Special Olympics uses the transformative power of sports to show that when we embrace inclusion, there is no limit to what we can achieve together, both on and off the playing field.
The Bank has proudly partnered with Special Olympics for over 40 years, supporting both Athlete Leadership and Unified Leadership. Additionally, Bank of America employees volunteer with Special Olympics programs across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and East Asia. This includes volunteering at Special Olympics Games properties, Leadership programming, the Disability Action Network, and Better Money Habits employee led training. Learn more about Bank of America’s volunteer efforts.
In 2022, Bank of America announced a three-year, $5 million grant to Special Olympics to expand and develop leadership programs in urban school districts that address disparities faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities. A cornerstone of this work included engaging the families of youth with intellectual disabilities, understanding that decades of research show that making family members active partners in education boosts student achievement - both in school and after graduation. With Bank of America’s support, Special Olympics conducted research to create a powerful family engagement toolkit, supporting the communities of Arizona, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, New York and Ohio.
