As the premier partner of Special Olympics USA, Bank of America volunteers in Delaware recently hosted a Pick and Pack activation to support the athletes who will be competing in the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy from March 8-15. Volunteers sorted and assembled the official gear and apparel packages for the delegation members.
The activation was held at the bank’s Support Services warehouse in Newark, Delaware. This division employs over 300 teammates with disabilities, many of whom are also actively involved in their local Special Olympics programs. Support Services employees volunteered their time to help pack the apparel bags alongside other local market volunteers, including those within the Disability Action Network, an employee network at the company established to foster a work environment that accepts, values, respects and supports those touched by disabilities.
The activation days were finished off with a bracelet-making activity, allowing volunteers to continue building upon the friendships created earlier in the day. Across the two-day activation, Special Olympics USA athlete, Christi Theron, who is from Wilmington, DE, joined in on the fun. Christi is a cross-country skier and this marks her third time competing at the Special Olympics World Games.
Bank of America and Special Olympics
Every two years, athletes, Unified partners, and coaches from all 52 Special Olympics US Programs come together to make up the Special Olympics USA delegation at Special Olympics World Games and Special Olympics World Winter Games. Bank of America serves as the premier sponsor, supporting the participants and Special Olympics USA’s core values of sportsmanship, teamwork, accountability, integrity, and respect.
The Bank has also proudly partnered with Special Olympics for over 40 years, supporting both Athlete Leadership and Unified Leadership
The Bank has also 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.
