By Walter Laskos
Each year, Special Olympics Rhode Island touches the lives of thousands of Olympic Athletes and their families across Rhode Island through a variety of programs, most especially its Summer Games at URI. The Credit Unions of Rhode Island proudly assist annually in supporting the games. Sponsorships and donations like this have allowed Special Olympics RI to offer the entire weekend at no cost to athletes and their families.
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This years summer games, the 49th, were a rousing success. Held June 2-4, 2017 at the University of Rhode Island, the games involved 1,326 athletes, 45 teams, 2,268 volunteers, 755 competitions, 2,632 medals and ribbons awarded, 448 law enforcement torch runners, 520 motorcyclists, 3 days, 1 Torch lit and thousands of lives changed.
The mission of the Special Olympics is to provide year-round training and athletic competition in a variety of well-coached, Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or closely related developmental disabilities by providing them with continuing opportunities to develop fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
On this month’s Better Banking, the CEO of Special Olympics Rhode Island, Dennis DeJesus, explains the value these programs offer and how the Credit Unions of Rhode Island, through their support of Special Olympics, are making a difference in helping various programs—and the games themselves—achieve their overwhelming success. And, meet an Olympic Athlete up close and personal all in the July edition of Better Banking.
