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Early November is a great time to support Special Olympics Wisconsin while you’re running your errands.
Walgreens
Things kick off at your local Walgreens pharmacy when you can purchase $1, $3 or $5 icons between November 2 – 15.
Walgreens has long been a supporter of the Special Olympics Wisconsin mission and its athletes. Last year, their icon sale campaign raised nearly $40,000 for the athletes of Special Olympics Wisconsin. Since beginning their icon sales in 2013, the campaign has raised more than $150,000. Additionally, their employees have consistently done a fantastic job of supporting the athletes through the Polar Plunge year after year. This year, stores who raise more than $552 during the campaign will receive free entry for their employees in any 2019 Special Olympics Wisconsin Polar Plunge. The top fundraising stores in each area will also receive fabulous Polar Plunge Prize Packages.
Walgreens also employs Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes like Jonathan Frank, who has worked for Walgreens for more than 17 years. He has been with his current Brown Deer location since it opened 10 years ago. His Brown Deer Walgreens family were big supporters of Frank while he competed in Seattle for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games this summer in bocce. Frank ultimately brought home a silver medal from the event.
Jonathan Frank (far right) with his silver medal-winning bocce team at the 2018 USA Games
Kwik Trip
Beginning November 9, you’ll also be able to support the athletes of Special Olympics Wisconsin when you stop into Kwik Trip for gas, coffee or a signature Glazers Donut. Like with Walgreens, their icon sales campaign runs until November 15. As a Mission Partner for Special Olympics Wisconsin, Kwik Trip’s support of Special Olympics athletes is always impressive.
In 2017, they raised more than $200,000 for Special Olympics athletes in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. They even received a national award in April 2018 from the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation for their dedication to individuals with disabilities.
Part of that commitment is employing Special Olympics athletes like David Thompson of Oregon. Thompson is a truck unloader at store 372 in Oregon. He also was a member of Team Wisconsin with Frank for the 2018 USA Games in Seattle. He brought home a silver medal in bowling.
“Special Olympics Wisconsin has changed the lives of thousands of athletes and they couldn’t do it without Kwik Trip. Every dollar raised changes lives for people like me,” Thompson said. “I cannot begin to explain how much it means to have Kwik Trip supporting the organization that has totally changed my life. I am very thankful for everything they have done and continue to do.”
David Thompson (left) shows Wisconsin pride on the medal stand after winning silver with partner Brian Ruby at the 2018 USA Games
