Indianapolis, IN - June 17, 2019: The Finish Line Youth Foundation and Special Olympics 2018 USA Games Partner Brooks Running have been named finalists in ESPN’s 2019 Sports Humanitarian Awards for the Corporate Community Impact honor.
“We are humbled and excited to be recognized as changemakers in the athletic community in partnership with Brooks Running. This nomination showcases the Foundation’s commitment to using the power of sport to uplift communities and solidifies its place in the prestigious world of sports philanthropy.”
The nomination, which highlights a corporation that utilizes their platform to advance social issues, causes or community organizations comes on the heels of the partner’s sizing and fitting of 1,431 Special Olympics athletes in premium performance Brooks shoes during the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle.
As finalists, the Finish Line Youth Foundation and Brooks Running will receive a $25,000 grant to present to Special Olympics. If chosen for the award, the partners will direct a $100,000 grant from ESPN to the organization.
Approximately 50% of Special Olympics athletes wear the wrong size shoes. Working together, the Foundation and Brooks Running provided premium performance Brooks shoes as an incentive to complete the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® program, which delivers free health screenings in seven disciplines: podiatry, vision, dental, hearing, physical therapy, health promotion, and emotional well-being. Completion of Healthy Athletes increased by more than 60%, largely due to the shoe incentive.
The Foundation and Brooks Running are nominated alongside the Anthem Foundation, Burton Snowboards and Under Armour. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, July 9.
About The Finish Line Youth Foundation
The Finish Line Youth Foundation makes a difference in the lives of disadvantaged, youth with special needs and in communities where employees and customers live, work and play. The Youth Foundation is a national partner of Special Olympics and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The Foundation is also a dedicated corporate citizen to the Far Eastside of Indianapolis. For more information, please visit our website and follow on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education and leadership programs every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1968, and celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 6 million athletes and Unified Sports partners in over 190 countries. With the support of more than 1 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and over 100,000 games and competitions throughout the year. Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including Bank of America, the Christmas Records Trust, The Coca-Cola Company, ESPN, Essilor Vision Foundation, the Golisano Foundation, IKEA Foundation, the Lane Family, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, Lions Clubs International, Safilo Group, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, TOYOTA, United Airlines, and The Walt Disney Company. Click here for a full list of partners. Engage with us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and our blog on Medium. Learn more at www.SpecialOlympics.org.
