With just over two months before hundreds of athletes flock to Chatham-Kent for the Special Olympics Ontario School Championship Games, organizers have announced that the event has now been fully funded.
Thanks to donations from presenting sponsors, supporting businesses, community organizations, and the municipality, more than $400,000 has been raised to host the 2024 School Championship Games in Chatham-Kent on June 10-12.
Organizer Jason Herder said Special Olympics Ontario had initially offered to cover half of the cost to host the games, however, thanks to the generosity of the local community, it wasn’t necessary.
“I can say locally, from May of last year to today’s date, we have fully funded the games ourselves without the support from Special Olympics Ontario,” he said.
Herder said a recent $14,550 donation from the Knights of Columbus pushed the total just past the fundraising goal.
Wednesday also marked the launch of the final fundraising event for the games called “Sponsor a Champion”. The online fundraiser encourages friends and family members from across the province to go online and make a charitable donation to help send one of approximately 1,000 athletes to Chatham-Kent to participate in the games.
Pledges of $250 or more will receive a thank you letter and special recognition online.
“We’ve been hosting fundraisers throughout the year. The Polar Plunge was the last local fundraiser we put on for the games [and] this one opens it up province-wide,” said Herder. “So anyone from around the province can support someone close to them who is coming to the games or just support the games in general.”
Over 7,000 high school athletes from across the province are currently competing in an effort to qualify for the 2024 School Championship games.
While the Special Olympics event has reached its fundraising goal, Herder said any additional funds raised through the “Sponsor a Champion” campaign will only further enhance the games in Chatham-Kent for the athletes.
“Everything now is just extra to make this [Special Olympics] games second to none,” said Herder.
For further details about the “Sponsor a Champion” event, click here.
