THE DICK’S SPORTING GOODs FOUNDATION DONATES SOFTBALL EQUIPMENT TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS ARIZONA

GIVING TRUCK DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN $140,000 WORTH OF SOFTBALL EQUIPMENT AT THE SOAZ DISTRIBUTION CENTER

The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation donated more than $140,000 worth of much-needed softball equipment benefitting more than 600 Special Olympics Arizona athletes during its 2021 Spring Sports Matter Giving Tour. As part of the tour, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation’s Sports Matter Giving Truck delivered equipment to staff and athletes at the SOAZ Distribution Center on one of the four Phoenix stops. Each softball kit included a fielding glove, batting glove, practice apparel, a softball, water bottle, face mask, shoelaces and socks.

“We sincerely appreciate the support from DICK’S Sporting Goods and the extremely generous donation of softball equipment for our athletes,” said Jamie Heckerman, President and CEO of Special Olympics Arizona. “This was a fantastic surprise, and we are honored to be a part of the 2021 Spring Giving Tour.”

The Phoenix stop is one of several visits the truck made on this southern U.S. tour – other stops include Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Mobile, Houston, El Paso and Los Angeles.

“We are thrilled to provide softball equipment to Special Olympics Arizona to benefit their incredible athletes,” said Aimee Watters, Executive Director of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. “The power of sport is so important for these young athletes and we are happy to help ensure they have the gear they need to stay on the field and playing the sports they love.”

The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation mission is to inspire and enable youth participation in sports—because sports make people better. The Giving Truck helps bring this to life by supplying equipment to young athletes. Sports builds character, increases confidence, motivates kids to stay in school while teaching life lessons that extend well beyond the playing field – and Special Olympics Arizona embodies that sentiment. The 2021 Spring Giving Tour will gift 10,000 athletes new baseball and softball equipment across eight cities by the end of March.

The purpose of Special Olympics Arizona is to empower children and adults with intellectual disabilities to live healthy, fulfilling and meaningful lives. This vision of acceptance and inclusion is realized through health, leadership and advocacy programs, as well as providing year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving more opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.