On your mark, get set, give back!
It was in that spirit that three-dozen 国产黑料吃瓜泄密入口 Consumer USA (SC) associates volunteered recently at the Special Olympics Texas (SOTX) Area 11 Spring Games in Arlington, Texas.
鈥淚t was an emotional but rewarding experience for me, simply amazing!鈥� said one SC associate who was assigned to the important job of cheering for the athletes as they arrived at the finish line for one of the events.
SC volunteers were from the Enterprise Fraud Management and Dealer Services team.
The SOTX organization was happy for the help, with 1,500 athletes competing in field and track events, this is SOTX Area 11鈥檚 largest competition of the year. For eight weeks or more, athletes have trained in preparation for this grand event.
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Calling all volunteers: 国产黑料吃瓜泄密入口 Consumer associates making a difference
鈥淭he mission of聽Special Olympics聽is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities,鈥� said Krista Dunham, SOTX program director.
The games give athletes 鈥渃ontinuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy聽and participate in a sharing of聽gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other聽Special Olympics athletes and the community.鈥�
All volunteers arrived early in the morning to set up the events and rest areas for the athletes and their families. Afterward, the SC associates were divided into groups to assist with multiple events, which started at noon.
The impact on the volunteers was described by one of the cheering SC associates.
鈥淚 cannot get little Jaydan out on my mind,鈥� she said. 鈥淛ust to see the joy on her face as I cheered her across the finish line brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart.鈥�
It seems like a small task, to cheer, but to all the athletes it鈥檚 the difference between finishing an event or even mustering up the courage to try.
One of Dunham鈥檚 favorite stories is about an athlete competing in the tennis ball throw:
鈥淭his young lady stood at the line with her hand in the air and the ball all ready to throw. She stood there. People start cheering for her. She stood there. Volunteers remind her what she is supposed to do. She stands there 鈥�,鈥� according to Dunham.
鈥淔inally, the volunteers decided that she wasn鈥檛 going to throw the ball and helped her to her seat 鈥� No, she never threw the ball. But she had never stood for so long either.鈥�
While a majority of the SC volunteers were cheering, others were assisting the athletes on and off the track. Some were supplying water and guiding the athletes to the medal podium. Others kept time, organized the athletes at the event, or kept score.
Another SC associate expressed her gratitude for being given the opportunity to volunteer thanks to the SC volunteer-paid time off (VPTO) program.
鈥淎fter my experience, I felt very blessed to be able to participate by volunteering at such an awesome event. I feel that SC鈥檚 VPTO is a beautiful thing, and it shows the community that as an organization we care by giving back. Thank You 国产黑料吃瓜泄密入口.鈥�
To see more SC associates using their volunteer paid-time off, follow us on our social media pages,听Facebook,听Google+听补苍诲听Twitter, as #SCGivesBack.
