Finish Line and Special Olympics Announce Multi-Year Partnership
INDIANAPOLIS and WASHINGTON, D.C., April 17, 2012 — The Finish Line Inc. and its Finish Line Youth Foundation announced today a multi-year pledge to support Special Olympics as part of the retailer's ongoing mission to celebrate the everyday achievements of athletes everywhere.
Finish Line will support Special Olympics through multiple opportunities, including:
- Employee activation and volunteer participation in 2012 Special Olympics Summer Games in Indiana as well as the Chicago and Atlanta markets in year one and additional markets nationwide in coming years.
- Serving as the first national sponsor of Special Olympics' new TRAIN program — a first of its kind sports assessment and nutrition education program designed to help athletes stay active, stay healthy, and achieve their personal best. In addition to helping to finance the program, Finish Line employees will help activate the TRAIN program for Special Olympics athletes in key markets.
- Sale of specific merchandise in Finish Line's more than 635 stores and online nationwide beginning with the 2012 back-to-school shopping season to benefit Special Olympics.
- An in-store and online holiday season customer and employee donation program to benefit Special Olympics.
"Finish Line has always supported worthy nonprofit organizations, yet we searched for some time to identify a single signature cause that our employees, customers, and vendors could help us rally around in a meaningful way and make an enduring impact," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Glenn Lyon.
"Special Olympics is the one organization that our customers and employees cited in recent independent research as a cause that they are not only passionate about, but that also suits our brand particularly well. Finish Line is all about having fun, being active, and helping everyone reach their own finish line, whether it means competing as a Special Olympics athlete or playing college intramurals," he added. "The added opportunity to be the only national sponsor of the TRAIN program is exciting as this is a true breakthrough in assessing, developing and tracking sports skills among individuals with intellectual disabilities. This program will contribute to the overall health, fitness and quality of life for individuals with intellectual disabilities and we are thrilled to help take it to the next level through our support."





