ResCare Pulls in $20K plus for Special Olympics North Carolina

By Lucie Juneau Patrowicz

ResCare recently presented Keith Fishburn, president of Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC), with a check for over $20,000. The contribution was made in connection with a recent fundraiser – presented by Credit Suisse and sponsored by ResCare and American Eagle – to benefit the NC Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics North Carolina.
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Dubbed the 2008 SONC Pull, the fundraiser took place Saturday, April 19 at Raleigh Durham International Airport and featured an event called a plane pull: a competition to see which team can pull a plane the fastest. Competing in either the corporate or law enforcement division, each of the event’s five-person teams pulled a 40,000-pound American Eagle jet 25 feet on the airport’s UPS tarmac. At the end of the day, 75 participating teams pulled in over $122,000 for Special Olympics.

ResCare played a significant role in the event’s success – contributing $10,000 as a company and $10,685 in funds raised by ResCare employees. The company’s team won the competition in the corporate division, but lost to the law enforcement division champion, Central PERT (Prison Emergency Response Team), in the competition’s final “pull off.” Not a bad showing, given that it was ResCare’s first year in the North Carolina event. The company has participated in similar Special Olympics fundraisers in other states.

Special Olympics North Carolina offers year-round sports training and athletic competition for more than 38,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Participating in Special Olympics allows individuals to experience the joys and challenges of athletic competition – developing physical fitness and skills, demonstrating courage, and making friends along the way. The organization’s mission dovetails with ResCare’s commitment to provide services that help individuals with disabilities realize their highest potential. ResCare has over 28 years of experience in disability services and is the country’s leading provider. Many of the individuals ResCare serves participate in Special Olympics programs.

To view a video clip about ResCare’s donation that aired on the local NBC TV affiliate’s newscast, or read the related story on the station’s website, visit NBC17.com.