Rhode Island Credit Unions Support Special Olympics Summer Games
June 7, 2017
Seventy-five volunteers from eight Rhode Island credit unions and CUNA Mutual Group spent June 2 at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, helping to make this year's Special Olympics Rhode Island Summer Games a fun and successful event. Since the Special Olympics was founded in 1968, a cornerstone of the games has been the unwavering determination displayed by athletes. The opportunity to witness the athletes challenge themselves and achieve their goals is something special for everyone involved.
One of the most rewarding activities performed by the credit union volunteers was "clerking" the walking and running events. Clerking involves checking in athletes, gathering them into "heats" for their races, escorting them to the track, and cheering the athletes on as they compete. The interactions between volunteers and athletes were resoundingly positive, making for an unforgettable experience. Several volunteers helped outside during the awards ceremony where they announced the competition winners and escorted them to and from the dais.
Volunteers included staff from Blackstone River Federal Credit Union, Greenwood Credit Union, Navigant Credit Union, Pawtucket Credit Union, People's Credit Union, Rhode Island Credit Union, Wave Federal Credit Union, Westerly Community Credit Union, and CUNA Mutual Group.
Displaying their annual commitment to Special Olympics RI, volunteers from Coventry Credit Union prepared and served up a barbecue lunch for athletes and guests on June 4, the final day of the games.
