J. Kent Staffing Participates in Annual Fundraiser for Special Olympics Colorado
On Nov. 8, 2021, our J. Kent Team put on our bowling shoes for our 3rd consecutive year of supporting Special Olympics Colorado (“SOCO”) at their fundraiser, Pins For A Purpose. Lauren Brown, a Recruiting Manager with J. Kent Staffing, has been involved with Special Olympics since she was a teenager and we love supporting this organization that holds a special place in Lauren’s, and now in all our hearts.
We’ll let Lauren speak to the rest, with this brief Q&A session with her!
Q1. Tell us about this year’s Pins For A Purpose Event
J. Kent Staffing was a Lane Sponsor, along with 3 other companies (cGMPnow, Yasso, BakerHostetler). We all had the opportunity to have a Special Olympic Athlete join our team. After one game, the top-scoring team then competed in a championship round against a team consisting of all Special Olympic Athletes. J. Kent Staffing didn’t get the accolade of being the top-scoring team, but we had fun trying!
Q2. Tell us about the Special Olympics Athlete who was on your team this year
Our Athlete, Tim (pictured second from the left), is a Colorado native and lives in Longmont. He has worked full-time for his neighborhood King Soopers in Longmont for the past 30 years! To get to the SOCO event on Monday night, he traveled via bus from Longmont to Glendale – a one-and-a-half-hour trip each way – and then was back to work on Tuesday morning at 6:00 AM. We admire Tim’s spirit and incredible work ethic and really enjoyed having him on our team!
Q3. Why is this organization special to you and how long have you been involved?
I have been involved with Special Olympics for over 12 years and have a deep passion for this organization. My aunt has Down Syndrome and is heavily involved with Special Olympics Pennsylvania. After seeing firsthand the impact that Special Olympics had on her life, I wanted to help create the same opportunities that my aunt had for others who have intellectual disabilities.
According to specialolympicsco.org, “The mission of Special Olympics Colorado is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”
Q4. Tell us about your Young Professionals group and what kind of activities they are involved in here in Denver
When I moved to Colorado in 2015, I knew I wanted to continue with Special Olympics Colorado, but wanted to find a group that had a particular focus, rather than just volunteering at different events. When I came across the Young Professionals Board, I knew I had found a great group of people who were not only in my age group but were all interested in the same mission. Meeting every other month, we plan and execute four main events throughout the year to gain awareness and raise money for SOCO’s Healthy Athletes Program. We also host events throughout the year, such as the annual Pins for A Purpose, along with networking & happy hour events. I am hosting an upcoming yoga class at my studio, Y6 Edgewater, where all proceeds will go to SOCO.
Q5. What do proceeds from this event go towards?
In total, Pins for a Purpose raised $15,300 this year! This is part of the $60,000+ fundraising goal YPB fundraises each year for the Healthy Athletes Program. This program directly impacts SOCO athletes by making sure they have access to health screenings, receive quality health check-ups and providing them with athletic attire/equipment.
If your company is interested in getting involved in future SOCO events, please email Lauren Brown at [email protected]. To make a personal or company contribution to Special Olympics Colorado, please click to donate.
Pictured from left to right: Karen, Tim (our SOCO Athlete), Kara, Geena, Barb, and Lauren
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