RICHMOND, VA– GEICO and Special Olympics Virginia (SOVA) announce their continued partnership at the onset of a new decade. The Virginia-based GEICO offices have supported Special Olympics Virginia programs for almost 25 years through sponsorship, employee volunteerism and fundraising efforts. In 2020, GEICO will contribute $50,000 to continue supporting Special Olympics Virginia’s mission. Special Olympics Virginia will recognize GEICO’s support at three of their major events: Virginia Beach Polar Plunge® in February, Basketball State Championships in March, and Fall Championships in November.
“For almost a quarter-century, GEICO and Special Olympics Virginia have worked together to support the amazing athletes and their families, and foster a community based on inclusion,” said Matt Mitchell, GEICO’s assistant vice president and Board Chair of SOVA.
GEICO received recognition as a Premier Level Partner of the Virginia Beach Polar Plunge®, which occurred over the weekend and raised over $1.3 million for Special Olympics Virginia from overall community donations. A group of 29 GEICO associates were part of the 3,000 Plungers that took an icy dip into the Atlantic for the fundraising event.
In early March, GEICO will serve as the Presenting Partner of Basketball State Championships, where hundreds of athletes will travel to compete in the two-day tournament throughout Stafford and Fredericksburg. GEICO employees will get in the action during the Unified Basketball Game that kicks off the event at Friday night’s Opening Ceremony. GEICO will round out the year as a Gold Sponsor of Fall Championships in Virginia Beach, where local GEICO associates will host the Athlete Dance and other games at Opening Ceremony.
Corporate Community Partners strengthen the efforts of Special Olympics Virginia through their generous financial and volunteer support. The longstanding GEICO partnership increases necessary revenue for SOVA, fostering continued growth of life-changing programs provided free of charge to nearly 26,000 children and adults in Virginia with intellectual disabilities.
“GEICO doing it AGAIN! They are leading a charge to inspire an inclusion revolution in every school and every community in the Commonwealth,” said Special Olympics Virginia President Rick Jeffrey. “Be it at our State Basketball Tournament, the Polar Plunge or our Fall Championships, GEICO associates are transforming lives through the joy of sports and helping Special Olympics Virginia create experiences of respect, inclusion and unity. GEICO Cares!”