8-07-2024 3:48pm

Sheetz invites Warren County Special Olympics Athletes to Second Grand Opening

FRANKLIN, OH -- Athletes from the Warren County Special Olympics were invited to speak again at Sheetz’ second grand opening in Warren County.

On April 17, 2024, Sheetz opened its first Warren County location and hosted a grand-opening with speakers from Special Olympics, which included a $2,500 donation to the local program that provides children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round training and activities.

On August 6, just 111 days later, Sheetz opened their second Warren County location and invited more speakers from the local Special Olympics program to present at their grand opening ceremony and collect another donation of $2,500.

Grant Isaacs is an individual served by the Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities (WCBDD) who participates in several Special Olympics sports, including basketball, bowling, and softball. He thanked Sheetz for the donation to Special Olympics.

“I just want to make sure everybody with a developmental disability knows about county DD services and how awesome Special Olympics is,” Issacs said. “I know it’s helped me make friends, try sports that I otherwise couldn’t do if it was a typical team, and then be active.”

Paul Fellinger, Regional Director of Special Olympics Ohio Southwest, said 20,000 athletes participated in Special Olympics last year in Ohio for free with the help of community partners like Sheetz.

“I encourage you, that if you ever have an opportunity to get out and see a Special Olympics event, come out and see it because it is probably the most inspiring thing you will witness in any single day, if not a year or a lifetime,” Fellinger said. “It’s quite amazing.”

Sheetz Public Relations Manager Nick Ruffner said Sheetz has partnered with Special Olympics since 1991, providing food for events and collecting donations from customers.

Ruffner encouraged Sheetz customers to donate to Special Olympics Ohio using the donation box at the register. The new Sheetz store is located at 100 Watkins Glen Dr. in Franklin, Ohio.

For more information, contact Megan Becker at megan.becker@warrencountydd.org or (859) 653-7445.