Sheetz, Wawa back Special Olympics
Competitors invite community to take virtual plunge
Two of Pennsylvania’s convenience store chains have set aside their competition — joining forces to promote Special Olympic Pennsylvania’s February “Burrr-tual” (Virtual) Polar Pop.
Both companies support Special Olympics Pennsylvania every year, and and have announced they are donating $5,000 each in support of the organization’s mission and impact in Pennsylvania.
The two companies are taking another step to show their support this year.
In a show of unity, Sheetz CEO Joe Sheetz and Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens took the Polar Pop together, along with store associates, and shared the cold water challenge on social media using #PAPolarPop and #FreezinForAReason.
Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Polar Plunges celebrate the brave souls who jump into frigid water in support of individuals with intellectual disabilities.
This year, instead of plunging into icy cold water, participants will pop a cold water balloon over their heads. The Polar Pop is an online event giving supporters the opportunity to take the “plunge” virtually and safely from home this year.
Every “Pop” will support continued sports training and competition for Special Olympics athletes, enabling them to achieve their goals, live healthier lives, and experience respect and inclusion.
“Now more than ever, it is critical we continue to support Special Olympics Pennsylvania, who trains, inspires and transforms the lives of nearly 20,000 athletes every year,” Joe Sheetz, CEO of Sheetz, said in a press release. “Now having recently celebrated their 50th anniversary, that’s countless lives that have been impacted by them.”
“As a longstanding partner of Special Olympics PA, we are honored to continue our support of local athletes at a time when it’s needed most,” Chris Gheysens, president & CEO, Wawa, said in
the release.
Sheetz and Gheysens are inviting their customers to “have some fun” supporting Special Olympics Pennsylvania by signing up to participate in the effort — which runs through the end of February.
Participants can take the
plunge in three easy steps:
1) Pledge Now: Register as a “Burrr-tual” (Virtual) Plunger, make a $20 donation to support Special Olympics Pennsylvania and commit to raise $50 at www. PAPolarPop.org.
2) Pop: Fill a water balloon with cold water, find a good spot to take a picture or video and pop it.
3) Promote: Now that you’re #FreezinForAReason, share your pop picture or video on social media, challenging 5 friends to make a donation and complete the Polar Pop challenge.
To learn more and register, go to www.PAPolarPop.org.
Special Olympics Pennsylvania provides year-round training and competition to nearly 20,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities in a variety of Olympic-type sports. For more information visit www.specialolympicspa.org.
Sheetz Inc. is a family-owned and operated convenience store chain with more than 20,000 employees. The company operates more than 600 store locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina.
Wawa Inc. is a privately held company, with more than 35,000 employees. The company operates 850 store locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C.