Mattel, Inc., and the Mattel Children's Foundation support Special Olympics in several ways around the world. Since 2005, Mattel has provided funding that helps Special Olympics in the development of three programs: the Young Athletes Program, which engages youth ages 2 through 7 with intellectual disabilities; the Special Olympics Get Into It™ school-based curriculum, which teaches understanding, acceptance and involvement; and Team Mattel, which engages Mattel employees as volunteers in the Special Olympics movement around the world. Through Mattel's generous support, Special Olympics has expanded its youth programs to every continent, and created the largest global corporate volunteer team in the history of the Special Olympics movement through the creation of Team Mattel.
Since the launch of Mattel's involvement with Special Olympics, thousands of Mattel employees have volunteered for Special Olympics Programs worldwide, including: China, Hong Kong, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific and the United States. From providing water to athletes at track meets, lacing skates, scorekeeping at basketball tournaments, coaching and providing encouragement and cheers at the finish line, Team Mattel volunteers are the global corporate support network for Special Olympics participants.
In 2007, more than 50 Team Mattel employee volunteers from 13 countries traveled to Shanghai for the Special Olympics World Summer Games. They participated in various activities, including the Global Youth Forum, Young Athletes Demonstration and cheered wholeheartedly at the competitions. Additionally, Mattel provided a special limited edition Hot Wheels car bearing the Special Olympics logo to each of the nearly 7,500 athletes. Click here for the highlights of Team Mattel at the 2007 World Games. (Windows Media File)
The Young Athletes Program has expanded its successful pilot project to 34 additional Special Olympics Programs, reaching nearly 5,000 young athletes in all seven Special Olympics Regions around the world. For more information on the Young Athletes Program please click here.
Support from Mattel has also enabled us to translate the Special Olympics Get Into It curriculum into 19 languages and expanded to more than 12,000 schools in over 60 countries around the world, reaching children with and without disabilities.
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