Special Olympics Announces Major Partnership with Bank of America for Empowering Athletes

Special Olympics and Bank of America Forge Transformative Partnership

As we count down to the 2026 Special Olympics in the USA, excitement peaks with the announcement of a landmark partnership. The Special Olympics has teamed up with Bank of America to introduce a three-year funding plan aimed at empowering athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

A $5 Million Commitment

On June 25, 2025, in Washington, D.C., the Special Olympics revealed this funding initiative worth $5 million, which is aimed at enhancing athlete leadership programs and improving access to competitive job opportunities for individuals with IDD. This substantial investment signifies Bank of America’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and leadership among these athletes at local, regional, national, and even global levels.

The initiative focuses on expanding existing training programs, including the Athlete Leadership and Unified Leadership projects. These programs are designed to cultivate skills in leadership and collaboration, fostering inclusive attitudes among participants. The funding will help roll out these programs to diverse regions, including Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America.

Expansion of Opportunities

Bank of America’s funding will be specifically allocated to scaling career readiness training, providing a foundation for both Athlete Leadership and Unified Leadership initiatives. The Unified Leadership program emphasizes training that is collaboratively designed and led by individuals with IDD, aiming to cultivate an inclusive workforce. This initiative has already reached over 2,000 organizations worldwide, including schools, companies, and community groups.

Mary Davis, CEO of the Special Olympics, stated, “The support from Bank of America comes at a crucial time for us as we strive to broaden equitable leadership opportunities for our athletes. They recognize that Special Olympics athletes are some of the most powerful voices advocating for inclusion. Together, we will ensure that individuals with intellectual disabilities can truly participate in dialogues and have platforms to showcase their leadership.”

Upcoming Events and Sponsorship

As part of this strategic partnership, Bank of America will also serve as a platinum partner for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, set to take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Scheduled from June 20-26, this event is expected to attract more than 3,000 athletes from all 50 states competing in various sports. Notably, Bank of America will sponsor the golf event, enticing over 159 athletes and 40 caddies to take part.

This sponsorship stems from an initiative called Golf with Us, aimed at promoting golf in the United States. The initiative reflects the company’s commitment, alongside its investment of over 10,000 volunteer hours annually dedicated to supporting the disabled community.

Voices of Inclusion

Charlotte Miller, an athlete from the Indiana Special Olympics, shared her transformative experience with the Athlete Leadership project, “This collaboration with Bank of America has boosted my confidence in public speaking and I’m excited to participate in the upcoming games. I also look forward to sharing my insights on ‘Better Money Habits’ with other athletes.”

Commitment to Community

Bank of America has a long-standing tradition of supporting the Special Olympics, rooted in shared values aimed at promoting local community welfare and economic opportunities. The financial institution has emphasized creating an inclusive environment where team members, including those with visible and invisible disabilities, can thrive.

According to AJ Barkley, the corporate social responsibility head at Bank of America, “Sports possess a unique power to unite humanity. Our decades of collaboration with the Special Olympics underscore our dedication to creating opportunities for individuals of all capabilities.”

The bank's dedication is reflected in their extensive support network, comprising over 30 years of internal marketing and operations efforts geared towards athletes with IDD, facilitating their professional growth by engaging over 23,000 network members worldwide.

This new partnership not only represents a significant investment in leadership and training for athletes with intellectual disabilities, but it also sets a precedent for future collaborations aimed at fostering inclusive communities across the globe. By leveraging their resources, both Bank of America and the Special Olympics aim to create profound, lasting change in how society views and interacts with individuals with disabilities.

To learn more, visit SpecialOlympics.org and 2026specialolympicsusagames.org.