Platinum Sponsor Becomes Largest Sponsor in Summer Games History

After 12 years as the Platinum Sponsor of the Special Olympics Kentucky State Summer Games, Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives has reached an agreement with the organization to expand their sponsorship of the Games. The change will make Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy the largest single sponsor in State Summer Games history. The increased support will result in greater visibility for Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy throughout the Eastern Kentucky University campus during the Games, including a full venue sponsorship of the track and field venue, which will become the Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Track.

The track and field venue sponsorship is a natural fit for Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, as it is at the track where the co-op has had the most visible impact. In each of the first 12 years of the partnership, Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives team members and their families have volunteered to organize and help present all of the awards given out at the track. Each year, co-ops account for almost 600 volunteer hours at the Games.

In addition to their work at the track, Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives also participates in Olympic Town, an interactive fair area for athletes, where the co-ops hand out sunglasses to athletes. They also being the very popular hot air balloon, which can be seen above the entire EKU campus. Athletes are offered tethered rides during the time that the balloon is operating.

Since Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives began its sponsorship of the Summer Games in 2013, the partnership has grown well beyond a traditional sponsorship.

In 2018, the co-ops became the official hydration partner of Special Olympics Kentucky, donating several pallets of bottled water each year that the organization uses at the Summer Games and at events throughout the year. Every lunch provided to an athlete coach or volunteer at the Summer Games includes a bottle of water provided by the co-ops. Water not used at Summer Games is used at all other Special Olympics Kentucky competitions and fundraising events.

When the State Summer Games could not be held in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives maintained its support of Special Olympics Kentucky during the year. They took part in the Salute to Summer Games campaign that filled the void left by the Summer Games, with representatives appearing in the video that closed the campaign. Their sponsorship was converted to a half-year partnership with co-ops being featured at additional Special Olympics events that took place later in the year.

Co-ops also provided the awards signage that is seen throughout the Summer Games, and at other Special Olympics Kentucky competitions.

“We are so grateful for the commitment that Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives has made to continue and expand its support of our athletes and the State Summer Games,” Special Olympics Kentucky CEO Angie Cruse-Tinch said. “Everything they do at the Summer Games is geared toward improving our athletes’ experience at what is the most important event of the year for our program. It says so much about them as an organization and as individuals that the Summer Games has become such an important part of what they do and that they have become such an indispensable part of the Games.”

“We’ve been honored to support Special Olympics Kentucky and the athletes for more than a decade,” said Joe Settles of Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. “Our core values include commitment to community and that aligns perfectly with Special Olympics Kentucky. Each year, employees from co-ops across the state love supporting Summer Games.”

The Special Olympics Kentucky State Summer Games will be held June 6-8 this year and will bring together more than 1,100 athletes, nearly 800 coaches and volunteers and thousands of spectators from throughout the state at the largest event on the Special Olympics Kentucky calendar. Athletes compete in Bocce, Soccer, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Track and Field. The Games get underway with an Opening Ceremony on Friday evening and competition runs Friday night and Saturday. All events are held at Eastern Kentucky University.

For information about the State Summer Games or about other Games sponsorship opportunities, contact CEO Angie Cruse-Tinch at 502-695-8222 or atinch@soky.org.