ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Particular Olympics Florida and Publix shops are teaming up for an annual marketing campaign to lift cash for practically 75,000 athletes.
J.R. Lobinsky has been a Particular Olympics Athlete for greater than 20 years. He simply added powerlifting to his resume, however he’s additionally competed in observe and subject and basketball, which he mentioned is his favourite.
“It’s basketball as a result of I’ve at all times appreciated to shoot the basketball and put it within the hoop and stuff like that,” Lobinsky mentioned.
Lobinsky can also be a longtime Publix worker in St. Johns County.
Customers can go to any Publix retailer to donate to the marketing campaign. Till Jan. 19, the grocery chain is operating its “Torch Icon Marketing campaign” to serve nearly 75,000 Particular Olympics athletes in Florida.
Zoe Losasso is the group engagement supervisor with Particular Olympics in Northeast Florida. Losasso mentioned the cash goes in direction of funding sports activities packages, well being screenings, and athlete management packages.
“This helps with uniforms, it helps for the price of going to competitions, it helps with the screening, glasses, listening to aids that we provide to athletes,” Losasso mentioned.
Lobinsky went to Orlando in 2022 for the USA Video games and completed with a gold medal within the pentathlon, which is comprised of 5 completely different occasions.
He mentioned he’ll carry that have with him for the remainder of his life.
“It’s simply wonderful, particularly after competing within the USA video games the place I competed in opposition to athletes from all throughout the nation, plus we have now athletes from the Caribbean Islands,” Lobinsky mentioned.
In 2024, the marketing campaign raked in additional than $3.4 million. Losasso mentioned having that form of assist touches their hearts.
“It’s extremely impactful,” Losasso mentioned. “It lets us preserve providing the packages that we do. These may be life-saving providers that we provide.”
Lobinsky mentioned it’s nice that he’s being supported by Publix.
“The one factor I really like most about Publix is the assist system that I get from not solely as an affiliate however the truth that I’ve informed them about how I additionally do Particular Olympics,” Lobinsky mentioned.
The Particular Olympics Florida “Space” video games will likely be in both Jacksonville or St. Johns County in March. The regional video games will likely be held at Mainland Excessive College in Daytona Seaside in April. The competitors wraps up the state video games in Orlando in Might.
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