The Adopt-A-School program is a successful program organized by Special Olympics East Asia and Special Olympics China as a means for local corporations, organizations or individuals to directly support the development of Special Olympics programs in local special schools/special organizations around China, and so to enhance Special Olympics activities at schools and in the communities.

The donated funds will help the adopted schools offer additional athletic training and competition opportunities as well as purchase new sports equipment and team uniforms. The sponsors will be encouraged to visit these schools, to hold Unified Sports events and training activities with the students and employees, and to participate in any other Special Olympics projects that are of interest to themselves.

The adopted schools will provide a plan and budget for the use of the funds.

With the donations, the students of the adopted schools would receive the following benefits:

• High quality sports equipment to ensure safety and development of athletes;
• Opportunities for athletes to travel to other cities, provinces, and possibly other countries to participate in larger Special Olympics games;
• Opportunities to participate in more city-wide competitions with local schools;
• Opportunities for more school-based sports events, including Unified Sports events;
• Enhanced training in coaching skills and Special Olympics Knowledge for coaches and teachers;
• Opportunities for trainings in new SO winter and summer sports;
• New uniforms for trainings and competitions;
• Medals and ribbons for awards in competition
• Other Unified events such as office-tours to depict real-life office working experience (for students with enhanced and simple office working ability);

In return, Special Olympics and the adopted schools will provide the following to the sponsors:

• To invite their executives and employees to attend Special Olympics China events and visit the schools on a periodic basis;
• To offer volunteer opportunities for the employees and family members (specific details can be worked out with the adopted schools);
• To provide photos and written progress updates of the adopted school;
• To host special events, such as a holiday party for the school community;
• To initiate Special Olympics Unified Sports® program with the employees who could be trained and competing on the same team with Special Olympics athletes;
• Recognize the sponsors as corporate partners on the Special Olympics website and other public relations materials.

At present, 15 special schools in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunan and Shandong are adopted, with accumulated beneficiaries reaching over 30. The main sponsors for the “Adopt-a-school” project include UBS, Timken, Dragonair and Bayer.