Two staff from Special Olympics East Asia visited Timken (Yantai) Co. Ltd., on September 17, 2009 for an orientation on Special Olympics and formally initiated Special Olympics Fan Club in Yantai.

By the training, Timken volunteers had a comprehensive understanding about Special Olympics movement, including its missions, visions, various sports and non-sports programs promoted globally, especially in East Asia region, as well as “Be a Fan”, the public awareness campaign currently rolled out by SOI around the world. They also learned about principles and basic skills a Special Olympics volunteer should follow. Some employees shared with other participants their experience in the unified activities with Yantai Zhifu Special School. Most trainees registered as Fan Club members, they said they will do utmost to support the development of local Special Olympics movement and attract more volunteer to join future events.

Training Undergoing 

SOEA staff also paid a visit to Yantai Zhifu Special School, sponsored by Timken via “Adopt a School Project” in Yantai, and discussed with school management for a better promotion of Special Olympics in school, as well as local communities.

Basketball Training 

I Like the Art of Writing 

Special Olympics Fun Club is a PR project initiated in five East Asia programs in coordination with “Be a Fan” publicity campaign rolled out by SOI in the world. With a series of public awareness activities, the club is aimed to recruit in local regions with more fans of Special Olympics, i.e., active Special Olympics volunteers and supporters.

Timken has been one of the most important sponsors for Special Olympics East Asia since 2005. The company is involved in various Special Olympics programs, including Adopt School, Young Athlete, SO Get Into It, University Program, Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) and Special Olympics Fan Clubs. In the line with Timken’s tradition of engaging into local social welfare activities, many Timken employees across China participate in various Special Olympics events, and therefore have become an active volunteer group in the local movement. In 2009, Timken Yantai sponsored Zhifu Special School in Yantai with annual donation to support it for a better promotion of Special Olympics programs and provide more opportunities for local kids with intellectual disabilities. Timken Yantai employees also joined with students as volunteers for various unified sports.