Tim Hortons is partnering with Special Olympics Canada for its fifth annual Special Olympics Donuts campaign.
The campaign runs Feb. 2 to 4 at Tim Hortons across the country with 100 per cent of sales from the Special Olympics doughnuts going toward Special Olympics programs throughout Canada.
The chocolate doughnuts have a multi-coloured design inspired by the themes of diversity and inclusion that are central to the Special Olympics mission.
Several York Region-based Special Olympics athletes were at Tim Hortons in Newmarket to kick off the campaign and were excited to see the support of the community behind them.
“I’m so excited because I’ve never made it this far and I’m really excited to get to go to nationals,” said Natalie Seqouine.
“I’m excited to play floor hockey with these guys,” added Eric Froese.
To help bring attention to the campaign, York Regional Police have partnered with local Tim Hortons to promote the doughnut initiative. Chief Jim MacSween said seeing a Canadian staple like Tim Hortons step up with this campaign each year is critically important.
“This is a great partnership,” he said. “It shows how important supporting our athletes is to everybody.”
MacSween says York Regional Police have long been an advocate for the Special Olympics and that Special Olympics Ontario is the charity of choice for the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, of which he is president.
“It’s important to every police professional across this province to support our athletes,” he said. “We’re really proud of all the work that’s gone on across this province to support the Special Olympics movement. These athletes are inspirational to everyone."
This year’s Special Olympics Canada Winter Games are taking place in Calgary from Feb. 27 through March 2. The five-day competition will host more than 810 athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities, more than 410 Special Olympics coaches and support staff, more than 1,200 volunteers, and over 1,000 family members.
The Games will include competitions in eight sports: floor hockey, five-pin bowling, alpine skiing, curling, cross-country skiing, figure skating, speed skating and snowshoeing.
Last year, the Tim Hortons doughnut campaign raised nearly $625,000 for Special Olympics programs in Canada.