Empire Family of Brands Fundraising for Special Olympics
Every best is personal
From first goals to newfound confidence and lasting friendships, Special Olympics athletes across Canada are achieving incredible personal bests – and you can help them get there.
From June 12 to 22, say “YES” to making a donation while shopping at participating Empire Family of Brands including Safeway and Thrifty Foods.
Whether it’s on the field, in the gym, or building life skills through community, health, and leadership programs, your donation fuels more than sport. It fuels growth, belonging, and opportunity.
Every donation made will be matched by Empire Family of Brands, up to $500,000, amplifying the support for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities from coast to coast.
Together with Empire Family of Brands, our goal is to raise over $1.5 million to support over 47,000 Special Olympics athletes in reaching their personal best – because when you support inclusion, everyone wins.
What Your Donation Supports
- Every $2 = one day of activities for a Special Olympics athlete
- Donations fund sport training, health screenings, nutrition education, and leadership opportunities
- Support reaches over 47,000 athletes in more than 365 communities across Canada
Amplify Your Impact
- From June 12 to 22, every donation will be matched by Empire Family of Brands
- That means your donation goes twice as far – helping twice as many Special Olympics athletes
- Matching continues until the $500,000 maximum is reached
100 per cent of the money raised will be donated to Special Olympics Canada with no administration fees retained by Empire Company Limited. No tax receipts will be issued for the donation made during this time. Empire Company Limited will match donations made in-store to a maximum of $500,000 from June 12 to 22, 2025. For more information please visit: www.specialolympics.ca/Empire
Meet SOBC's Empire Athlete Ambassador
For 10-year-old Richmond athlete Aaron Zhang, choosing a favourite activity in Special Olympics is impossible: He loves all of them. Whether he’s passing a ball in soccer, learning new skills in FUNdamentals, or playing floor hockey with teammates, Aaron is always up for the challenge.
"Aaron is becoming more confident and his self-esteem is also getting higher," his mother Yuan says.
Health
As a proud Special Olympics Canada partner for many years, Safeway and Thrifty Foods have supported Special Olympics health programs and created opportunities for athletes, families, and coaches to access nutrition guides, cooking classes, and fresh food.
The Sobeys Nutrition Corner is an amazing resource for Special Olympics athletes to build their healthy bodies and minds. Included in the resources are Sobeys Nutrition Breaks, which offer bite-size nutrition sessions for Special Olympics athletes, coaches, volunteers and families/caregivers. Created so they can be delivered anywhere and by anyone, the Sobeys Nutrition Breaks cover many topics – the updated Canada Food Guide, Healthy Eating on the Go, Hydration, Mindful Eating, Testing Your Nutrition Knowledge, and more!
Special Olympics BC athlete Arianna Phillips says her favourite healthy recipe is making butter chicken with bell peppers for added nutrition. One of the tips she has implemented from the Sobeys Nutrition Corner is using peppers as a flavour builder, as mentioned in the handout about fruits and vegetables.
In 2025, Empire Family of Brands and Special Olympics Canada launched a new SOLearn Athlete Nutrition Course presented by Empire!
Free and easy to follow Designed for all ages and abilities Packed with tips on healthy eating, hydration & sport fuelingAbout the Partnership
Since 2016, Empire Company Limited stores across Canada have raised and donated more $5.4 million in food and funds to Special Olympics. They continue to provide run their significant annual fundraising campaign while also providing year-round support through nutrition education, event sponsorships, and employment opportunities for athletes nationwide.
As part of their commitment to Special Olympics, Safeway and Thrifty Foods believe in the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities to achieve their dreams and to make a meaningful impact where they work, live, and play. Safeway and Thrifty Foods’ partnership with Special Olympics includes support through fundraising initiatives, sponsoring National and Provincial Games, and donating gift cards and food to support various activities across the country.
Safeway and Thrifty Foods are dedicated to helping Special Olympics athletes improve their health by providing healthy food and nutrition education, leading to both better performance and healthier lives.
In addition, many Safeway and Thrifty Foods employees volunteer at Games and other Special Olympics events.
In B.C., funding from Safeway and Thrifty Foods goes directly to grassroots Special Olympics BC programs around the province, and also supports Provincial Games and a wide range of provincial programs, events, and development opportunities that benefit athletes and volunteers throughout the Special Olympics BC community.