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For over four decades, Special Olympics Prince Edward Island  (SOPEI) has opened doors for Islanders with intellectual disabilities to discover strength, confidence, and community through the power of sport.

Here at PEI Mutual, we count ourselves fortunate to have been a part of SOPEI’s journey since 1993. What began with the sponsorship of a single event quickly deepened into a powerful and enduring relationship as their Founding Partner.

For 32 years, we’ve watched with admiration and delight as SOPEI has embraced its vision of opening hearts and minds towards people with an intellectual disability and creating inclusive communities through sport.

Their ever-growing number of sports programs, exciting events, and community activities is a testament to how much one small non-profit can achieve when it leads with heart, gains the support of its community, and relentlessly pursues a people-oriented mission.

As they get set for their 2025 gala evening on July 3rd, we want to give you a peek into the world of Special Olympics PEI and why we’re so passionately dedicated to supporting their important work.

The Beginning of a Beautiful Partnership 

While PEI Mutual first began making donations to Special Olympics PEI in 1993, it was in 1997 that our relationship was forever solidified. This was the year SOPEI launched its first-ever provincial games. PEI Mutual quickly stepped up to become the title sponsor.

The PEI Mutual Championships served as an inspiring event that spotlighted the talents and perseverance of Island athletes with intellectual disabilities. 

Later that year, we also sponsored SOPEI’s Sports Celebrity Festival Luncheon in Summerside, an initiative founded by the late Elmer Williams. 

Following the success of the provincial games and the luncheon, PEI Mutual embraced the opportunity to become Special Olympics PEI’s provincial sponsor. Shortly thereafter, we cemented the relationship by becoming SOPEI’s Founding Partner. We’ve been their steadfast supporter and enthusiastic champion ever since. 

 

A Partnership Rooted in Shared Values

At PEI Mutual, we’re committed to being a positive force in PEI by investing in initiatives that make a real difference. We focus on three themes to guide our community-based initiatives and investments: building stronger communities, empowering Island youth, and strengthening Island industry.

Our partnership with Special Olympics has endured for almost three decades because it’s rooted in shared values of community and empowerment. Their broad range of programs is
designed to support physical fitness, social development, and leadership among Islanders with intellectual disabilities while fostering inclusivity in communities across PEI.

Curious about their programming? Here’s a peek at some of their key programs below, but be sure to visit their website for full details on all the incredible opportunities they provide to youth and adults across PEI.

• Community and Competitive Sports Programs: From basketball and bocce to softball and floor hockey, athletes of all ages and levels can train, have fun, and thrive through SOPEI’s various non-competitive and competitive programs, such as Active Start for children ages 2–6, FUNdamentals for youth aged 7–12, Youth Multi-Sport, and Adult Programs for athletes aged 13 and up.
• Healthy Athletes: This health screening and education program is designed for people with intellectual disabilities. Screenings are offered in eight disciplines and are administered by volunteer healthcare providers throughout the year.
• Athlete Leadership Academy: Moving beyond the field, court and rink, the Academy offers programs designed to equip athletes with the tools to undertake positions of leadership within their community and beyond.

Celebrating Joy at the Enriching Lives Gala

Our team looks forward to the end of June and the beginning of July every year with great anticipation. Not just because it’s the start of summer, but because that’s when SOPEI hosts their  signature event, the Enriching Lives Gala.

Since its official launch, the gala has become firmly rooted in PEI’s calendar of must-attend events. NHL legend Dion Phaneuf and Hollywood A-lister Elisha Cuthbert have even been in attendance and are slated to attend this year’s gala on July 3rd, 2025.

Aptly dubbed a ‘celebration of joy’, the gala is a truly magical evening that celebrates all abilities, inclusion, and the power of community. It brings together athletes, families, supporters, volunteers, and donors to celebrate the achievements of Special Olympics athletes and raise critical funds for programming.

In 2024, the event hosted nearly 550 guests and raised an incredible $414,000, helping fund year-round sports, training, and competition opportunities for over 600 athletes across the Island. We can’t wait to see what this year’s final tally of funds raised is; no doubt it will be impressive! 

Looking Ahead, Together

We feel grateful for 28 years of kinship with this incredible PEI organization and the opportunity to help them make a difference in so many lives.

As a mutual company, our primary goal is to serve our members/policyholders and the community. In other words, we focus on people over profit. Thanks to our strong membership of policyholders, we can direct substantive funds to incredible organizations here on PEI—and that’s always worth celebrating.

Casting our gaze to the future, we look forward to our continued partnership with Special Olympics PEI and the many other community organizations we support. Together, we can go so much further in our shared mission to build strong, inclusive communities and empower our Island youth.