Boeing drivers team up for gold medal support of Special Olympics
A 50-year legacy of volunteering at the event gives teammates the chance to support the community and gain life lessons.
Kandy Paulson (center with Boeing blue collared shirt) and other Boeing teammates volunteer at Special Olympics Washington Spring Games. (Photo: Special Olympics Washington)
Boeing employee Kandy Paulson says volunteering for the Special Olympics is a “life-changing experience.” Each year, she and her fellow Boeing drivers — those who operate cars, vans, buses and trucks for the company — come together to support the athletes.
- “When I see an athlete come off the field holding a medal, that hits me deep in my heart,” Paulson said.
Paulson was one of about a dozen Boeing drivers who volunteered to support the week-long Special Olympics Washington Spring Games in June. The team delivered equipment, supplies and food for of the athletes, who competed soccer, track and field and other events.
“It means a lot to the community that Boeing is there. People come up and would ask if I work for Boeing,” Paulson said. “When I tell them ‘yes,’ you can tell that they are so proud that Boeing is involved in the community and helping these athletes achieve their goals.”
Jack Dove volunteers in the University of Washington command center during the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games.
Boeing’s partnership with Special Olympics Washington spans 50 years. Jack Dove, a senior manager in Passenger Services, has volunteered for 45 of those years. Dove recalls a poignant moment from several years ago that continues to inspire him.
- “As I watched the athletes race around the track, a few of the racers fell. The other racers stopped and turned around to help those who fell, and they got across the finish line together,” he said. “I realized, in that moment, it was them showing us what teamwork was all about.”
For decades, Dove has carried on that teamwork mindset and introduced drivers to Special Olympics Washington. One of those drivers was Paulson, who volunteered for her first Games three years ago.
- “The opening ceremony will make me tear up every single time,” she said. “Seeing the athletes come through with their friends and their teammates, knowing that they have made it all year practicing, and everyone is cheering for them. That’s overwhelming for me. That’s what keeps me coming back.”
Boeing drivers give high-fives to athletes during the Special Olympics Washington kickoff event (Photo: Boeing photo)
Paulson said she encourages Boeing teammates to volunteer so they can experience the rewarding feeling that comes from making a difference in the community.
- “Knowing that I get to carry the Boeing logo and be a part of the great team we have and have us represent Boeing in the community is really impactful,” Paulson said. “It makes me very proud.”
