Care Initiatives Donates $10,000 to Special Olympics Iowa
{Des Moines, Iowa, April 8, 2022} – Care Initiatives donates $10,000 to Special Olympics Iowa.
On April 5, 2022, Members of Care Initiatives Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council met with leadership from Special Olympics Iowa to deliver a $10,000 donation in honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, which is observed in March.
In making this donation, Care Initiatives Chief Executive Officer, Mike Beal stated that the donation is part of Care Initiatives’ continued commitment to extend its diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) efforts beyond the four walls of the company and into the communities that Care Initiatives serves. “We are pleased to support the work the Special Olympics does in our communities. We hope this contribution is instrumental in their efforts to help their athletes discover new strengths and abilities, skills and success on and off the field.”
Care Initiatives is in early stages of implementing its DEI efforts. For example, the company’s inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council (“DEI Council”) has held its first few meetings. The DEI Council’s mission is to create and maintain an environment that promotes a welcoming culture, breaks down barriers and stereotypes, and honors differences. The DEI Council represents a cross-section of the company’s workforce and is responsible for helping revise and create policies to make work environments more diverse, equitable, and inclusive, generating ideas to ensure that Care Initiatives is being inclusive of residents, patients, and tenants of all backgrounds, and works closely with Care Initiatives’ Senior Management to integrate DEI into Care Initiatives’ mission and core values. “We felt this contribution was for such a worthy cause that aligned with the values of our council. The Special Olympics has been a champion for inclusion for over five decades,” said Abhay Nadipuram, Vice President and Chief Legal Officer for Care Initiatives and Executive Sponsor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “We also look forward to strengthening our relationship with Special Olympics Iowa by finding ways to help its athletes find a career in long-term care or ensuring that its athletes are aware of the services that Care Initiatives can provide them and their families in the future.” As a part of its DEI initiatives, Care Initiatives has pledged to donate $120,000 annually to organizations that serve a diverse cross-section of Iowa communities.
In a statement on behalf of Special Olympics Iowa, Vice President of Development, Stuart Steffy, thanked Care Initiatives for its contribution. “Special Olympics Iowa is excited to start a partnership with Care Initiatives. Care Initiatives financial support is directed towards Athlete Leadership, which will helps athletes learn leadership skills, public speak skills, literacy and will help athletes gain self-confidence and self-esteem. We look forward to seeing this program and each individual athlete grow with the support of Care Initiatives.”
Care Initiatives is Iowa’s largest not-for-profit skilled nursing care and senior care provider. Care Initiatives and Care Initiatives Hospice operate 58 skilled nursing, rehabilitation, Alzheimer’s/dementia, assisted living and hospice locations throughout Iowa.
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Tesha Rainey