The 2026 Sobeys and Empire Family of Brands fundraising campaign has closed with a record-breaking result, raising $1.73 million nationally for Special Olympics athletes between June 11 and 21.
This year's theme, “Every Best is Personal,” captured what the campaign has always been about: recognizing that every athlete milestone, whether a first goal, a new friendship, or a breakthrough moment of confidence, is a victory worth celebrating. Thanks to the generosity of shoppers who said yes at checkout, thousands of athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the country will have access to the programs and resources they need to reach their own personal bests.
“The success of the 2026 Empire Campaign is a powerful reflection of what can be achieved when communities rally together with a shared commitment to inclusion,” said Special Olympics Ontario President and CEO Cody Jansma.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported this year's campaign. Your generosity will create life-changing opportunities for Special Olympics athletes across Ontario, helping them build confidence, friendships, and a true sense of belonging. Thank you for saying YES at checkout and for believing in the power of sport to change lives.”
The heart of the campaign lives inside local stores, where communities and athletes come together to raise both funds and awareness. At Vineland Foodland, Store Manager Jeff Van Huizen watched that connection play out firsthand through Ryan Kulikowski, a Special Olympics athlete who works full time in the store's bakery department.
“Ryan has great passion for his job. He strives to do things perfectly,” Van Huizen said.
“He is also really proud of his accomplishments as a Special Olympics athlete, including medaling and participating in many different tournaments. In the past couple of years he even got to be a Special Ambassador for Sobeys at the World Games in Italy.”
Ryan's community showed up in force during the campaign. His wife Kennedi, also a Special Olympics athlete, helped promote the fundraiser both at a BBQ outside the store and at the register inside. Coach Sue and her son Andrew, a Special Olympics athlete, stopped by to lend their support, along with Special Olympics Ontario staff member Pratima and Ryan's mother, Julie, who manages the store's deli department and helped run the BBQ.
“I learned a lot at this BBQ. It gave me an inside look into some of Ryan, Kennedi, and Andrew's experiences and joys with the organization,” Van Huizen said. “I had no idea how many different sports the athletes get the opportunity to participate and compete in.”
For Van Huizen, the standout moment came down to something simple: connection. “Seeing the passion that the athletes have, not only for their sports, but also for life,” he said, recalling a long conversation with Andrew about their shared love of the Blue Jays. The Vineland community turned out too, helping the store exceed its $2,300 goal by roughly $300, with more than $1,100 of that total raised on BBQ day alone.
That same spirit of community showed up in stores across the province, according to Jason Hussak, SOO's Manager of Community Fundraising and Sponsorships. “Raising money and building vital awareness for our athletes is incredibly important, and the Empire Family of Brands campaign presents an amazing opportunity to do just that,” Hussak said. “Seeing store managers, staff, athletes, and volunteers all come together each year is deeply exciting.”
Coordinating a campaign across a province as vast as Ontario takes constant communication to keep provincial staff and local volunteers aligned on store requests and media opportunities, Hussak noted. But it's the small moments that stay with him. During a previous campaign, he visited an Ottawa-area store with a national athlete ambassador. “Seeing his pure excitement at spotting posters featuring his own face was completely unforgettable,” Hussak said. “The store manager and employees were absolutely thrilled to have him there, snapping photos and treating him like a true celebrity. It is those genuine, human connections that make all the hard work entirely worth it.”
Beyond the fundraising totals, this campaign is powered by people like Ryan, whose stories reflect what Special Olympics makes possible both in the workplace and in sport. [Learn more about the athletes employed at Empire branded stores.]
Because of the choices shoppers made at checkout, thousands of athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities will continue to have access to inclusive sport, health, and leadership programs that give them the stage to reach for their personal best. A special thank you goes to the Empire Family of Brands, whose corporate commitment fully matched $500,000 in donations, doubling the impact of every dollar raised across Ontario and Canada.
Together, we aren't just raising funds. We're building healthier, happier, and more inclusive communities. Thank you for standing with Special Olympics Ontario.
