Lisa Followay Receives The Rite Aid Foundation’s KIDCHAMPSM Award
October 22 2018 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Executive Director of the Adaptive Sports
Program of Ohio Honored for Giving Athletes with Disabilities
Opportunities to Compete
The Rite Aid Foundation announced today that Lisa
Followay, executive director of the Adaptive Sports
Program of Ohio (ASPO), located in Dalton, Ohio, has been
awarded its KIDCHAMPSM Award for her unwavering efforts to provide
athletes with disabilities the opportunity to compete in
competitive and recreational sports. Followay is being recognized
today at 10 a.m. during a special presentation at ASPO located at
100 Kurzen Road North in Dalton. In recognition of her service,
Followay will receive a $10,000 donation to ASPO and $500 in Rite
Aid gift cards during a special ceremony at ASPO’s
headquarters.
The Rite Aid Foundation created the KIDCHAMP Award in 2017 to
recognize individuals in communities served by Rite Aid who have
made a meaningful difference in the lives of youth by advocating
for their health and wellbeing, championing education and academic
growth and creating a safe environment for children and teens to
live and grow. Followay is the fourth recipient to receive the
award.
“Lisa exemplifies the mission of KidCents by giving kids in need
the opportunity for better lives and brighter futures,” said Scott
Bernard, senior vice president of Rite Aid’s Mid-Atlantic Division
and member of The Rite Aid Foundation Board of Directors. “Thanks
to Lisa’s dedication and her leadership at ASPO, children with
disabilities from across Ohio now have the opportunity to play
sports, which benefits them physically, mentally and academically.
Lisa has paved the way for inclusion, and we are pleased to
recognize her as the latest recipient of our KIDCHAMP Award.”
As the mother of a disabled child, Followay realized the
importance of sports early in her son Casey’s life. When the family
moved to Ohio, Followay found very few options for Casey. She then
decided to create opportunities for children like Casey by founding
ASPO in 2009.
Over the last nine years, Followay has grown ASPO into the
largest adaptive sport organization in Ohio, serving more than 300
individuals in six cities through 10 sports, including basketball,
sled hockey and track.
“It is truly an honor to receive the KIDCHAMP Award and I’d like
to thank The Rite Aid Foundation and KidCents for helping all of us
at ASPO continue our important work,” said Followay. “Sports help
develop focus and discipline. They teach children how to work as a
team, overcome challenges and form friendships, while also
improving their overall health and wellbeing. At ASPO, we want to
spread the belief that children with disabilities don’t have to
watch from the sidelines. They can participate in competition and
make meaningful contributions to their teams…you just need to give
them the opportunity!”
Followay actively advocates for inclusion of children with
disabilities in school athletics. Through her efforts, students
across Ohio were permitted to join their school track teams in 2013
and represent their schools at the OHSAA State Track and Field
Championships. Since then, more than 50 school athletes with
disabilities have participated on their school track teams with
support from ASPO, which includes racing chair equipment loans and
adaptive track and field training for the students and coaches.
In addition, Followay worked with the Ohio Senate to allocate
funding through the Ohio Department of Education for the creation
of the first interscholastic wheelchair basketball team in Ohio.
Since the pilot launched during the 2015-16 school year, the
program has expanded to include teams in five school districts.
Through KidCents, members of Rite Aid's loyalty program,
wellness+ rewards, can round up their in-store or online
purchases to the nearest dollar and give their change to one of
more than 440 nonprofit organizations focused on improving the
health and wellbeing of children. For more information, visit
www.kidcents.com.
Since its inception in 2001, The Rite Aid Foundation has awarded
more than $36 million to nonprofit organizations. Additionally,
Rite Aid, through the efforts of its customers, supplier partners
and associates, has also raised more than $87 million for
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across the country since
1994.
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation's leading
drugstore chains with fiscal 2018 annual revenues of $21.5 billion.
Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and
press releases, is available through the company's website at
www.riteaid.com.
The Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio (ASPO) is a nonprofit
organization established to promote the health and wellness of
individuals with physical disabilities. ASPO provides competitive
and recreational adaptive sport opportunities throughout Ohio. ASPO
offers 10 sports programs in Ohio, and has partnered with the U.S.
Olympic Committee to launch Paralympic Sport Ohio. There is active
programming in Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, Toledo, Youngstown and
more. For more information, visit
http://adaptivesportsohio.org.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181022005497/en/
MEDIA:Rite AidPeter Strella,
717-975-5718pstrella@riteaid.com
Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024