Stephanie McMahon Joining Disney, Coca-Cola, Microsoft Executives For Special Olympics Challenge

– Stephanie McMahon is set to join executives from Disney, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Microsoft and more in a Special Olympics challenge. ESPN and the Special Olympics announced on Wednesday that executives and employees from Bank of America, Coca-Cola, DocuSign, The Finish Line, Inc., Holland America Line, ESPN, Kaiser Permanente, Microsoft, the Seattle Mariners, Swire Coca-Cola, The Walt Disney Company, the University of Washington and WWE teaming with celebrities and Special Olympics athletes to compete in multiple Unified Sports challenges. The goal is “to demonstrate the power of inclusion, of playing Unified and raising funds for Special Olympics and the local Seattle community.”

The ESPN | Special Olympics Unified Sports Challenge coincides with the start of the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games Seattle, for which ESPN is the official broadcaster and will provide daily coverage from July 1st through the 6th. Each executive will be part of a Unified team of five people, including themselves, two of their employees, a celebrity who is committed to a diverse and inclusive community and a Special Olympics athlete.

“We are incredibly excited about the upcoming Special Olympics USA Games and proud to be working with Special Olympics and other incredible companies to illustrate how easy and powerful it is to choose to include,” said Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, ESPN International. “Personally, I am thrilled to be joining with an incredible team to have a fun, active day and take the challenge to our competition while we raise awareness for the power of inclusion.”

Added Beth Knox, President and CEO of the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games, “The business community’s support for the 2018 USA Games has been off the charts. We’re incredibly honored to have our partners participate in the Unified Challenge and to stand with them and their employees as we prioritize a stronger, more inclusive community.”

Elissa Margolis, Sr. Vice President, Enterprise Social Responsibility added, “Inclusion is a core value at Disney and something that is personally very important to me. I’m thrilled to be participating in the Unified Sports Challenge and very proud that Disney is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games Volunteer Program.”

Companies who will have teams in the Challenge will include:

* Bank of America: team led by Anne Finucane, Vice Chairman
* Coca-Cola: team, led by Jim Dinkins, President Coca-Cola North America
* DocuSign: team led by Dan Springer, CEO
* The Finish Line, Inc.: team led by Sam Sato, Chief Executive Officer
* Holland America Line: team led by Orlando Ashford, President
* ESPN: Team led by Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, ESPN International
* Kaiser Permanente: team led by Susan Mullaney, President of Kaiser Permanente Washington
* Microsoft: team led by Brad Smith, President
* Seattle Mariners: team led by John Stanton, Chairman & Managing Partner and Jerry Dipoto, Executive Vice President & General Manager
* Starbucks: team led by Vivek Varma, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs
* Swire Coca-Cola: Paul Lukanowski, Sr. Vice President and General Manager
* The Walt Disney Company: team led by Elissa Margolis, Sr. Vice President, Enterprise Social Responsibility
* University of Washington team led by Ana Mari Cauce, President
* WWE: team led by Stephanie McMahon, Chief Brand Officer

Among the confirmed athletes and celebrities participating are:
* Victoria Arlen: ESPN reporter, author, model, Dancing With The Stars semi-finalist and former Paralympian
* Lorretta Claiborne: speaker, advocate, ESPYs Arthur Ashe Courage Award winner
* Walter Jones: Seattle Seahawks legend and Hall of Famer
* Kasey Keller: USMNT, MLS & Premier League goalkeeper; ESPN analyst and USA Games Board Member
* Steve Largent: former U.S. Representative, Seahawks legend and NFL Hall of Famer
* Kenny Mayne: ESPN SportsCenter anchor
* Kevin Negandhi: ESPN SportsCenter anchor
* Apolo Ohno: Olympic champion speed skater
* Gary Payton: Seattle Supersonics legend and NBA Hall of Famer
* Lauren Potter: actress and advocate
* Holly Rowe: ESPN reporter
* Big Show: WWE Superstar
* Marty Smith: ESPN reporter and host
* Jordan Spieth: world No. 3-ranked golfer
* Allen Stone: acclaimed ATO Records R&B recording artist
* Jim Zorn – Seahawks legend

The teams will compete in fun and engaging unified activities, including Hot Shot Basketball, Penalty Shot Soccer, Bocce, Inflatable Dart Board, Football Accuracy Challenge, Giant Memory Game and Golf Putting. The winning team will be awarded $20,000 to donate to Special Olympics USA Games or a Seattle based non-profit of choice, leaving a lasting legacy. The second through fourth placed teams will have the same opportunity with prize amounts of $12,500, $7,500 and $5,000, respectively.