Kaiser Permanente Expands Particular Olympics Colorado Relationship – FortiGate

On a crisp fall morning, Kaiser Permanente doctor Morgan Swank, MD, ob-gyn, and her sons Patrick and Finnegan Rudersdorf — stepped onto an almost frozen subject in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Patrick and Finnegan started to toss a soccer to heat up for his or her very huge day enjoying for the Particular Olympics Colorado State Flag Soccer Championship with their staff: the Lakewood Lightning.

Patrick is a Particular Olympics Colorado athlete. Finnegan is a unified companion — a volunteer with out mental disabilities who trains and competes as a teammate alongside Particular Olympics athletes. This was their third season enjoying soccer.

“They do flag soccer, basketball, and monitor and subject,” mentioned Dr. Swank. “The flag soccer state championship might be one of the crucial enjoyable Particular Olympics occasions of the 12 months.”

It’s additionally a key alternative to enhance the well being of Particular Olympics athletes. Simply steps away from the enjoying fields, one other staff was working exhausting on that purpose.

Supporting athletes’ well being

Inside a close-by gymnasium, Kaiser Permanente doctor leaders Hector De Leon, MD, pediatrics, and Garrett Mitchell, MD, emergency drugs and pressing care, have been the final cease on the finish of a protracted circuit of tables as a part of the Particular Olympics Well being Promotion Well being Screening.

“I am ensuring that persons are getting the appropriate meals, doing the appropriate stage of bodily exercise, getting the correct amount of sleep, after which answering any questions they could have alongside the way in which,” mentioned Dr. De Leon.

Athletes moved across the health club, getting well being measurements like physique mass index, bone mineral density, and blood stress, in addition to studying about hydration and solar security. Drs. De Leon and Mitchell talked athletes and their households via their measurement outcomes.

“Not many individuals know, however Particular Olympics is definitely the biggest supplier of well being screenings to individuals with disabilities on the earth,” mentioned Megan Scremin, president and CEO of Particular Olympics Colorado.

Dr. De Leon mentioned he was proud to sponsor the screening and to volunteer, supporting athletes’ total well-being, each on and off the sphere.

“Giving high-quality care in a method that feels comfy for individuals within the communities that we’re in, that is what we’re about,” he mentioned.

A relationship constructed to develop

Kaiser Permanente and Particular Olympics Colorado started their relationship in 2011. Their work collectively has grown considerably through the years. Past flag soccer, Kaiser Permanente has:

• Dedicated to sponsoring Workforce Colorado as they put together for the 2026 USA Video games
• Dedicated to being the official group well being companion
• Contributed greater than $440,000 in sponsorships and donations
• Sponsored the Younger Athlete of the 12 months Award on the Corridor of Fame Luncheon
• Supported the Younger Athlete Summer season Sports activities Camp because the presenting sponsor
• Sponsored the VIP lounge for the Particular Olympics Aircraft Pull
• Supported the Particular Olympics Colorado Annual Convention, bringing collectively coaches, caregivers, and group leaders
• Continued management involvement via service on Particular Olympics Colorado’s board of administrators

Kaiser Permanente contributed greater than $135,000 in 2025, supporting 7 Particular Olympics Colorado occasions.

A successful end

Again on the sphere, greater than 1,000 athletes competed on 70 groups. All of them skilled over the course of an 8-week season in hopes of a championship.

And for Patrick and Finnegan, that dream got here true. Their staff earned gold medals.

For Dr. Swank, victory was just a bit sweeter, seeing her colleagues help the staff.

“It made me really feel actually proud to be a doctor and mother with a corporation that’s doing loads for the group and giving again.”