Author: Erin Stoll, Major Gifts Officer, Special Olympics Nebraska

At Enable, we are driven by a commitment to our Account Owners’ wellbeing and success through financial independence. By working together with other organizations and advocates in the disability community, we are able to support both our mission and those of our partners – coming together to create a strong and vibrant community for all.

Our partnership with Special Olympics Nebraska is a perfect example of these wonderful partnerships. In today’s blog, Erin Stoll of Special Olympics Nebraska shares how our two organizations, though focused on different services and programs within the disability community, are united and strengthened by our common goals.

“Wake up! Put your heart and soul into EVERYTHING you do and NEVER GIVE UP!”

These are wise words spoken by one of my heroes and friends, Melissa Giersch. Melissa is a Special Olympics Nebraska athlete. She and I met when I first started working at Special Olympics Nebraska in 2012. A few years ago, I helped Melissa write a speech about how Special Olympics has impacted her life, and the quote above is the final line of that speech. I have heard Melissa give that speech dozens of times, and that last line always makes me tear up and remember why I love my job. I sometimes joke that I need to have Melissa record that line for me and I should use that recording to wake up to every day! (So much better than my usual alarm clock!)

Special Olympics Nebraska believes in ending discrimination and fear and building a future of justice and joy. In Nebraska, we serve more than 7,800 people across the state through programming in sports, health, education, advocacy, and leadership. Our goal is to create communities of inclusion and improve the quality of life for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

None of this would be possible if it were not for our amazing community partners, like the Enable Savings Plan. Since 2016, Enable has been a proud partner of Special Olympics Nebraska! It was a great fit right from the start. Special Olympics serves as a driving force for social inclusion, with the vision to create a world where people with intellectual disabilities are welcomed in their communities and join with others to learn, work, compete and play with the same rights and opportunities as others. Enable makes this possible because they share in this vision. They too want to help kids and adults live their lives to the fullest.

Since 2016 Enable has been with us: sharing information with our athletes, families and coaches about the benefits of the Enable Savings Plan, volunteering at events, supporting leadership training for our athletes, and helping to spread the word about our movement and inclusion initiatives. Because of their support, athletes like Melissa experience joy and the thrill of competition, learn about leadership skills and gain lifelong friendships.

Melissa inspires us to put our heart and soul into everything we do. With partners like Enable, we will continue to spread the word about inclusion, acceptance, and opportunity for all people with intellectual disabilities. And we promise, we will not ever give up!

Erin Stoll is from Omaha, NE. She is a Major Gifts officer at Special Olympics Nebraska and has worked in non-profit development for 13 years. In addition to her work at Special Olympics, Erin is also a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and loves helping individuals and teams learn more about their powerful and unique strengths.