Empire Family of Brands Fundraising Campaign
Every best is personal.
From first goals to newfound confidence and lasting friendships, Special Olympics athletes across Canada are achieving incredible personal bests—and you can help them get there.
From June 11- 21, say “YES” to making a donation at checkout at participating Empire Family of Brands including: Sobeys, Safeway, and IGA.
Whether it’s on the field, in the gym, or building life skills through community, health, and leadership programs—your donation fuels more than sport. It fuels growth, belonging, and opportunity.
And this year, your impact goes even further:
Every donation made will be matched by Empire Family of Brands, up to $500,000, amplifying the support for athletes from coast to coast.
Together with Empire Family of Brands, our goal is to raise over $1.5 million to support over 40,000 Special Olympics athletes in reaching their personal best—because when you support inclusion, everyone wins.
What your donation supports:
Every $2 equals one day of activities for a Special Olympics athlete.
Amplify your impact
June 11-21, every donation will be matched* by Empire Family of Brands. Your donation will have double the impact, supporting twice as many athletes, up to $500,000.
*100% of the funds raised will be donated to Special Olympics Canada, with no administrative fees deducted by Empire Company Limited. No tax receipts will be issued for donations made during this period. Empire Company Limited will match in-store donations up to a total of $500,000 from June 11 to 21, 2026
Saskatchwan's 2026 Youth Athlete Ambassador
Rhyker Evanishen-Menzies
“In a time of hardship with Rhyker’s diagnosis, it was heartwarming to see the Special Olympics team welcome Rhyker with open arms and cheer him on,” his mother, Melissa, shares.
Rhyker’s dad was playing on an adult team who happened to have a friendly face off against a local Special Olympics youth team — and what stood out most was not the score, but the atmosphere around the game: the energy, encouragement, and support between athletes, coaches, families and the broader community.
Not long after, Rhyker joined the team himself.
At the time, the Prince Albert athlete was only eight years old and had recently been diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. For his family, there were a lot of unknowns about what the future would look like — including how sport would continue to fit into Rhyker’s life.
Instead of uncertainty, they found acceptance.
Now ten years old, Rhyker looks forward to floor ball every week — especially games against some of his favourite rival teams.
“My favourite thing is playing against the Prince Albert Raiders, Mintos, and other organizations,” Rhyker says. “I like that everyone is so supportive of each other, and scoring goals.”
For Melissa, one of the biggest changes since joining Special Olympics has been watching Rhyker’s development both as an athlete and as an individual.
Rhyker's personal best is definitely his self-confidence.
That growth is exactly why this year’s Empire Family of Brands in-store fundraising campaign message — “Every best is personal” — resonates deeply with their family and so many others. Success is not always measured in goals scored or games won, but in confidence gained, connections built and being part of a team where everyone pushes each other forward and celebrates what each person brings to the game.
That sense of belonging has extended far beyond the rink.
“We have all appreciated the acceptance of not only Rhyker but our whole family in the Special Olympics community,” Melissa says. “We also love how Special Olympics has brought in local teams and organizations — those games bring joy into Rhyker’s week.”
That is also why they hope Canadians will support Special Olympics athletes during this year’s Empire Family of Brands campaign.
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If you have questions about this year's Empire Family of Brands campaign in Saskatchewan, please reach out to Special Olympics Saskatchewan here.