Nordic PCL Construction Inc. (NPCL) employees volunteered their time and efforts to the Special Olympics State Summer Games, “Cheers for Champions,” on Saturday, June 7.

The event tool place over three days and included powerlifting, softball, swimming and track and field. Volunteer efforts are a crucial element of the day-of event operations.

A Nordic PCL volunteer cheers on a participant.

The annual summer games were held at both the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa campus and Kaiser High School, with the majority of track and field events being held at Kaiser’s Cougar Stadium.

NPCL Marketing Manager Shelley Santo called the event “a celebration of perseverance, sportsmanship and inclusivity,” saying that the company’s involvement “underscores the significance of corporate volunteerism in uplifting local initiatives.”

Forty volunteers from NPCL assisted at the Kaiser location split evenly between the morning and afternoon shifts, with four volunteers working the whole event. They were involved in a variety of tasks including logistical elements and assisting athletes.

NPCL’s dedication to community investment and inclusivity runs through the whole company. Santo says their “commitment to giving back prove[s] that building a better world isn’t just about structures — it’s about strengthening the bonds within [the] community.”

The nonprofit Special Olympics was founded in 1968 and has expanded globally with a presence in over 170 countries. The Hawai‘i chapter holds over fifty events annually spanning the islands with many opportunities to donate and volunteer. For more information and ways to get involved, visit sohawaii.org.