Governor Josh Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro welcomed athletes, advocates, and special guests to the Governor’s Residence for the fourth annual Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) Bocce Ball Tournament.
This year’s tournament once again brought together Special Olympics athletes and employees from Wawa and Sheetz — longtime SOPA partners who catered the event and competed alongside athletes for a unified day of fun and inclusion. Teams played friendly matches in the Residence’s Rose Garden.
“From day one, my Administration has worked to support our neighbors with disabilities, and we’re delivering real results — raising wages to recruit and retain the essential workers who care for Pennsylvanians with disabilities, and giving people with disabilities a real seat at the table on an advisory commission for the first time ever,” said Governor Shapiro. “Today’s tournament is about coming together to celebrate these athletes, their families, and the community we’re building.”
The event also underscores how businesses can help build inclusive workplaces. Sheetz has partnered for years with Pennsylvania’s Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), hiring workers with disabilities and supporting Special Olympics events. At the First Lady’s encouragement, Wawa began working with OVR — helping more Pennsylvanians with disabilities join the workforce.
Last year, OVR helped place over 6,400 Pennsylvanians with disabilities into jobs across 3,500 companies.
“At Sheetz, supporting our communities and fostering inclusion is central to who we are, which is why today’s Special Olympics event is so meaningful. We are grateful to Governor Shapiro and the First Lady for their unwavering commitment to this cause and for inviting us to be part of this incredible day. We’re excited to join our friends at Wawa in our shared commitment to celebrating and uplifting these remarkable athletes,” said Jackie Foderaro, Community Partnership Manager, Sheetz.
“Wawa is thrilled to team up with Governor Shapiro, First Lady Lori Shapiro and Sheetz for the annual Unified Bocce Brunch for one shared goal of providing support to our longstanding partners at Special Olympics Pennsylvania,” said Liz Simeone, President, The Wawa Foundation.
SOPA provides year-round sports training and competition for over 13,000 athletes across the Commonwealth, supported by volunteers, local businesses, and community partners like Wawa and Sheetz. In June 2025, 91 athletes and Unified partners participated in 11 sports in the Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota. At the games, Team Pennsylvania tallied 50 medals – including 15 gold, 14 silver, and 21 bronze.
