Sponsor Spotlight: SECU

In Partnership with Special Olympics Maryland, SECU Delivers on Its Commitment 

SECU is committed to strengthening and enriching the lives of our neighbors in the communities across Maryland. By fully embracing the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People,” SECU helps our state thrive. SECU supports Maryland communities through a variety of initiatives and programs that bring SECU employees, members, and neighbors together as a force for good. 

Special Olympics Maryland benefits directly from SECU’s commitment. While they have been a year-round partner since 2017, their team does not simply provide financial support, they show up as active partners, advocates, and volunteers who understand that stronger communities are built through shared responsibility. SECU has included us and our athletes in their Kindness Campaign which aligns naturally with Special Olympics Maryland’s mission to create a more inclusive world for people with intellectual disabilities through sports, health, leadership, and community engagement. 

Through the Kindness Campaign, SECU has helped extend the reach of our work beyond the credit union system and into communities across Maryland. Their support has strengthened collaboration among athletes, families, volunteers, schools, businesses, and local partners who believe in the power of inclusion. SECU’s involvement has helped elevate awareness of Special Olympics Maryland’s athletes and has encouraged others to see experiencing inclusion with them through volunteerism or Unified® Sports as a fundamental value from which all communities across Maryland can benefit. 

The impact of this partnership can be seen in both measurable and meaningful ways. Together, SECU and Special Olympics Maryland have helped support 26,112 Special Olympics Maryland athletes and Unified teammates. SECU President and CEO, Dave Sweiderk has served as a Special Olympics Maryland Board member for seven years, including as Board Chair for the last two years. Over the last three years we have seen athlete and Unified teammate participation grow by 31%. Thanks to Dave’s leadership the SECU team has engaged volunteers, Plunged into the frigid waters of the Chesapeake Bay, and helped generate awareness among tens of thousands of Marylanders in communities across the entire state. Just as important, the partnership has created moments of connection that remind people across Maryland that everyone can be a part of creating communities of kindness, dignity, and opportunity. Dave has forged meaningful friendships with athletes like Adam Hays, who is a member of our Board of Directors. This example inspires SECU team members to support SOMD athletes. 

Our relationship with SECU has grown over time because it is grounded in shared purpose. What began as a partnership around support and awareness has developed into a broader collaboration centered on inclusion, service, and community impact. SECU’s leadership has demonstrated a commitment to investing in the communities they serve. 

SECU and the Kindness Campaign have also inspired us to continue thinking about how kindness can be made visible and actionable in our own work. Their example reinforces the importance of inviting more people, organizations, and workplaces to participate in building a culture where inclusion is celebrated and service is embraced for the value that it brings to everyone who makes that commitment. SECU’s work is a powerful reminder of the impact of values in practice and a meaningful demonstration of how partnership, volunteerism, and kindness can strengthen communities throughout Maryland. Through sport, health and athlete leadership, SECU’s partnership with Special Olympics Maryland is creating a world where opportunity is not limited by disability.