BYRON TOWNSHIP, MI – Thomas Carlisle will soon be a familiar face at Michigan-based grocer SpartanNash’s stores.
The Special Olympics Michigan athlete will be featured on cases of Spartan brand spring water starting in May.
Carlisle was named the 2016-17 SpartanNash Healthy Athlete of the Year during opening ceremonies at the 2016 Special Olympics Michigan State Summer Games.
More than 50,000, 24-pack cases of water will feature Carlisle’s image and will be sold in nearly 500 stores in Michigan, including 87 SpartanNash stores and independent retailers that carry Spartan brand spring water.
Carlisle has been involved with Special Olympics Michigan for 16 years. The healthy lifestyle and training has helped the Sparta resident lose more than 170 pounds.
He attributes his transformation to yoga, exercise and paying attention to nutrition labels. In his spare time, he likes to workout, go for walks, and ride his bike.
Carlisle competes in poly hockey and aquatics, previously competing in bocce and basketball. Outside of the Special Olympics, he plays for the Grand Rapids Sled Wings, an adaptive hockey program for people with physical disabilities.
He will be at seven SpartanNash-owned stores in West Michigan including hometown Sparta Family Fare in May for public autograph signings:
May 3 from 4-6 p.m., at Sparta Family Fare
May 5 from 4-6 p.m., at Rockford Family Fare
May 9 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Forest Hills Foods
May 10 from 4-6 p.m. at Coopersville Family Fare
May 12 from 4-6 p.m. at Cascade D&W
May 13 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Breton Village D&W
May 14 from 11:30-1:30 p.m. at Sparta Family Fare
The store visits coincide with the SpartanNash Foundation’s annual retail scan campaign for Special Olympics Michigan athletes, running May 3-14 in Family Fare Supermarkets, D&W Fresh Markets, Forest Hills Foods, Valu Land and VG’s stores.
Customers can support Special Olympics by donating $1, $5 or $10 at the checkout lane, with all proceeds going directly to Special Olympics Michigan and the State Summer Games.
SpartanNash – and the company’s charitable giving arm, the SpartanNash Foundation – has supported Special Olympics since 1985, raising nearly $8.8 million during that time.
The grocer’s employees and their families have also volunteered thousands of hours helping at the State Summer Games, as well as preparing and feeding hundreds of volunteers throughout the Games.
