EATON —The Timken Steel St. Clair plant donated $3,133.26 to the Preble County Special Olympics and the Special Olympics for Young Athletes on Friday, Dec. 18, after employees at the plant spent the year finding ways to raise money.
Janey Montague, head of the activities team for the Sinclair plant, presented the check to Alex Day and Preble County DD’s Corey Mangan, who were representing the Preble County Special Olympics team at the check presentation.
Employees with the plant raised money through bake sales, gift baskets and “Penny Wars” which turn fundraising into a friendly competition between different shifts at the plant, according to Timken Steel plant manager Jeremy Linder.
Mangan said the money will go toward uniforms for the team, equipment for the athletes, and could help the team travel to Columbus for the state Special Olympics competition.
According to Linder, the donation was the largest ever for the plant which does annual charity drives for the United Way and another group of choice each year.
According to Mangan, of the 375 people who are served by the Preble County DD, 100 of those participate in Special Olympics and Special Olympics for Young Athletes, both of which our separate organizations from the Preble County DD board.
The team participates in track and field events in the summer and also has competitive basketball and softball teams for the athletes to compete on.
According to Mangan, the partnership with the plant goes beyond receiving donations, as the plant also hires employees through L&M Products.
Alex Day, an athlete who competes in multiple sports, says basketball is his favorite.
Day said his favorite part of basketball was “shooting hoops, bank boards, lay-ups, and a couple of three pointers.” He also said he likes competing against his friends from other teams in the area and being on a team with his friends.
“Its competition,” Mangan said about the events. “It’s not just throwing the ball out and messing around, they have a good time, they work hard, and we have a 12-game schedule and play exhibition games at area high schools.”
Linder also noted many of his employees are from Preble County and the money raised by them is going right back into the county where the majority live.
