A kickoff event supper, hosted by the Jay AMVETS Franklin County Special Olympics Committee, was held April 29 for Jay High School alumnus Trent Paradis, the only athlete from Maine going to the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany. From left are Cynthia Paradis, Richard Paradis, Trent Paradis, Gary Desjardins, Franklin County Special Olympics area manager and vice chair of the OTIS Federal Credit Union Board of Directors; Ryan Souther, Franklin County Special Olympics treasurer and digital branch/facilities manager at OTIS FCU; Darice Roy, vice president, OTIS FCU; and Wayne Buckingham, commander of AMVETS Post No. 33.

The Jay AMVETS Franklin County Special Olympics Committee held a kickoff supper April 29 at the Jay AMVETS building. This event functioned as a community benefit for Jay High School alumnus Trent Paradis, the only athlete from Maine going to the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany.

From advertising to attendance, the Kickoff Supper received an overwhelming amount of support, according to a news release from Kimberly Couture, director of marketing and communications with the OTIS Federal Credit Union.

The Jay AMVETS Franklin County Special Olympics Committee held a kickoff supper April 29. Those helping are, from left, Jamie Walp, operations manager, OTIS Federal Credit Union; Morgan Pooler, member specialist/loan processor, OTIS FCU; Bradley Richards, classmate of Trent Paradis; Josie Metivier, member specialist/loan processor, OTIS FCU; River Bouchard, Chris Bouchard, president/CEO, OTIS FCU; and Gail Desjardins. Submitted photo

The benefit included supper, raffles, a 50/50 drawing, and a live auction. A variety of donated items were up for auction or raffled off, ranging from handmade wooden bowls to a large TV. The total amount raised that evening for the trip came to over $10,000, and donations are still coming in.

The main partners of this event included the Franklin County Special Olympics committee, Jay AMVETS Auxiliary, Jay VFW and Auxiliary, Daughters of Isabella, and OTIS Federal Credit Union.

Ryan Souther, who is the Franklin County Special Olympics Treasurer as well as the Digital Branch/Facilities Manager at OTIS FCU, coordinated much of the benefit, gathering and organizing the auction items and making sure that everything ran smoothly. But the event would not have happened if the idea had not been initially proposed by OTIS FCU employee Morgan Pooler, a Jay High classmate and friend of Paradis.

When asked what made her think of doing this benefit, she said, “I think that the athletes themselves are an inspiration. When I saw someone from my high school class, in this small community, earn this opportunity, it made me want to help however I could. Seeing how many people came out on Saturday to show their support and excitement for Trent was wonderful.”

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