Spartan Stores is a long standing partner of Special Olympics Michigan. Since 1985, Spartan Stores has contributed $7 million to support the State Summer Games and the year-round athletic training of 19,620 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Spartan Stores raised the $7 million through customer, retailer, vendor and associate donations.

In 2011, Spartan Stores is celebrating 27 years as presenting sponsor of the State Summer Games. In addition to financial support, Spartan Stores supports the State Summer Games with hundreds of volunteers who are associates, retirees, friends, families, vendors and independent retailers. Many of these volunteers have become core volunteers throughout the State Summer Games. Spartan Stores also provides the meals for all of the volunteers throughout the State Summer Games. Before the State Summer Games Spartan Stores sells medallions in nearly 100 corporate stores as well as independent stores across Michigan.

Spartan Stores is very interested in helping community members improve their health and wellness. In 2007, Spartan Stores started its Healthy Athlete of the Year program to recognize one Special Olympics Michigan athlete each year who exemplifies a healthy life-style and the Special Olympics Oath. The award is given to an athlete at State Summer Games who strives for wellness, a balance of the mind, body and spirit and is a leader among other athletes. Spartan Stores features that athlete on one of its products and its semi trailers.

The winners:

2012 - Ben Snider

2011 - Nicholas Cross

2010 - Kassondra Pratt

2009 - Amy Bliss

2008 - Keir Mallory

2007 - Melissa Prill

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq:SPTN) is the nation's eleventh largest grocery distributor with 1.4 million square feet of warehouse, distribution, and office space located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Company distributes more than 40,000 corporate and national brand products to approximately 375 independent locations in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, and to our 97 corporate owned stores located in Michigan, including D&W Fresh Markets, Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen's Markets and VG's Food and Pharmacy.

Learn more about Spartan Stores by visiting www.spartanstores.com.