Kaiser Permanente expands Special Olympics Colorado relationship

On a crisp fall morning, Kaiser Permanente physician Morgan Swank, MD, ob-gyn, and her sons Patrick and Finnegan Rudersdorf — stepped onto a nearly frozen field in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Patrick and Finnegan began to toss a football to warm up for their very big day playing for the Special Olympics Colorado State Flag Football Championship with their team: the Lakewood Lightning.

Patrick is a Special Olympics Colorado athlete. Finnegan is a unified partner — a volunteer without intellectual disabilities who trains and competes as a teammate alongside Special Olympics athletes. This was their third season playing football.

“They do flag football, basketball, and track and field,” said Dr. Swank. “The flag football state championship is probably one of the most fun Special Olympics events of the year.”

It’s also a key opportunity to improve the health of Special Olympics athletes. Just steps away from the playing fields, another team was working hard on that goal.

Supporting athletes’ health

Inside a nearby gymnasium, Kaiser Permanente physician leaders Hector De Leon, MD, pediatrics, and Garrett Mitchell, MD, emergency medicine and urgent care, were the last stop at the end of a long circuit of tables as part of the Special Olympics Health Promotion Health Screening.

“I'm making sure that people are getting the right food, doing the right level of physical activity, getting the right amount of sleep, and then answering any questions they may have along the way,” said Dr. De Leon.

Athletes moved around the gym, getting health measurements like body mass index, bone mineral density, and blood pressure, as well as learning about hydration and sun safety. Drs. De Leon and Mitchell talked athletes and their families through their measurement results.

“Not many people know, but Special Olympics is actually the largest provider of health screenings to people with disabilities in the world,” said Megan Scremin, president and CEO of Special Olympics Colorado.

Dr. De Leon said he was proud to sponsor the screening and to volunteer, supporting athletes’ overall well-being, both on and off the field.

“Giving high-quality care in a way that feels comfortable for people in the communities that we're in, that's what we're about,” he said.

A relationship built to grow

Kaiser Permanente and Special Olympics Colorado began their relationship in 2011. Their work together has grown significantly over the years. Beyond flag football, Kaiser Permanente has:

• Committed to sponsoring Team Colorado as they prepare for the 2026 USA Games
• Committed to being the official community health partner
• Contributed more than $440,000 in sponsorships and donations
• Sponsored the Young Athlete of the Year Award at the Hall of Fame Luncheon
• Supported the Young Athlete Summer Sports Camp as the presenting sponsor
• Sponsored the VIP lounge for the Special Olympics Plane Pull
• Supported the Special Olympics Colorado Annual Conference, bringing together coaches, caregivers, and community leaders
• Continued leadership involvement through service on Special Olympics Colorado’s board of directors

Kaiser Permanente contributed more than $135,000 in 2025, supporting 7 Special Olympics Colorado events.

A winning finish

Back on the field, more than 1,000 athletes competed on 70 teams. They all trained over the course of an 8-week season in hopes of a championship.

And for Patrick and Finnegan, that dream came true. Their team earned gold medals.

For Dr. Swank, victory was just a little sweeter, seeing her colleagues support the team.

“It made me feel really proud to be a physician and mom with an organization that’s doing a lot for the community and giving back.”