The Bismarck-Mandan Young Professionals Network (YPN) announced this week that it will be partnering with Special Olympics North Dakota – Bismarck for one year, from September 2014 through September 2015.

The partnership, which comes about as part of the YPN strategic plan, will allow the local Special Olympics chapter the opportunity to connect with young professionals from around Bismarck-Mandan while providing YPN members with service opportunities throughout the year.  The YPN will direct all fundraising and most volunteer efforts for the next year toward the organization.

The Bismarck-Mandan Young Professionals Network accepted applications from network members in June and July and selected three non-profit finalists. Each of the three finalist organizations had the chance to give a short presentation to the YPN Leadership Team in early September and YPN leadership ultimately selected the Special Olympics North Dakota – Bismarck.

“We are extremely proud to partner with Special Olympics and excited for the impact that our members can make on this group and the community going forward,” said Heather Welle, YPN president.

The YPN non-profit partnership started as an experiment in 2013 in which the YPN partnered with the Central Dakota Humane Society for one year. During that time, the YPN helped raised several thousand dollars and volunteered time and talents to assist the shelter north of Mandan. The partnership was met with such success that the YPN chose to implement it as an ongoing program.

The YPN would like to thank all the members who nominated non-proft organizations. For more information about Special Olympics, visit www.sondbismarck.org.