MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Tastefully Simple, based in Alexandria, was honored as the 2008 Special Olympics Minnesota Outstanding Business at the annual Distinguished Service Awards banquet in Bloomington Saturday, January 17. The Distinguished Service Awards recognized Special Olympics Minnesota athletes, coaches, volunteers, sponsors and family members who demonstrate an incredible amount of support, enthusiasm and time commitment to the organization.

The employees at Tastefully Simple have gone above and beyond the call of duty for many years to do whatever is needed to support the Alexandria Area Special Olympics program. But they are much more than just a dedicated group of volunteers. Tastefully Simple is a model for how businesses can involve their employees in giving back to the community. Their volunteers work at Special Olympics Alexandria golf tournaments, swimming and bowling meets. As a company, they are also the largest financial supporter of the Alexandria area, and from the day their doors opened in 1995 they have contributed at least 10 percent of their profits to worthwhile causes in their community.

Tastefully Simple gives every member of their company up to eight hours of paid work time to volunteer each year at a nonprofit organization of their choice. The Alexandria area has been lucky enough to be the recipient of many of those donated volunteer hours and truly appreciates the enthusiastic support Tastefully Simple employees bring to their work. The Alexandria team says that they would not survive without the support of Tastefully Simple and its staff.

"With the help of organizations like Tastefully Simple, Special Olympics Minnesota is able to bring communities together," said Dave Dorn, Special Olympics Minnesota president. "This award is our small way of recognizing their important contribution to the success of our programs."

The 2009 Distinguished Service Awards banquet was held at the Minneapolis Airport Hilton in Bloomington.

About Special Olympics Minnesota
Special Olympics Minnesota offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round sports training and competition. Through Special Olympics' athletic, health and leadership programs, people with intellectual disabilities transform themselves, their communities and the world.