We are pleased to introduce you to ‘Our Champions,’ a series revealing the people and stories behind Fredrikson’s support of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Each edition spotlights a team member or group making an impact—showcasing their reasons for serving our community and applauding their efforts in Special Olympics’ Inclusion Revolution.
Meet Andy Pomroy and Anni Simons, Senior Government Relations Specialists at Fredrikson Government Relations, LLC.
In 2024, Andy and Anni began championing efforts to secure state financial support for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games being held in Minnesota, providing state-level advocacy and stakeholder engagement. “We were fully determined to make it happen; we wanted to do everything we could to help secure additional funding for this meaningful event,” said Andy. Working with Special Olympics representatives, they supported efforts during the 2024 and 2025 Minnesota legislative sessions to secure state funding for the USA Games.
“One of the most personally meaningful parts of the process was working alongside athletes willing to testify before legislators,” Anni said. “Their descriptions to legislators of their experience with the USA Games were heartfelt and moving, and they deserve a lot of credit for their skilled advocacy.” Through this work, the Fredrikson Government Relations team learned that many of the legislators had their own personal connections with the Special Olympics and Special Olympics USA Games.
Their advocacy resulted in more than $2.5 million in state funding through the Jobs Omnibus Bill. While this funding is not tied to a specific aspect of the weeklong event, it will strengthen community-facing experiences such as the fan zone and wellness fair and help to make the USA Games a more accessible, engaging and memorable experience for athletes, families and attendees alike.
Through multiple years of advocacy and partnership, Andy and Anni played a role in laying the groundwork for the 2026 USA Games. Andy and Anni now get to enjoy volunteering at the USA Games in June with colleagues in the athlete dining hall. “We’re looking forward to an incredible event and hoping a lot of Minnesotans get the chance to attend and cheer on the athletes,” said Andy.
Copyright Minnesota House of Representatives. Photo by Michele Jokinen.
Special Olympics athlete Abby Hirsch testifies before the House economic development panel. Christy Sovereign, president and CEO of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, left, also testified.
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