Local businesses and area families participated in a night of casual dining and wine tastings from Washington wineries Aug. 2 to benefit Special Olympics Washington.

The event, hosted by Equinox Business Law Group and held at Bellevue’s Tam o’Shanter Golf & Country Club, raised more than $15,000 in support of year-round Special Olympics sports programs in Bellevue. The funds raised at this event also support groups throughout the entire state of Washington and their participation in the Winter and Summer Special Olympic Games.

The money will help purchase uniforms for the special population players, which according to the team, has been operating without uniforms due to the lack of community support and funding.

“Special Olympics are about more than sports. They are about giving our communities special needs population a place to learn and fit in with their peers,” said Dawn Nelson, Client Relationship Manager of Equinox Business Law Group. “As a business in the community, we feel it is our duty to support these amazing, local teams.”

It was the fourth year Equinox supported the event and community sponsorships doubled from the previous year. Local sponsors included Resourceful HR, 4th Avenue Media, Shannon & Associates CPA, Johnson & Shute CPA, West Coast Behavioral Consultants, Fairfield Functional Therapy, RGIA, Brambleberry, Rosen and Murphy Business and Financial Group.