GOACC Builds Community Spirit with Corporate Challenge Success and Paradise in the Park
GOACC Builds Community Spirit with Corporate Challenge Success and Paradise in the Park
Following a record-breaking Corporate Challenge and Cereal Challenge, the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce invites the community to its annual Paradise in the Park celebration in downtown Olean.
The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce (GOACC) is carrying the momentum of two successful community events into one of its signature summer traditions as Paradise in the Park returns to Lincoln Park on Thursday, July 16.
Presented by The Golden Oak Group at Morgan Stanley, the 57th annual event runs from 4:00-8:00pm and transforms downtown Olean into a tropical-themed gathering featuring Caribbean-inspired cuisine, live music, raffles, games and networking opportunities. Formerly known as the Chamber Clambake, the event was reimagined in recent years to offer a broader menu and a more inclusive summer celebration while preserving the longtime tradition of bringing the region's business community together.
The event follows another successful Southern Tier Corporate Challenge, which drew hundreds of runners, walkers and supporters to the Jamestown Community College Cattaraugus Campus on June 25. Now in its 16th year, the challenge has become one of the area's largest workplace wellness events, featuring a professionally timed 5K run, a two-mile fun walk, corporate and community team competitions, and the popular post-race celebration known as "Olean's Largest Office Party." Organizers say the event regularly attracts more than 1,000 participants while encouraging fitness, teamwork and friendly competition among local employers.
This year's top overall male finisher was Tim Chichester of Hedley Brook Agency, while Angelina Napoleon of Napoleon Engineering Services earned the women's title. Hedley Brook Agency also captured first place in the corporate team competition, followed by Napoleon Engineering Services and St. Bonaventure University rounding out the top 3. Directions in Independent Living received the Most Spirited Team award, and Four Mile was recognized as the fastest community team.
Beyond the finish line, the Corporate Challenge also supports an important community cause through the annual Corporate Cereal Challenge, a partnership between GOACC and the Olean Food Pantry. Each spring, participating businesses collect boxes of breakfast cereal to help stock pantry shelves during the summer months, when children are home from school and demand often increases. Awards are presented for both the most cereal collected overall and the most boxes donated per employee.
This year's Cereal Challenge generated an impressive 5,707 boxes of cereal for the Olean Food Pantry. Buffamante, Whipple, Buttafaro led the effort with 3,220 boxes, followed by Sol Epoxy with 2,205. Additional contributions came from Databranch, Directions in Independent Living, High Point Federal Credit Union and Mazza Mechanical, while Cutco Corporation supplemented the drive with a $1,876 monetary donation.
With the Corporate Challenge now complete, GOACC is inviting the public to continue the summer celebration at Paradise in the Park July 16. Guests can enjoy an island-inspired menu prepared by Century Manor Restaurant & Bar, specialty drinks, raffle baskets and entertainment in the heart of downtown Olean.
Paradise in the Park is open to the public, with discounted admission available for employees of GOACC member businesses. Tickets are available through the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce.