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Cam Newton surprises Special Olympic athletes with shopping spree

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton surprised 20 local children from Special Olympics North Carolina at a surprise shopping event at Dick’s Sporting Goods at Barclay Downs on Monday afternoon.

[IMAGES: Cam Newton surprises Special Olympics athletes with shopping spree]

Each child received a $200 gift card and spent time shopping with Newton, who served as a personal shopping consultant to the children and helped them buy sporting goods.

Dick's Sporting Goods and the Cam Newton Foundation sponsored the event as part of its effort to inspire and enable youth sports.

The Special Olympic athletes are participating in the Mecklenburg County Spring Games this week. More than 1,300 Special Olympic athletes are competing in this year’s Spring Games, which include track and field, motorsports, softball and swimming events.

“You see a lot of smiles on these children’s faces and that's contagious,” Newton said.