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Increased resources will prepare children with intellectual disabilities to become Special Olympics athletes of tomorrow
WASHINGTON, DC, 25 April 2007 - Special Olympics International announced today the creation of the Young Athletes Resource Team which will support the organization's Young Athletes™ play program for young children with intellectual disabilities, ages 2 through 7. Young Athletes, sponsored by Mattel Children's Foundation, is designed to introduce children, their families and their peers to Special Olympics prior to eligibility for competition at age 8.
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“Special Olympics is proud to partner with Mattel Children's Foundation to enhance our Young Athletes program,” said Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics. “Mattel has been a strong supporter of the Special Olympics movement of acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities for three years, and we look forward to continuing this strong relationship into the future.”
“Mattel's commitment to Special Olympics' Young Athletes program stems from our philanthropic vision of making a meaningful difference one child at a time,” said Kevin Farr, CFO, Mattel, Inc. and Chairman, Mattel Children's Foundation. “Our corporate values dictate that we play together with our communities and we view our partnership with Special Olympics as not only a social responsibility, but also a social opportunity to impact the lives of thousands of young athletes around the world.”
The Young Athletes Resource Team is made up of nine members including volunteer specialists, family members of children with intellectual disabilities and Special Olympics Program staff, who will be charged with evaluating, developing and enhancing the activities, resources and materials of the Young Athletes program. The members are Kathleen Alfano, Director, Child Research, Mattel, Inc.; Mariah Burton Nelson, Executive Director, American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation; Diana V. Hohmann, Brand Manager, FlagHouse, Inc.; Chen June, Graduate Student, East China Normal University; Jennifer Marcello, Young Athletes Manager, Special Olympics Illinois; Roxana Ossian, Program Coordinator, Special Olympics Romania; Orlando Terré Camacho, President-Founder, World Special Education Association; Mary Ward Hutchison, Adapted Physical Education Teacher; Donna Willms, Special Olympics Global Family Leader; and Ellen Zambo Anderson, Associate Professor, Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-SHRP. In February 2007, Farr was named to the Special Olympics International Board of Directors.
To learn more about Special Olympics Young Athletes please visit: www.specialolympics.org/youngathletes.
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