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Tim Shriver and Special Olympics Heralded during Commemoration Celebrating 40th Year of Changing the Lives of People with Intellectual Disabilities
WASHINGTON DC, 17 July 2008 – On Thursday, 17 July at the Cannon House Office Building, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland), Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Chairman of the Senate Labor Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee and Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho), and other Congressional members and staff surprised Dr. Tim Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman of the Board, with a luncheon to recognize both his work and the achievements of Special Olympics and its founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, empowering people with intellectual disabilities through sport over the past 40 years.
“What amazing work Eunice Kennedy Shriver did and her children continue to do,” Congressman Hoyer said during the lunch. “Our goal is to drop the ‘dis’ in disabilities. These are people with abilities and we want to make sure we continue to recognize those abilities.”
For more than four years, Special Olympics has received considerable support from the U.S. Congress to maintain and expand programs that serve people with intellectual disabilities in the United States and around the world. In 2004, Congress unanimously passed the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act of 2004. The Act authorized up to $15 million in federal funding for Special Olympics each year through 2009.
Since 2004, Special Olympics has received funding under the Act to support Healthy Athletes®, a program that provides free health care screenings and services to Special Olympics athletes funding to conducts education initiatives around the world.
This week, several members of the Senate and the House are delivering short or contributing statements of congratulations to the congressional record commemorating the 40th anniversary of Special Olympics and recognizing the remarkable achievements of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
“Forty years ago, people with intellectual disabilities were kept in the shadows,” Senator Harkin said. “Now they are stepping out of the shadows, playing on a level playing field and participating in all walks of life due to the work and accomplishments of Special Olympics.”
“Good ideas are rarely celebrated on their 40th anniversary – great ideas are. Special Olympics was a great idea and that is why we are here today,” Senator Craig said before he invited everyone to attend the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho next February.
In addition to Representative Hoyer, Senators Harkin and Craig were joined at the lunch by several other members of Congress, including House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) and representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut), Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Joe Knollenberg (R-Michigan), Lee Terry (R-Nebraska.) and Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) In addition, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was represented by Kate Oh. Edward Cardenas, press secretary to Representative Candice Miller (R-Michigan), served as the emcee and represented one of the sponsors of the lunch, Grand Valley State University, while Lois Arnold, President and CEO for Special Olympics Michigan, represented the other sponsor, Central Michigan University. Several Congressional staff members, representatives from Special Olympics International and athletes attended the event.
Congressman Blunt related that he had attended the Special Olympics Missouri State Summer Games just a month ago. Congressmen Hoyer and Blunt were the original co-sponsors of The 2004 Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act. They both were delighted to work across party lines to pass this important legislation.
Garrett Barnes, a Special Olympics athlete and employee of Special Olympics International, thanked the members of Congress for their continued support of Special Olympics. “I want to thank Congress for your support over the years,” she said. “You have enabled me to compete in sports, stay healthy and have opportunities just like everyone else.”
Shriver, who was surprised with the lunch after several meetings on the Hill, said, “Forty years is a short period of time and we have a lot of work to do – but what’s important is that we have fun doing it and are proud of our accomplishments.”
Photo Captions
Hoyer: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) speaks at a surprise luncheon given for Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver in honor of Special Olympics' 40th anniversary. Photo by Michael Gatty
Group: L-R: Lois Arnold, President and CEO for Special Olympics Michigan; Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver; Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island); Garrett Barnes, Special Olympics athlete and Special Olympics International employee; Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho); and Mark Shriver, Vice President and Managing Director, U.S. Programs, Save the Children. Photo by Michael Gatty
Contact
Cary McPartlin
+1 (202) 824-0298
cmcpartlin@specialolympics.org
Kirsten Seckler
+1 (202) 715-1146
kseckler@specialolympics.org
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