Eunice Kennedy Shriver Acts

Celebrate the life and legacy of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and produce your own Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act (EKS Acts).  Eunice Kennedy Shriver demonstrated an unrelenting indomitable spirit in action that one person could change the world.

Act Now.  Eunice Kennedy Shriver Acts are acts of inclusion and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities. Share your EKS Act.

EKS Acts are actions or activities that promote inclusion, acceptance and unity for  and with people with intellectual disabilities.   Below are several individual acts that one person or a small group of people can commit to celebrate Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s values and mission.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Acts for Students and Schools/Universities:

  • Become a Special Olympics Unified Sports partner, volunteer or sign up to be a Best Buddy
  • Collect & donate fun supplies & games to special education classrooms or learning centers
  • Run a Public Service Announcement (PSA) in morning news or announcements at school or an editorial in  the student newspaper about the Eunice Kennedy Shriver vision
  • Set up an EKS awareness table on your school campus in the library, hallway, lunchroom, media center, or student union
  • Take one or more persons with an intellectual disability with you to a sports event
  • Invite a classmate with an intellectual disability to sit with you at lunch
  • Ask someone with an intellectual disability to play tennis, kick a soccer ball, shoot basketballs, or play another one-on-one game
  • Fight prejudice in your school by launching a campaign against use of the "R-word"
  • Change your Facebook profile to a photo of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and share one of her iconic quotes as your status
  • Tweet about EKS legacy and impact

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Acts for Businesses or Associations:

  • In the week leading up to EKS Day, dedicate one day as "bring a Best Buddies chapter or Special Olympics team to work day"; participants can visit corporate offices and shadow employees.
  • Give employees one day off that week to volunteer for Special Olympics or their favorite NGO related to the disability field
  • Volunteer at a special education classroom or learning center, donate supplies
  • Add a PSA or video related to EKS or intellectual disability to your website
  • EKS Day at the Office – arrange an hour, afternoon or day of onsite activities involving people with intellectual disability
  • Place a story or article in the company newsletter about the EKS legacy and its impact

How Will You ACT?
Share your Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act by emailing your name, state/country and a description of your EKS Act to eksday@specialolympics.org.