Seven Groups Honored for Pioneering Global Health Work

Honorees announced at Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria.

The Golisano Foundation and Special Olympics, the largest public health organization for people with intellectual disabilities (ID), honored seven healthcare organizations and professionals who are on the frontlines of bringing essential and often unprecedented health care services to the most marginalized people on earth, those with intellectual disabilities.

The first-ever Golisano Global Health Leadership Award, named for philanthropist and Paychex founder, B.Thomas Golisano, was presented to seven recipients at a ceremony in Schladming, Austria at the 2017 Special Olympics Winter World Games. Two additional Golisano Global Health Leadership Pioneer Awards, which recognize lifetime achievement in health services were also presented.

The Golisano Global Health Leadership Award was established to recognize the progress being made around the world to increase access to essential health care for people with intellectual disabilities. It is Special Olympics' highest honor for health partners.

The honorees are health champions in their countries. Their extraordinary efforts are fulfilling the goals, values, and mission of Special Olympics' global Health program, made possible by the Golisano Foundation. This award recognizes individual leaders and organizations that are making significant contributions to Special Olympics health programs, specifically through Healthy Communities, and promoting inclusive healthcare, wellness, and fitness for people with intellectual disabilities.

Since it was launched in 2012, Special Olympics Healthy Communities has been expanding unprecedented year-round access to quality health care to more than 80 communities around the world - reaching almost every continent. The program is working to continue to expand access to care in 100 communities by 2020.

"The work we are seeing on the frontlines of healthcare in villages and cities throughout the world is inspiring," shared Ann Costello, Executive Director of the Golisano Foundation. "We applaud these individuals and organizations for their game-changing work to advance inclusive health in their communities. They see the possibilities. They are focused on outcomes. We hope the Golisano Global Health Leadership Award serves as a catalyst and inspiration for more individuals and organizations to make much-needed changes in healthcare for people with intellectual disabilities."

"These recipients have demonstrated their passion for Special Olympics athletes and their quest for achieving their personal bests on and off the field of competition." said Mary Davis, Special Olympics CEO. "Each has played a role in breaking down barriers and changing perceptions."

The seven global finalists were selected from 25 recipients of the 2016 regional Golisano Health Leadership Awards by a Special Olympics International cross-departmental team of Special Olympics athlete leaders, Healthy Athletes Global Clinical Advisors and a representative from the Golisano Foundation.

Africa Region in partnership with Special Olympics Uganda: Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for their work with Special Olympics Uganda in creating health solutions where there is no access to healthcare. KOICA provides volunteer staff in the areas of medical and sports and holds free medical camps in the communities where athletes live. KOICA also has a mobile health program that provides medical screenings and treatment for the community. More than 400 athletes have benefited from this partnership. SEE VIDEO

Asia/Pacific in partnership with Special Olympics Thailand: Rajanukul Institute, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand for launching a national health assessment program for children with intellectual disabilities. The institute's healthcare and educational personnel have developed screening tools specific to the needs of athletes, prepared training resources for health care professionals and special educators, as well as providing healthcare advice to athletes and families. The institute has expanded the Healthy Community model from six pilot schools to the remaining 14 schools across the country. The institute has provided services to over 5,000 athletes and trained over 140 health care professionals. SEE VIDEO

East Asia in partnership with Special Olympics China: Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University in Beijing, China for coordinating medical professionals throughout China and ensuring sustainable eye health and treatment access are available to Special Olympics athletes. The hospital has committed to provide 300 free medical check and consultation for people with ID who need follow up care every year. Since Beijing Tongren Hospital, CMU has engaged with Special Olympics Opening Eyes, over 3,000 athletes have been screened. SEE VIDEO

Europe/Eurasia in partnership with Special Olympics Belgium: Lions Club International MD 112 in Brussels, Belgium for their leadership in creating healthcare solutions for Special Olympics athletes and their investment in making Special Olympics Belgium a Healthy Community. Lions Clubs Belgium supports Belgium's Healthy Athletes program financially by covering costs for the necessary supplies for multiple Healthy Athletes events. Lions Clubs International Belgium supports the Belgium's Healthy Athletes Program also on a logistical level. Each year they gather almost 4000 giveaways to donate to Special Olympics events. SEE VIDEO

Latin America in partnership with Special Olympics Peru: Universidad Cientifica del Sur - Escuela de Estomatología (FCS) in Lima, Peru for educating hundreds of dental students on how to care for people with intellectual disabilities and for opening their doors to Special Olympics Peru athletes to provide inclusive dental treatment. Universidad Cientifica del Sur also provides dental care for people with intellectual disabilities at no charge. The academic curriculum of the dental program has been updated to include eight mandatory hours to train students on how to approach and interact with patients who have special needs. This model will be replicated with other schools at the university. SEE VIDEO

Middle East/North Africa in partnership with Special Olympics Egypt: Dr. Mohamed Askar of Cairo, Egypt for his leadership in Special Olympics Health work in Egypt and opening the doors of his orthopedic practice to provide free services for people with intellectual disabilities. Dr. Askar recruits and trains volunteer health professionals during Special Olympics events and in his private orthopedic clinic. Dr. Askar's clinic also provides free medical care for athletes. By doing this he encourages families to bring their children for follow up, referrals and treatment if needed. Dr. Askar uses his connections with medical companies and universities to secure equipment, supplies and free medical balls for athletes during the events. SEE VIDEO

North America in partnership with Special Olympics New York: Stephen Sulkes, MD,Co-Director of the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities at theUniversity of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York, USA for founding the Rochester student chapter of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) and encouraging students to get involved with Special Olympics both through Healthy Athletes and as event volunteers and coaches. Dr. Sulkes' work is also reflective of the unique commitment of the University of Rochester to make inclusive health a part of its strategic plan - advancing access to care in multiple arenas - from the Complex Care Center and enhanced access to oral health, to training the next generation of clinicians to care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. SEE VIDEO

In addition to the seven 2017 awards, two Pioneer Awards for lifetime achievement were presented to Steven Perlman, DDS of Boston, Massachusetts and Paul Berman, OD (Posthumously) of Hillsdale, N.J for founding Special Olympics Healthy Athletes 20 years ago. Their vision and pioneering work launched Healthy Athletes Special Smiles and Opening Eyes and paved the way for medical and dental professionals in medical schools, medical centers and private practices to improve access and standards of care for people with intellectual disabilities.

Steven Perlman, DDS is a Clinical Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at The Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Perlman is a past president of both the Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities and The Massachusetts Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. In addition, he has served on the executive board of both organizations for many years. Perlman founded Special Olympics Special Smiles, an Oral Health Initiative for the athletes of Special Olympics International. He currently serves as their Senior Global Clinical Advisor.

Paul Berman, OD (1950-2013) was the founder and global clinical director of the Special Olympics' Opening Eyes and Healthy Athletes programs, Berman received many accolades including the 2007 "Spirit Award for Special Lifetime Global Leadership in Promoting Human Dignity" and, in 2012, White House "Champions of Change." Berman served as a senior consultant for Essilor with emphasis on philanthropic activities.

The Golisano Foundation is making Special Olympics Health work possible globally and has invested $37 million to create and expand Special Olympics Healthy Communities throughout the world. Golisano's gift is the largest received by Special Olympics, and is also the largest single gift ever given by Tom Golisano and his Foundation.

Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education and leadership programs every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1968, and celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 5 million athletes and Unified partners in more than 170 countries. With the support of more than 1 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and over 108,000 games and competitions throughout the year. Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including the Christmas Records Trust, the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics, The Coca-Cola Company, United Airlines, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, Microsoft, Lions Clubs International, Bank of America, Essilor Vision Foundation, the Golisano Foundation, Safilo Group, and TOYOTA. Click here for a full list of partners. Engage with us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and our blog on Medium.

B. Thomas Golisano, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader, is Chairman of Paychex, Inc., a national leader in the payroll and human resource industry. He has demonstrated ongoing generosity and commitment to numerous non-profit organizations and has been recognized for his achievements and endeavors by many organizations and national publications. The Golisano Foundation, which he established in 1985, is one of the nation's leading foundations dedicated exclusively to helping organizations that assist people with developmental disabilities. In addition to the Foundation's contributions, Mr. Golisano has been very generous to many other institutions and organizations, his philanthropy totaling more than $267 million. For more information see golisanofoundation.org.