[Rochester, NY, 3 October 2025] Last night, Special Olympics and the Golisano Foundation proudly announced the seven recipients of the 2025 Global Golisano Health Leadership Awards, the highest honor given from Special Olympics Health. These awards recognize exceptional professionals and organizations from around the world who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to improving the health and well-being of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Established in 2017, the Global Golisano Health Leadership Awards celebrate the transformative impact of health partners who embody the values and mission of Special Olympics Health and champion health equity for one of the most marginalized populations—people with IDD. The awards are a testament to the enduring partnership between philanthropist Tom Golisano, the Golisano Foundation, and Special Olympics Health, who have collectively worked to advance inclusive health worldwide and push for more collaboration with public and private partners.
This year’s ceremony, held during the Foundation’s 40th anniversary celebration, honored the fifth cohort of global leaders.
This year’s award recipients include:
- Dr. Kellye Knueppel (Wisconsin, USA) – An optometrist who has been integral to the growth of the Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Foundation Opening Eyes® program for over 24 years, training hundreds of professionals and overseeing more than 9,000 vision screenings.
- Dr. Toh Teck Hock (Malaysia) – A pediatrician and national advocate for inclusive health policy, who was part of the group that founded the Agape Center, consisting of a developmental clinic that has successfully integrated children with and without disabilities into mainstream education, while also shaping national policy through roles in Malaysia’s Ministries of Health and Education.
- Dr. María Teresa Barán Wasilchuk (Paraguay) – Paraguay’s Minister of Health, who has made inclusive health a national priority, driving transformative progress in both policy and practice to better serve people with IDD.
- Dr. Simeon Afolabi (Nigeria) – An audiologist and founder of BSA Speech and Language Centre, who has transformed inclusive hearing care in Nigeria by training over 1,700 healthcare professionals and students to better serve people with IDD.
- Dr. Yousef Alawadhi (Kuwait) – A dentist who has led the establishment and expansion of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® screenings across Kuwait.
- Ulster University (Northern Ireland) – A leading institution in inclusive health education and research, equipping future health professionals with IDD-focused training, advancing community-based health initiatives, and driving policy partnerships to improve healthcare access and outcomes.
- Dr. Shamsiya Murat (Mongolia) – A pediatric ophthalmologist at Mongolia’s only public children’s hospital, who has expanded inclusive eye care by translating and promoting Special Olympics screening guidelines now widely used by medical professionals.
The award ceremony recognized each honoree through documentary-style videos showcasing their daily and enduring impact on their practices, patients, families, students, and communities. The event was moderated by Sargent Shriver Global Messengers Margaret Turley of Special Olympics Ireland and Yeruult Batbayar of Special Olympics Mongolia. Remarks were also shared by Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver; entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic leader, and founder of Paychex, Inc., Tom Golisano; Golisano Foundation Executive Director Erica Dayton; and former Executive Director Ann Costello.
As Tom Golisano shared in his remarks, “This anniversary is not just a celebration, it is a commitment to our future—the future of the Foundation, and its goals and objectives. We are going to continue to support individual programs, expand opportunities, and advocate for inclusion. Together we can continue building communities that are stronger, more compassionate, and more inclusive.”
Reflecting on the impact of each honoree and the legacy of partnership between Special Olympics and the Golisano Foundation, Special Olympics Chief Health Officer Dr. Dimitri Christakis shared, “These honorees represent the very best in global health leadership—driven by compassion, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to inclusive health. Their stories, and the tangible impact they’ve made in communities around the world reflect the strength and reach of our partnership with the Golisano Foundation. Their accomplishments are powerful examples of what individuals can do to build a future in which people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to the quality healthcare they deserve.
For more information on the 2025 Global Golisano Health Leadership Award recipients, and to watch their videos, please visit the Special Olympics website.