Washington, D.C. – 25 March 2019: The Special Olympics Leadership Academy has won a 2019 LEAD Global Award, presented by HR.com. The leadership development initiative for people with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) was named among the top three in the Best Global / International Leadership Program category.
“People with ID are the greatest champions, teachers and leaders for inclusion. The Special Olympics Leadership Academy is designed to equip people with and without ID with the skills they need to reach their full leadership potential. We’re delighted this important work has been recognized in this way.”
The Special Olympics Leadership Academy improves the impact and performance of staff around the world through support, training and mentoring. Academy participants engage in face-to-face workshops, e-learning and ongoing support for professional goals.
The Leadership Academy has reached leaders in 100 countries over the past three years. Graduates have gone on to deliver over 260 new partnerships and over US$5 million in revenue for local Special Olympics Programs around the world. It is the only program of its kind to bring together people with and without ID for inclusive leadership education.
The Special Olympics Leadership Academy is supported by Lions Clubs International Foundation, the Christmas Records Trust, Skillsoft, SHL and many other leadership development organizations and professionals who donate their time and expertise to deliver the program.
Recipients of the Leadership Excellence and Development (LEAD) Awards were named for outstanding achievements in leadership development and programs at the LEAD2019 event at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 5-8. The awards salute the world's top leadership practitioners and programs and highlight their roles in developing their most important asset - their people. For more than 35 years, the LEAD Awards, formerly known as Leadership Excellence Awards, have identified and recognized leadership strategies and solutions in their yearly ranking. This year's winners will be published in the April edition of the Leadership Excellence e-publication.
About LEAD
The Leadership Excellence & Development (LEAD) event is an annual inspirational leadership conference dedicated to helping organizations create AN INNOVATIVE, HIGH POTENTIAL AND PASSIONATE WORKFORCE. The conference is action packed with Leadership and HR-specific roundtables, workshops, networking opportunities and speakers. Participants learn how to take the world’s best corporate leadership practices and concepts and put them into practice, applying them to their organizations. Keynotes inspire and motivate attendees personally and professionally with their amazing stories about overcoming obstacles, facing adversity, and persevering through hardships. The Awards Gala evening celebrates award winning leadership and development programs. #AworldInspired www.LEAD2019.com
About HR.com
HR.com strives to help create inspired workforces by making HR professionals smarter. Over 1.2 million HR professionals turn to HR.com as the trusted resource for education, career development, and compliance: 85+ primary research reports from the HR Research Institute, 400+ webcasts yearly, the largest HR certification exam preparation program supporting SHRM and HRCI certification, legal compliance guidance program, thousands of lessons and tips in an on-demand training library, and 12 monthly themed interactive HR epublications. HR.com offers the best training and networking for HR professionals globally 24/7/365. Please visit www.HR.com.
About Special Olympics
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 6 million athletes and Unified Sports partners in more than 190 countries. With the support of more than 1 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and over 100,000 games and competitions throughout the year. Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including Bank of America, the Christmas Records Trust, The Coca-Cola Company, ESPN, Essilor Vision Foundation, the Golisano Foundation, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, Lions Clubs International Foundation, Microsoft, Safilo Group, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, TOYOTA, United Airlines, and The Walt Disney Company. Click here for a full list of partners. Engage with us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and our blog on Medium. Learn more at www.SpecialOlympics.org.
Media Contact
Rebecca Simon
Special Olympics
+1 (202) 824 0344
rsimon@specialolympics.org