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Renee Manfredi, Special Olympics Hawaii, Athlete and Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger

Renee Manfredi

Renee Manfredi hails from Hawai’i & has been a Special Olympics athlete for over 15 years, participating in soccer, basketball, swimming, softball, and track and field. She competed in the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in soccer where her team won the gold! She was also chosen as the Female Athlete of the Year for 2018. As a Navy child, she had the opportunity to live in 7 different places ranging from Hawai’i to Bahrain & has had the opportunity to experience the diversity of many cultures and attitudes of inclusion. Renee moved to Texas last year and has embraced Special Olympics Texas with the spirit of Aloha.

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Content By This Author
Two women stand behind a sign that says #MeetTheDetermined.
Athletes
GOING ALL InCLUSIVE IN 2023
Happy New Year, everyone! Can you believe it is 2023?! It’s so hard to imagine that four years in my role as an SSIGM have already gone by. I can honestly say these years have certainly been filled with adventure and the unexpected.
6 Min Read
A graphic promotes National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Blog
My Employment Journey: Part of the Equation
With National Disability Employment Awareness Month right around the corner, I've been reflecting on my own employment journey. My journey to the job I currently have was not one that I planned and it didn't go as easy as one, two, three. It was and still is a journey of faith. You see, when I left high school, I faced barriers in qualifying for disability resources and vocational training that I had been told would help prepare me to enter the workplace. As I applied for services, I was told I was either too high functioning or too low functioning to receive these services. I had a lot of time to wonder, and even be afraid of what my future might hold. The workplace had always been a scary place for me. I wasn’t so worried about the type of job I would get; I was worried about the support I would receive to be successful in my job.
4 Min Read
A large screen shows the Special Olympics USA Games logo.
Blog
2022 USA Games Reflection
After more than two long years of separation due to Covid-19, what better place to be able to bring over 5500 athletes together for in-person competition but the Happiest Place on Earth – Disney World!! I’m not even sure I can describe this week, but I will do my best.
7 Min Read
Renee Manfredi May 2022 SSIGM Blog.png
Blog
Military Appreciation Month: My Life as a Military Child
When I was assigned to write this blog, I was excited. This blog focuses on my life as a military child. I had so many thoughts going through my mind. What would I say? What would I talk about? How would I start?
4 Min Read
This black and white photo shows a woman standing and speaking to two individuals.
Blog
2022 Women's History Month: Providing Healing, Promoting Hope
This year's National Women's History Month theme (Providing Healing, Promoting Hope) recognizes the many ways in which women have provided healing and hope to humanity for countless generations.
4 Min Read
A Special Olympics athlete sits at a desk and smiles.
Blog
2021 Taught Me About Change
As I look back on 2021, I think a big lesson for me this year was about facing CHANGE and embracing my new future. If we keep looking back, we miss out on opportunities that are before us.
3 Min Read
Renee Manfredi and a soccer team standing in front of the keepers net.
Blog
Renee Manfredi and National Disability Employment Awareness Month
For National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October), I wanted to share about the BEST resource around: Special Olympics.
5 Min Read
Renee’s magical 50th Year Anniversary Celebration leaves a lasting memory.
Athletes
Renee Manfredi Reflects on Inclusion
As the Global Week of Inclusion began I thought, "what does inclusion really mean, what does it really look like?"
5 Min Read