Special Olympics is very much part of a family legacy for me. From very early in life, my parents instilled the value that we were obligated to help whom we can, when we can, and how we can.
We were fortunate that my father’s company was a sponsor of Special Olympics Connecticut’s winter games, and I was an avid skier at a very young age. Some of my earliest memories are of being with my family and accompanying athletes to their downhill ski events. Four decades later, I am bringing my own kids to our competitions. It’s a full-circle feeling.
My wife, Jen, has been incredibly supportive not just of the financial contributions we have made to Special Olympics, but also incredibly generous in letting me fully dive into the organization first as a volunteer, then as a board member, and now as the chair of the board.
Special Olympics has become a part of our family’s DNA, and I love our athletes. They are incredible people who deserve to have the highest level of competition and resources that we can provide.
In addition to our financial contributions now, we both wanted to help Special Olympics fulfill its mission into the future. We support many nonprofit organizations, but when we decided to include a gift to Special Olympics in our estate plan, we knew our gift would help improve the lives of others, and we are confident that Special Olympics will be good stewards of our support.
I know firsthand how important it is to raise more resources to help more athletes, and furthering SO’s mission of serving athletes with our legacy support was something we absolutely wanted to do.
There are many ways a person can lead in this world, but I believe we function at our best when we are acting as servant leaders. Our coaches are selfless, our volunteers are always eager to help, and our staff is an incredible group of “doers.”
At the end of the day, we are here to serve our athletes. It is impossible not to cheer for them. Ask anyone who has been to a Special Olympics event—whether it’s that first high five, the first congratulatory hug, or the first time seeing an athlete with arms raised on the podium, once you experience it, you are hooked for life. And I’m very thankful my family provided that opportunity for me.