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In Memory of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, 1921 – 2009 One Woman’s Vision

Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the Special Olympics and, on July 20, 1968, the first Special Olympic Games were held at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.

The Special Olympics was created out of Ms. Shriver’s love and respect for the individual nature of people with intellectual disabilities and her desire to see that they reach their full potential without changing who they inherently are. The bonus, as Ms. Shriver saw it, is that we all change for the better as we allow people with intellectual disabilities grow into all they are meant to be.

In a statement from the Special Olympics on her death, Timothy Shriver says “… it was her unconditional love for the athletes of Special Olympics that so fulfilled her life.”

Her son goes on to say that his mother “…never hoped that people with intellectual disabilities should be somehow changed into something they were not. Rather, she fought throughout her life to ensure that they would be allowed to reach their full potential so that we might in turn be changed by them, forced to recognize our own false assumptions and their inherent gifts.”

To that end, as we learn from the video, the Special Olympics provides individuals with consistent opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, and establish self confidence thereby enriching both individual lives and communities as a whole.

So it is that Eunice Kennedy Shriver dedicated her life to her “special friends” and through her lifelong tireless efforts created a world stage on which they can inspire us all by improving themselves and improving the world.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!

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