CONNECT TO PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
My parents taught my brothers and me that if we imagined a better world, we could create it. They always taught us to believe that we were capable of creating change and bettering lives. They taught us to imagine and then to act. They believed in serving and in giving back to make our communities, our state, our country and the world a better place for everyone to live.
Special Olympics
My mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, created Special Olympics, touching millions of lives through believing that everyone has the ability to compete. Today, Special Olympics offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round training and competition in 30 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. Special Olympics currently serves more than 2.25 million persons with intellectual disabilities in more than 200 programs in more than 160 countries. There are many ways you can get involved and join the more than 700,000 Special Olympics volunteers around the world by contacting your local program at SpecialOlympics.org.
Best Buddies International is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. Founded in 1989 by my brother, Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,300 middle school, high school and college campuses across the country and internationally. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States. Click here to learn more about BestBuddies.
Click here to sign up for the Fifth Annual Best Buddies Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle, taking place on Saturday, September 6, 2008 in San Simeon, California.
Arnold and I have made a commitment in California through our Intellectually Disabled Opportunity Initiative to give individuals with intellectual disabilities a chance to excel in jobs that give them satisfaction and purpose. Many people often believe that those with intellectual disabilities can’t work, but they do – in hotels, in retail stores, in restaurants - so why not state government? One of our greatest joys has been witnessing and sharing in their triumphs as they gain confidence working alongside others in their community – and it’s been a resounding success. Here in California, we have individuals working in our State Capitol Office and in several of our field offices - the possibilities are endless and we have only just begun. My hope is that every State Capitol across the country will hire an intellectually disabled person because I know they will get as much out of the program as California has over the years!
And I'm thrilled to share with you our current list of partners and please meet John Masterson who works in the Sacramento Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger!
http://www.villagelife.com/articles/2008/02/06/sports/0-www1212_s1_master.txt
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and First Gentleman Todd Palin
Florida Governor Charlie Crist
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and First Lady Mary Perdue
Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle
Idaho Governor Butch Otter and First Lady Lori Otter
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and First Lady Katie O’Malley
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and First Lady Diane Patrick
Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and First Gentleman Dan Mulhern
Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons and First Lady Dawn Gibbons
Utah Governor John Huntsman and First Lady Mary Kaye Huntsman
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and First Lady Anne Holton
United States Department of Education – Margaret Spellings
Fresno Mayor Alan Autry
