Washington, D.C. - 25 January 2010 - On Wednesday, January 27, Special Olympics athletes and Best Buddies participants, along with coaches, program leaders and family members from 45 states, will participate in their annual Capitol Hill Day in honor of the legacy of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. 

Eunice Kennedy Shriver dedicated her life to providing opportunities for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) to become fully integrated in society.  Special Olympics first organized Capitol Hill Day for its constituents in 2005, and for the first time this year will be joined by Best Buddies.  Together, both Special Olympics and Best Buddies will urge Members of Congress to authorize The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act, which will continue a national commitment by the U.S. Congress made with passage of the 2004 Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act.  The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act also includes The Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2009, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in April 2009.  This new legislation continues the legacy of Mrs. Shriver by authorizing funds for specific programs supporting persons with IDDs in health, education and global program initiatives.  Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who passed away in August 2009, founded Special Olympics in 1968 and was a longtime supporter and board member of Best Buddies, which was founded in 1989.

“This is the time that this civil rights movement of the heart be recognized and have a home,” shared Special Olympics Chairman and CEO, Tim Shriver. “The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act is about real athletes, real friendships, real communities and real change. Over the course of the last decade we have countless examples of how people with intellectual disabilities have been positively impacted by the Federal support we have been given and we hope to continue those benefits and more with new support.”

Special Olympics and Best Buddies constituents are being empowered through the Capitol Hill Day opportunity to meet with their Members of Congress to share their success, but also their need for support of people with IDDs.  Fortunately, Special Olympics and Best Buddies are able to help address many of those needs and provide experiences that transcend the playing field, such as assisting in school, with work and play, and in their drive for independent community living.  As an example, Special Olympics research has determined that 52 percent of U.S. athletes are employed – a rate at least double that of the general population of individuals with IDDs.

“It is a privilege and honor for Best Buddies to partner with Special Olympics in challenging people to get engaged in volunteer service and recognize the enormous and unlimited talents of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” says Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies Founder and Chairman.  My mother understood nearly 50 years ago that this population had the ability to be first class athletes, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and employees, and that they are jewels just waiting to shine.  She would be so proud of our collaboration and commitment to highlighting their brilliance in all aspects of life.”

The Special Olympics/Best Buddies contingent will seek support for critical funding for sports, education, recreation and healthcare programs through the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education and State.  Many Special Olympics and Best Buddies Programs rely on this funding to provide vital services to persons with IDDs and their families, including the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® program, Project UNIFY education program, and Best Buddies friendship, employment and leadership programs.

Healthy Athletes was formally launched in 1997 to provide health screenings for athletes at the local, national and international level who often go without any medical care.  Federal funding in partial support of Healthy Athletes has been made available since 2002 and

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expanded under the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act of 2004.  Over 1 million Special Olympics athletes have received health services and 85,000 health care professionals in more than 100 countries around the globe have been trained as volunteers to support this program.  Additionally, a number of generous corporations and foundations donate resources that extend the impact of federal funding by multiple times. 

Special Olympics youth education programs reach more than 3 million young people with intellectual disabilities around the world, and in the U.S. alone, more than 650,000 students are engaged through the newest Special Olympics educational initiative, Project UNIFY.  Project UNIFY, launched in June 2008, is funded by the U.S. Department of Education.  Its goal is to activate youth around the country in an effort to develop school communities where all young people are agents of change - fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities by utilizing the programs and initiatives of Special Olympics. 

Best Buddies is dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with IDDs. Best Buddies currently offers six formal programs: Best Buddies Middle Schools and Best Buddies High Schools, in which middle school and high school students with IDDs are matched with their peers in one-to-one friendships; Best Buddies Colleges, in which individuals with IDDs are matched with college students in one-to-one friendships; Best Buddies Citizens, in which individuals with IDDs are matched with individuals in their communities; e-Buddies®, which creates e-mail friendships between people with and without IDDs; and Best Buddies Jobs, a supported employment program that secures competitive, paying jobs for people with IDDs.  Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 states, as well as in 46 countries, positively impacting 700,000 people with and without disabilities, as well as their respective network of family, friends, and employers.

More than 200 million people worldwide have intellectual disabilities, making this the largest disability group worldwide. Intellectual and developmental disabilities cross racial, ethnic, educational, social and economic lines, and can occur in any family.

Special Olympics and Best Buddies are grateful for the generous support of CSC, which is underwriting a reception for our Capitol Hill Day participants. CSC is a global leader in providing technology-enabled solutions and services through three primary lines of business. These include Business Solutions and Services, the Managed Services Sector and the North American Public Sector.  

About Best Buddies International

Best Buddies_® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide.  Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States, as well as 46 countries, with additional ones under development.  Best Buddies six formal programs – Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies and Jobs – positively impact more than 700,000 individuals with and without IDDs annually. As a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with IDDs secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, and make lifelong friendships.  For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org.

About Special Olympics

Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to more than 3 million athletes in over 170 countries in all regions of the world providing year round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs.  Special Olympics takes place every day, changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in places like China and from regions like the Middle East to the community playgrounds and ball fields in every small neighborhood’s backyard.  Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org.