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Very Special – Remembering Eunice Kennedy Shriver
By Neil Peterson | August 19, 2009
In our collective national memory, the name Kennedy is synonymous with power, privilege, and the dream – faded but still strong – of Camelot. But for millions of others around the world – fathers, mothers, daughters and sons, the name Kennedy stands as a beacon of hope and compassion – of a dream that continues to this day. Eunice Kennedy Shriver was the torch-bearer of this dream, shining light on people who had previously only known darkness, and changing the world in the process.
Born into this country’s single most powerful political dynasty, Shriver used her influence not in the pursuit of fame and fortune, but in service – to lift up those who were less fortunate, those who struggled against circumstances beyond their control. The fifth of nine children born to Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald, Shriver was inspired into action by witnessing the difficulties faced by her older sister Rosemary who, in the vernacular of the times, suffered from a mild form of ‘mental retardation.’ And so her work was begun, to become an advocate for the intellectually disabled and to return to them a voice that had been denied them from birth.
In the words of her son, Timothy Shriver, she was ‘a little wacky’. And it could well be argued that you would have to be a little wacky – a little more daring than average – to accomplish all of the things that she did during her lifetime. Graduating from Stanford University in 1943, with a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology, Shriver went to work in government – for the U.S. State Department, and the Justice Department. Through her work on juvenile delinquency, she shifted her focus to social work, eventually moving to Chicago, where she served as an advocate with the Chicago Juvenile Court. It was also during this time she began her service as the executive vice president of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation, a time marked by fundamental change regarding the focus of the organization – from supporting Catholic charities to raising awareness of the need for further medical research into the causes of mental retardation and potential treatments.
It was this new focus that fostered what would become an international non-profit organization – the Special Olympics. From her work founding Camp Shriver, a day camp that catered to children with intellectual disabilities, Shriver firmly believed in the necessity of physical activity and the sense of community it championed. So the stage was set when, in 1962, Chicago physical education teacher Anne McGlone Burke approached Shriver to ask for a Kennedy Foundation grant to support a ‘one-time Olympic-style athletic competition for people with special needs.’
Shriver urged Burke to expand on this idea, and in 1968 over 1,000 athletes from the United States and Canada competed in the first International Special Olympics Games. It was nothing short of a landmark moment – marking a turning point in social acceptance for this community.
Today, the biennial Special Olympics World Games are held in countries across the globe – and the organization supports local programs that provide a venue for 2.5 million athletes in over 180 countries to compete and connect. However, the impact of the athletes’ participation goes far beyond the glory of competition. In addition to enhanced physical fitness and motor skills, participants also build new talents, increase self-confidence, the develop lasting bonds with other competitors and volunteers.
Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.
- Special Olympics Oath
Upon her passing on August 11, Eunice Kennedy Shriver has left a legacy that has touched millions of lives, and inspired countless more. It is a legacy to be remembered and praised without a doubt, but also to be continued and supported. In her work for the mentally disabled she was a champion, challenging the accepted social mores of the time. It can be hard to fully understand just how profound her impact has been, because we are now living in a more accepting world. In large part due to her efforts on behalf of generations of mentally disabled individuals. But this impact can still be felt – it can be seen in the smiles of the competitors, heard in the cheers from the stands, and witnessed in the sea change she generated.
Tribute to Eunice Kennedy Shriver
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Topics: General, Inspiration, Overcoming disabilities | No Comments »