The Special Olympics founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of JFK, died on August 11, 2009. She was born in July, 1921.
As founder and honorary chairperson of Special Olympics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver led the worldwide struggle to improve and enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities worldwide for more than three decades.
Her vision and unwavering dedication have touched the lives of special athletes across globe. Their lives, and those of future athletes, are forever impacted. Her legacy lives on through the acts of courage demonstrated by every athlete. I belong to a group that is honored to give out medals at local and regional Special Olympics each quarter and it is a great thrill to see the joy on their faces. It's one of those wonderful volunteer things that you get way more out of it than you put in.