Shriver Family Proud to Receive Beyond Sport Award
London, October 13, 2010 – The Shriver Family has spoken of their pride at being honoured at the recent Beyond Sport Awards where they received the Leadership in Sport Award, supported by Heidrick & Struggles, for their substantial achievement in creating the Special Olympics.
The epitome of leaders in social inclusion through sport, the Shriver Family founded the Special Olympics in 1968 and the organization has now grown to such a degree that it involves more than 3 million athletes in over 150 different countries.
The family become the second recipient of this coveted Award, following in the footsteps of Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations.
Speaking on behalf of his family, Timothy P. Shriver, Chairman & CEO, Special Olympics, expressed his delight at receiving such a prestigious Award and paid tribute to his mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver who started the movement.
“On behalf of the Shriver family and Special Olympics movement, we are honored to receive the Beyond Sport Leadership in Sport Award recognizing the power of sport to create social change and to build communities. When our mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded Special Olympics, she demonstrated an unrelenting indomitable spirit in action that one person could change the world for and with persons with intellectual disabilities.
“Accepting this award, we are inspired by her words, “For our part, let us make our stand on human dignity. Let us make our stand on justice. I ask you: stand up for people with intellectual disabilities for the rest of your lives! You may ask, “What good will come from this for yourselves or for your country? This is it: there is no joy like the joy of unleashing the human spirit. There is no laughter like the laughter of those who are happy with others. There is no purpose nobler than to build communities of acceptance for all. This is our glory.”
One of the flagship Beyond Sport Award categories, the Leadership in Sport Award, supported by Heidrick & Struggles, recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated such skills in the face of significant social challenges.
As the sponsor of the Award, Heidrick & Struggles’ Chief Executive Officer Kevin Kelly was one of the first to offer his congratulations to the Shriver Family.
“It was a true honor for me, on behalf of Heidrick & Struggles and our Global Sport Leadership Advisory Group, led by Joe Bailey, to present the award for ‘Leadership in Sport’ to the Shriver Family,” says Kevin Kelly.
“Over many decades the Shriver family has been a dynamic force in shaping and sustaining positive change through sports - their contribution through Special Olympics is a continuing tribute to the resilient human spirit and a powerful example for all.”
Beyond Sport is a global organization that promotes, develops and funds the use of sport to create positive social change across the world. The winners of the Beyond Sport Awards were announced at the Beyond Sport Summit - a unique event that took place between September 29-30 in 2010 in Chicago and designed to celebrate, promote and drive forward the use of sport as a tool for positive social change.
For further information visit www.beyondsport.org or contact
Drew Barrand
Head of Media & Communications
Beyond Sport
Tel: +44 (0)20 3355 8133
Cell: +44 (0)777 624 2904
Email: drew@beyondsport.org
Wendi Taylor Nations
Chief Marketing Officer
Heidrick & Struggles
Tel: +1 312 496 1810
Email: wtaylornations@heidrick.com
The epitome of leaders in social inclusion through sport, the Shriver Family founded the Special Olympics in 1968 and the organization has now grown to such a degree that it involves more than 3 million athletes in over 150 different countries.
The family become the second recipient of this coveted Award, following in the footsteps of Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations.
Speaking on behalf of his family, Timothy P. Shriver, Chairman & CEO, Special Olympics, expressed his delight at receiving such a prestigious Award and paid tribute to his mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver who started the movement.
“On behalf of the Shriver family and Special Olympics movement, we are honored to receive the Beyond Sport Leadership in Sport Award recognizing the power of sport to create social change and to build communities. When our mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded Special Olympics, she demonstrated an unrelenting indomitable spirit in action that one person could change the world for and with persons with intellectual disabilities.
“Accepting this award, we are inspired by her words, “For our part, let us make our stand on human dignity. Let us make our stand on justice. I ask you: stand up for people with intellectual disabilities for the rest of your lives! You may ask, “What good will come from this for yourselves or for your country? This is it: there is no joy like the joy of unleashing the human spirit. There is no laughter like the laughter of those who are happy with others. There is no purpose nobler than to build communities of acceptance for all. This is our glory.”
One of the flagship Beyond Sport Award categories, the Leadership in Sport Award, supported by Heidrick & Struggles, recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated such skills in the face of significant social challenges.
As the sponsor of the Award, Heidrick & Struggles’ Chief Executive Officer Kevin Kelly was one of the first to offer his congratulations to the Shriver Family.
“It was a true honor for me, on behalf of Heidrick & Struggles and our Global Sport Leadership Advisory Group, led by Joe Bailey, to present the award for ‘Leadership in Sport’ to the Shriver Family,” says Kevin Kelly.
“Over many decades the Shriver family has been a dynamic force in shaping and sustaining positive change through sports - their contribution through Special Olympics is a continuing tribute to the resilient human spirit and a powerful example for all.”
Beyond Sport is a global organization that promotes, develops and funds the use of sport to create positive social change across the world. The winners of the Beyond Sport Awards were announced at the Beyond Sport Summit - a unique event that took place between September 29-30 in 2010 in Chicago and designed to celebrate, promote and drive forward the use of sport as a tool for positive social change.
For further information visit www.beyondsport.org or contact
Drew Barrand
Head of Media & Communications
Beyond Sport
Tel: +44 (0)20 3355 8133
Cell: +44 (0)777 624 2904
Email: drew@beyondsport.org
Wendi Taylor Nations
Chief Marketing Officer
Heidrick & Struggles
Tel: +1 312 496 1810
Email: wtaylornations@heidrick.com