Catie Keogh - Irish American News

August 2011 Irish American News “We’ve Always Been Green!” 27Like so many others, I havealways admired the SpecialOlympics program. But alsolike so many others I knew littleabout how it began and whatopportunities I might have tobecome involved.Founded by Eunice KennedyShriver, the first ever SpecialOlympics event was held inChicago at Soldiers Field, in1968. The mission of SpecialOlympics was to offer peoplewith intellectual disabilitieseverywhere “the chance to play,the chance to compete andthe chance to grow.” Shriverbelieved that people with intellectualdisabilities were farmore capable than commonlythought and deserved the sameopportunities and experiencesas others. Special Olympicshas been instrumental in raisingawareness and providing opportunitiesfor those individuals toparticipate in the same experienceas others, particularly insports and physical activity. Itsestablishment offered peoplewith intellectual and developmentaldisabilities continuingopportunities to realize theirpotential, develop physical fitness,demonstrate courage aswell as experiencing the joy andfriendship inherent to competitiveparticipation. Today SpecialOlympics provides year-roundtraining and competitions to3.1 million athletes from 175countries.Special Olympics is all aboutparticipation and it was clearto me that to do this articlejustice I needed to speak with a“participant”. When my parishpastor, Father David Ryan toldme he had someone in mind forme to interview who has beendirectly involved with SpecialOlympics, I was thrilled. He putme in touch with Jay Doherty,President of the City Club ofChicago and proud long-timesupporter of Special Olympics.After graduating from MarquetteUniversity, Doherty moved toChicago to work for Ted Kennedyand Sergeant Shriver. He isa past Director of Communicationfor the Merchandise Martand is the Kennedy family’s“point man” for fundraising andpublic appearances in Illinois.Despite his busy schedule, hewas very generous with histime and clearly eager to discussthe significance of SpecialOlympics and various ways tocontribute and become directlyinvolved.The importance of SpecialOlympics goes beyond the opportunitiesit presents to the athletes.Designed as a grassrootsmovement, it is all inclusiveand everyone is encouraged toparticipate. Families, friends,indeed the entire community aswell as the athletes take an activerole in their local programs. Bysharing in the training of athletesand assisting in the public educationefforts volunteers help tocreate a greater understandingof the emotional, physical, socialand spiritual needs of theparticipants and their families.The education goes beyond thelocal communities that sponsorthe events. Today most eventstake place with full coverage bythe media, which CEO TimothyShriver says “will serve as themethod for a lasting change inthe public’s attitude toward theinclusion of individuals withintellectual disabilities in everyaspect of society in every countyon the planet.”There is no cost for childrenor adults to participate in theSpecial Olympics. All programcosts are covered by fundraising.Jay Doherty has used his cloutand influence within the Chicagoscene to help fundraising.“We [The City Club of Chicago]have been able to ask MayorDaley, Governor Pat Quinn,Anne Burke and Chris Kennedyamong others to be key-notespeakers or headline fundraisersfor Special Olympics. We haveraised hundreds of thousandsof dollars for Special Olympics.We want to encourage them tohave as many great programs aspossible for these kids.” Asideof fundraising Doherty alsodoes his part by volunteering forSpecial Olympics in Chicago.To the greatest extent possible,Special Olympics activities arerun by and involve local volunteers.Whether you participateas an athlete, coach, sponsor,donor, volunteer or spectatorthere are many ways to becomeinvolved.There are Special Olympicevents going on all over theworld in large cities as well assmall towns, providing many opportunitiesfor those interestedin becoming a part of somethinggreat. One of the largest fundraisersis the annual Law EnforcementTorch Run. The TorchRuns involves members of lawenforcement working together toraise money for Special Olympics.Members of the local lawenforcement community carry atorch along intervals of plannedroutes covering most of a stateor the country to the site of theopening ceremonies of the localchapter or even the InternationalGames. The torch holder wouldthen pass the torch to an athleteand, symbolically, together theyrun up to the cauldron lightingit to signify the beginning ofthe games.We Irish think big when itcomes to matters of the heart!The largest Special Olympicsevent to date took place inDublin, Ireland in 2003. The importanceof the Dublin’s gamesbecame evident as it was thefirst ever live broadcasted SpecialOlympics and also the firstvenue to have an opening andclosing ceremony. The Presidentof Ireland, Mary McAleesesaid the 2003 Games dramaticallychanged the perceptionsand attitudes of society regardingthe abilities of people withintellectual disabilities. TheSpecial Olympics World SummerGames in Dublin attractednearly 7,000 athletes from150 countries and featured 23sporting disciplines. PresidentMcAleese described the eventas “a time when Ireland was atits superb best.”Every two years the WorldGames are held, alternatingbetween summer and wintersports. The Summer Gamestook place this year in Athens,Greece The next Winter Gameswill be in Peyongchang, SouthKorea in 2013.Special Olympics have madeand will continue to make significantdifferences in the livesof all those involved. It givesthe athletes an opportunity tocompetitively participate insports, it gives their families theopportunity of share in the joy oftheir achievements, it providesvolunteers with a greater understandingof the emotional, physical,social and spiritual needs ofthe participants and it createslasting change in the public’sattitude toward those with intellectualdisabilities. The messageof the program is very powerfuland very real—it doesn’t matterwhat your ability or disability is,do not limit yourself and striveto be the best that you can be.Live true to the programs mottoand remember “there is no limitto the human spirit.”To learn more about becominginvolved in a Special Olympicsprogram near you visitwww.specialolympics.org. Forinformation on the City Clubof Chicago visit www.cityclubchicago.org.To place aWeddingAnnouncement,BirthAnnouncement,or ObituaryCall708-445-0700HEALTHCARECNAS WANTEDWe are looking for friendlydependable people withreliable transportationto help seniors in theirhomes. CURRENTLYHIRING DAY SHIFTS.We offer healthcare& vacation benefits.To apply please call:Partners in Senior Careat 847-548-1330