United Way of Greater New Haven

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Special Olympics mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community.

Description:
Special Olympics principle is to provide the most enjoyable, beneficial, and challenging activities for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

History:
In 1963, Eunice Kennedy Schriver started a day camp for 100 children with intellectual disabilities at her home in Maryland. The program proved so successful in demonstrating the ability of people with intellectual disabilities to participate in and benefit from a wide variety of recreational experiences, that the foundation decided to support the development of similar programs across the country.
Between 1963 and 1968 the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation awarded 80 grants to public and private organizations in the U.S. and Canada for the purpose of creating and administering day camps for people in the community with intellectual disabilities.
On July 20, 1968 the first International Special Olympics Games were held at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. One thousand athletes from 26 states and Canada participates in track and field and swimming events.
The games were a success and led, in the following year to the establishment of a nonprofit organization, Special Olympics Inc., and the creation of a Special Olympics Chapter in every state in the United States, Canada, and France.

Contact people:

Katie Femiak, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Jen Williams, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Address:

2666 State Street Suite 1 Hamden, CT 06517 (See a map)

Directions:

From I-91 South, Take exit 10 (Hamden-Route 40.)Take the first exit off the connector (Exit 1.) Take a right off the exit ramp. Take a right at the light onto State Street (Route 5 South.)Follow for about 2 miles, you. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: State Street and Sebec Road, 1 minute walk

Overall Experience   
Very exhilerating!

I have been involved with Special Olympics since 1967. Upon retirement, I became a full-time volunteer with an average of helping 30 hours a week. My responsibilities were as a Volunteer Equipment/Warehouse Coordinator, basically support service for all Special Olympic events. I've had a most rewarding, exciting, and unbelievable volunteer career. I've had the pleasure of meeting a host of celebrities including: Sgt. and Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Schriver, Maria and Tim Schriver, Phil Simms, Rob Reiner, Susan St. James, Dick Ebersol, Gov. Weiker, Tom Brokow, Vin Baker, and the list goes on and on. These personalities have been a part of this magnificent organization and as time moves on, more celebrities will come on board, you can be assures. However, my love and admiration goes out to the hundreds of athletes and parents, volunteers, coaches, and staff that I've met all these years. Without any doubt, those precious memories are all very endearing to my heart. The experience has been exhilerating and wonderful as I have made many new friendships and put my heart into all that I have done. Wishing you, the reader, good health, happiness, and a positive attitude in all future endevours, Norman Hanenbaum posted on April 29, 2002