FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mandy Murphy Tiffany Harvey-Gautier
Special Olympics Inc. Special Olympics LA
+1 (202) 824 – 0227 985-345-6644
mamurphy@specialolympics.org tharvey@laso.org
Special Olympics
Ranked Number One for People with Disabilities by Philanthropedia
Washington,
D.C. – 25 August 2011 – Special Olympics has earned the number one spot on a newly
released national list of high-impact non-profit organizations serving people
with disabilities. Philanthropedia, a subsidiary of industry non-profit
data leader Guidestar,
evaluates nonprofit effectiveness by surveying industry experts to identify
high-impact non-profits.
Ranked
first of 11 leading non-profit organizations serving people with disabilities,
Special Olympics was awarded this top distinction by a Philanthropedia group of
79 experts, including foundation professionals, nonprofit senior staff,
academics, and researchers. These experts, with an average of 20 years of work
experience in the field, recommended organizations based on their impact in the
field of disability and included organizations that support people with
intellectual, physical and mental disabilities. Experts evaluated organizations’ strengths in
leadership and organizational reach, which resulted in Special Olympics’
ranking as the organization with the greatest impact on the intellectual
disability community.
"On
behalf of our entire Special Olympics movement worldwide, we are honored to be
given this prestigious ranking from Philanthropedia,” said Dr. Timothy P.
Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics. "This recognition reflects
the hard work of all our athletes, coaches, volunteers and leadership to show
the world the power of sport to create acceptance and inclusion for people with
intellectual disabilities.”
Accordingly
to Philanthropedia, approximately 54 million individuals (20% of U.S.
population) in the United States live with at least one disability. Special
Olympics works to impact communities within the United States and around the
world, as an estimated 200 million people worldwide have intellectual
disabilities. Special Olympics strives to build communities of acceptance by
challenging society to change its perceptions of the abilities of people with
intellectual disabilities and is one of the world’s most powerful social
movements:
• Nearly four million athletes
• Nearly 50,000 competitions around the world each year
• More than 136 competitions hosted each day
• More than one million coaches and volunteers
• 32 Olympic-type summer and winter sports
• Special Olympics Accredited Programs in more than 170 countries
• Seven Regional Offices: China, Egypt, Ireland, Panama, Singapore, South
Africa and the United States
About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives
through the power of sport by encouraging and empowering people with
intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering
communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice
Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred
athletes to more than 3.7 million athletes in over 170 countries in all regions
of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and
other related programs. Special Olympics now takes place every day,
changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities all over the world
and in the community playgrounds and ball fields in every small neighborhood’s
backyard. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities
continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness,
demonstrate courage, and experience joy and friendship. Visit Special Olympics
at www.specialolympics.org.
Engage with us on:Twitter @specialolympics; fb.com/specialolympics;
youtube.com/specialolympicshq, and specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com.
Special Olympics
Louisiana
Special Olympics Louisiana (SOLA) is a state-wide
organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and
inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. SOLA
offers year-round programs for 13,000 children and adults with intellectual
disabilities in all 64 parishes with the help of 12,000 volunteers. We have
health, education, leadership, family, training and sports programs for people
beginning at age 2 and there is no upper age limit. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. For more
information about Special Olympics Louisiana, please visit www.laso.org.
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