Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day

Quote from Eunice Kennedy Shriver.org homepage


Just received this email from Anthony Shriver and Best Buddies. What a wonderful idea. My brother, Jonathan, does the bike race each year from Boston to Hyannis, his way of helping Katie enjoy the comraderie that Best Buddies gives her.


Dear Friends,

As many of you know, last week marked the first anniversary of my Mother's passing. However, her spirit lives on through our continued commitment to making her vision of full inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities a reality.

Accordingly, we are launching the inaugural Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day in her honor. On September 25, 2010, Special Olympics and Best Buddies will lead the world in a celebration of my Mother's inspiration, impact and indomitable spirit. Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day will become an annual celebration of her life, and a global call for people to carry out Eunice Kennedy Shriver Acts of Unity – acts of inclusion, acceptance and unity for and with people with intellectual disabilities.

Suggested Eunice Kennedy Shriver Acts of Unity include: becoming a Special Olympics Unified Sports partner or Best Buddy; volunteering at an NGO related to the disability field or in a special education classroom or learning center (or donating supplies to one); and inviting a peer with an intellectual disability to lunch or a sporting event.

I hope you will join us in this celebration, and in doing so, become an agent of acceptance by embracing Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day's key values of love, social justice, courage, faith and hope. I'd also like to encourage you to take a moment to visit www.eksday.org to add your Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act of Unity, and challenge your friends and family to do the same.

For additional information, please visit www.eksday.org or contact your local Best Buddies office at http://bestbuddies.org/our-programs.

Thank you for your continued support.

Respectfully,
Anthony K. Shriver
Founder and Chairman
Best Buddies International

I was one of hundreds of people who stood outside during her funeral service and the parade of Special Olympians was so touching and though Katelin doesn't do Special Olympics, I know her life and the lives of millions around the world are better because of this one very special woman.

Written for Eunice Kennedy Shriver

There stands a woman on the shore,
steadfast, sure and tall,
and in her hand she holds a torch
that lights the way for all-

For all those less fortunate,
dealt a harsh hand by Fate,
and leads them down the path of Hope-
her footsteps mark the way.

She hands it to the blind man
so he may have his dreams in sight
and to the woman who cannot walk
so that she may stand and fight.

She lifts the little children
who cannot get there on their own
and carries them with tenderness
so that they may know a loving home.

Like many of her family,
who's own torches lit the night
for the multitude of millions
who could not find the light,

she sent a "message of Hope",
a "message of Victory",
and brought to the disabled
deserved Human Dignity.

In homes across America,
in countries 'round the world,
a mother may hope her child
is not forgotten, is not scorned.

So, fare thee well then on your journey
let the stars now light your way,
let a warm wind fill your sails,
and cause you no delay.

While here on Earth we raise our own
hands up to the sky
and with grateful hearts say thank you,
rest easy and goodbye.

M. Lancaster