Melitta J. Cutright
Nicole Brown
630-571-5466 ext. 363 or 386
Michelle Weber 312-371-8707 (July 1-6)

     
For Immediate Release

TIMOTHY P. SHRIVER, CHAIRMAN OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS,
TO RECEIVE 2007 LIONS HUMANITARIAN AWARD AT
LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

OAK BROOK, Illinois, June 8, 2007—Timothy P. Shriver, Ph.D., chairman of Special Olympics, Inc., is the recipient of the 2007 Lions Humanitarian Award. As head of Special Olympics, he serves 2.5 million athletes and their families in more than 160 countries. He has helped transform Special Olympics into a movement that focuses on acceptance, inclusion and respect for individuals with intellectual disabilities in all corners of the globe. 

Shriver, who is a charter member of the Washington D.C. Special Olympics Lions Club, will be presented with this prestigious award at the 90th Lions Clubs International Convention in Chicago, Illinois, USA on Tuesday, July 3. The Lions Humanitarian Award, the highest honor of the association, includes a US$200,000 grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation for continuing humanitarian activities. Previous recipients include former U. S. President Jimmy Carter and Mother Teresa.

Lions Clubs International and Special Olympics have cooperated since 2001 in the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes Program. This ambitious program, funded by Lions Clubs International Foundation, screens the vision of athletes at selected Special Olympics sporting events worldwide. The program also aims to teach and prepare vision specialists to care for this underserved population.

Shriver has headed Special Olympics for nine years. In this time he has worked to expand its program internationally through Special Olympics World Games and by beginning programs in many developing or war-torn countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan and Iraq. He has also created many exciting initiatives that enhance the quality of life for millions of people with disabilities through programs in athlete leadership, cross-cultural research, health, education and family support.

Before joining Special Olympics, Shriver, who has a Ph.D. in education from the University of Connecticut, was an educator, counselor, author and speaker dealing with issues such as substance abuse, violence, dropout rates and teen pregnancy. He serves on the board of the Education Commission of the State's Compact for Learning and Citizenship and chairs the board of the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning. He is the author of numerous publications and the recipient of many awards, including honorary degrees, the Medal of the City of Athens, Greece and the Surgeon General's Medallion.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with 1.3 million members in more than 45,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographic areas. In addition to its efforts toward conquering blindness, the organization has made a strong commitment to community service and helping youth throughout the world. To learn more about Lions Clubs International, visit www.lionsclubs.org.

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Note to media: A Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes vision screening and eyewear distribution will be held at the United Center from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3. Media are invited.