Special Olympics Iowa celebrates EKS Day

Please join Special Olympics Iowa on Saturday as part of a worldwide celebration of the inspiration and impact of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day (EKS Day) is an annual celebration of her life and a call for people to join together in creating acts of inclusion, acceptance and unity for and with people with intellectual disabilities.

This global call to action stems from Mrs. Shriver's teaching that on the playing field, we forget about our differences and recognize our mutual humanity. Eunice Kennedy Shriver believed every person should be able to reach their full potential and all members of society should embrace and encourage this. She also believed that across the nation we should be able to guarantee that every person is free of abuse and discrimination.

EKS Day was created to inspire people to experience her legacy and embrace the movement she founded more than 40 year ago. The Special Olympics movement has transformed the lives of millions of people worldwide with intellectual disabilities. As the founder of Special Olympics, she demonstrated an unrelenting spirit in action that one person could make a difference and change the world.

Please join the real heroes, the athletes of Special Olympics, as we celebrate EKS Day and honor this extraordinary woman's legacy. You can participate in EKS Day acts of unity by playing a sport, joining in the Special Olympics movement, or building communities of inclusion.

Hal Pittman

President and CEO

Special Olympics Iowa

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