WHEREAS, In the 1950s and 1960s, Eunice Kennedy Shriver saw how unjustly people with intellectual disabilities were treated and decided to take actions that led to the creation of the Special Olympics; and

WHEREAS, Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 5,300,000 athletes and Unified Sports partners in 170 countries; and

WHEREAS, Special Olympics California events bring together a large and inclusive community of athletes, families, supporters, coaches, volunteers, and many others; and

WHEREAS, Through the power of sports, Special Olympics California athletes discover new strengths, abilities, confidence, and success on the playing field and in life; and

WHEREAS, Special Olympics California is the leading voice in raising awareness about the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities in the state; and

WHEREAS, Special Olympics is the world’s largest public health organization for people with intellectual disabilities and offers a wide range of free health exams and care; and

WHEREAS, Special Olympics California provides free services and programs in sports, school, health, and leadership to more than 50,000 people with intellectual disabilities and their families in the state; and

WHEREAS, Special Olympics California provides screenings, including eye, ear, dental, and foot health, plus resources for mental health; and

WHEREAS, Special Olympics California bridges the gap between medical professionals and people with intellectual disabilities to break down barriers to services and to advocate for quality care; and

WHEREAS, With support from the State of California, Special Olympics brought the power of Unified Champion Schools programs to hundreds of schools this year. Cultivating friendship and belonging between students with and without disabilities, the programming spans preschool to transition schools, and includes sports curriculum, youth leadership, and resources for educators; now, therefore, be it