Special Olympics
CA4 – Europa
For over 100 years, Lions Clubs International has empowered local communities to help one another through service. In countries all around the world, the global association asks us all to give the best of ourselves to help improve our neighborhoods, and nations.
For over two decades, Lions Clubs International and Special Olympics have shared a growing global partnership – titled Mission: Inclusion- to bring the power of inclusion through service to the global population of individuals with intellectual disabilities. From eye health and vision care to inclusive sports to early childhood development and much more, Lions Clubs International, the Lions Clubs International Foundation, and Special Olympics have left no stone unturned in building communities of welcome, communities of opportunity and perhaps most importantly- communities of action.
As a long-standing Special Olympics athlete, I have witnessed first-hand the power of service and support. Many individuals have been such a great support to me- starting with my parents and family, but also including my coaches, my mentors, my supporters, my teammates, and the global community of Special Olympics. It was for that reason among many that I joined Lions Clubs International in 2019, where I serve as a proud member of the Centennial Champions 100 Lions Club as well as serving as a member of the Club’s Board of Directors. The global partnership between Special Olympics and Lions Clubs International introduced the Champions Lions Club model, a type of Lions Club that worked closely with Special Olympics in building activities and membership designed to be inclusive of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The model has successfully expanded worldwide- and it is one that has given more Special Olympics athletes an opportunity to both compete on the playing field, and also give back to their communities. It’s a win-win!
The support that the Lions Clubs International global association, and the Lions Clubs International Foundation, have provided to Special Olympics athletes is remarkable, and it has helped prepare and propel us for even greater achievements. As part of the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin, I was honored to be elected the Chairperson of the Global Athlete Congress, by my Special Olympics athlete leader peers, we now continue to pave the way for a more inclusive, Unified world. It was a great honor for me to be able to learn from so many individuals, so many passionate advocates, on how we can make our world a better and more inclusive place for everyone.
I take on the role of Chairperson of the Global Athlete Congress both as a committed Special Olympics athlete, and also as a committed member of Lions Clubs International. It is through our global partnership that I hope to strengthen further still my Lions leadership, so that I can serve as an example to other Special Olympics athletes, Lions Clubs members, and local community stakeholders. I thank the Lions Clubs International family, my Club at the Centennial Champions 100 Lions Club and Special Olympics for believing in the power of inclusion and the power of service- together- to bring about the change we need for a world where we can all Play Unified, Learn Unified, and Live Unified.