"What a great moment for me, my son, the world. What you have made possible for so many people defies all reason." LOWELL WEICKER, JR.
Former United States Senator

NICHD

Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Remarks

NICHD

March 3, 2008

Thank you all for this joyful day. May I especially thank all the staff and leadership of NIH and NICHD for all their work in preparing for today's program.

In a special way, I would like to thank the members of Congress who are here, Senator Hatch and Congressman Hoyer.

But there is one member of Congress who is a member of something else too: my family. Teddy, my brother, what wonders you have done around the world for countless people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

I am grateful for my prized and ardent child, Timothy and his wife, Linda. They have carried the messages of Special Olympics to millions. You are heroes to me, and Sarge and I are so proud of everything you have done. I must also thank the rest of my family: my precious husband Sargent and especially my daughter Maria, who has traveled the U.S., South America and Europe doing wonders for our causes. Together with her husband Arnold, they have done so much for the Foundation. My son, Anthony, and his wife Alina, who have journeyed across Africa and throughout the world to fight for those with intellectual disabilities. Anthony, I appreciate your leadership. My sons Bobby and Mark and their wives Malissa and Jeanne, and all of my 17 grandchildren.

My family has been my center.

My family has been my source of strength.

My family is my joy.

My family is what gives me hope in the future.

Most people believe that I have spent my whole life interested in only one thing, and that is working to make the world a better place for people with intellectual disabilities. That has been a huge part of my life. It inspired me to work on research when I was young, to create sports camps, Special Olympics and Best Buddies, and to ask political leaders for more education, more health care, more housing, and more acceptance. I thank so many of you in this room for joining me in this noble work.

But that is not the whole story of my life.

My life is also about being raised by parents who loved me and made me believe in possibility.

It's been about the friendship and loyalty of my brothers and sisters. It's been about my faith. But in a strange way perhaps, my life is also about the adversity I encountered. I believe I am even lucky that I experienced the sting of rejection as a woman who was told that real power was not for me. I am lucky that I saw my mother and my sister Rosemary treated with the most unbearable rejection. I am lucky that I confronted political and social injustice against people with intellectual disabilities all over the world throughout my career.