Eunice Kennedy Shriver was born in Massachusettes in 1921. She is the founder of the Special Olympics, younger sister of President John F. Kennedy, and older sister of Senators Robert F. and Ted Kennedy. She married Sagent Shriver in 1953. Sargent Shriver played an important role in the creation of the Peace Corps and is also the founder of the Head Start program and Job Corps before becoming the Democratic Party’s nominee for Vice President in 1972.
In 1962, Eunice Shriver created a camp at her Potomac home for children with intellectual disabilities. She was inspired by her sister, Rosemary Kennedy, who was born with intellectual disabilities. Rosemary eventually underwent a frontal lobotomy that caused brain damage, leaving her permanently incapacitated. At first, Camp Shriver was a day camp. The camp allowed children with intellectual disabilities to participate in athletic events. This led to Shriver promoting the concept of involvement in physical activity and other opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities as Camp Shriver evolved into the Special Olympics in 1968.
