Anthony Shriver

Last updated
Anthony Shriver
Personal details
Born
Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver

(1965-07-20) July 20, 1965 (age 59)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Other political
affiliations
We the People (from 2024) [1]
Spouse
Alina Mojica
(m. 1993;div. 2018)
Children5
Parent(s) Sargent Shriver
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Relatives Shriver family
Kennedy family
Alma mater Georgetown University

Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver (born July 20, 1965) is an American activist for people with intellectual disabilities. In 1989, he founded Best Buddies International, an international organization that helps people with intellectual disabilities to find employment and social opportunities. [2] Through his mother, he is a nephew of World War II casualty Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Senator Ted Kennedy.

Contents

Early life and education

Anthony Shriver was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver, Jr. His mother is the founder of Special Olympics and his father is a founding director of the Peace Corps.

He graduated from the Georgetown Preparatory School in 1984. [3] He then attended Brown University before transferring to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., from which he graduated in 1988 with a double major in theology and history.

Career

Shriver is the founder and chairman of Best Buddies International a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization which he created in 1989. Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization that provides adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities social inclusion and job opportunities. He has been able to get the organization to spread throughout the world and it has over 1500 chapters today. [4] Shriver spoke in 2008 about the all-inclusive nature of the program: "The great thing about Best Buddies is there's something for everybody. You can be a volunteer in some shape, form or fashion, whether you're volunteering to get your kids involved, whether your son or daughter is involved in their school program, whether you want to be a mentor yourself as an adult, whether you want to get an online Buddy, whether you're an employer and want to hire someone with a disability to work in your office—if you've got any sense of motivation and determination and want to give back, there's a role for you at Best Buddies, which I think is pretty unique. Even in Special Olympics, for most people, you can be a coach or a spectator, but you're not going to run the 50-yard dash. In Best Buddies, you're running the 50-yard dash with your Buddy. People get a different level of experience by participating, as opposed to writing a check, though that's important, too. But beyond writing checks, we need people to get involved and give their time." [5]

Best Buddies has grown into a leading nonprofit entity with increasing international reach across six continents and 54 countries worldwide; establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In 2017, the Boston Globe uncovered that donations from Best Buddies had been given to Tom Brady's personal charity. "Since 2011, while Brady has served as the face of its signature Massachusetts fund-raiser and helped it raise nearly $20 million, Best Buddies has paid $2.75 million to Brady's own charitable trust and has pledged to grant the organization an additional $500,000 in 2017--a total of $3.25 million.". [6] In 2017, Boston Globe journalists were denied access to the annual Hyannis Port Challenge at Harvard university, Best buddies later apologized for the incident. [7] [8] [9] [10]

In addition, Anthony and his brother Timothy (the chairman of the Special Olympics) have recently aligned Best Buddies and the Special Olympics to create the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Challenge event, aimed to encourage greater acceptance and inclusion for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Shriver has also been a director of UniCapital Corp, an investment house, since March 1998. [11] He participated in the inaugural Forum of Young Global Leaders in 2005, hosted by the World Economic Forum in Zermatt, Switzerland. [12]

Shriver is currently on the board of directors of Level Brands. [13]

Politics

Shriver - along with most members of the extended Kennedy family - is a part of the Democratic Party. In 2005, he considered running for Governor of Florida in the 2006 election. He was also said to have considered a run for Governor of Florida in the 2010 election. [14]

Personal life

Shriver married Alina Mojica on July 2, 1993, in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. Until March 2020, he resided in Miami Beach, Florida, with Alina and their five children: Edward Nunez (Teddy), Eunice Julia Shriver, Francesca Maria Shriver, Carolina Fitzgerald Kennedy Shriver, and John Joseph Sargent Shriver (b. July 1, 2009). [15] [16] [ unreliable source? ] Alina and Anthony filed for divorce in November 2018; they sold their shared Miami Beach home in March 2020.

Related Research Articles

The Kennedy family is an American political family that has long been prominent in American politics, public service, entertainment, and business. In 1884, 35 years after the family's arrival from County Wexford, Ireland, Patrick Joseph "P. J." Kennedy became the first Kennedy elected to public office, serving in the Massachusetts state legislature until 1895. At least one Kennedy family member served in federal elective office from 1947, when P. J. Kennedy's grandson John F. Kennedy became a member of Congress from Massachusetts, until 2011, when Patrick J. Kennedy II retired as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Olympics</span> Olympics for mentally and physically disabled athletes

Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and activities to 5 million participants and Unified Sports partners in 172 countries. Special Olympics competitions are held daily, all around the world—including local, national and regional competitions, adding up to more than 100,000 events a year. Like the International Paralympic Committee, the Special Olympics organization is recognized by the International Olympic Committee; however, unlike the Paralympic Games, its World Games are not held in the same year nor in conjunction with the Olympic Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eunice Kennedy Shriver</span> American philanthropist (1921–2009)

Eunice Mary Kennedy Shriver was an American philanthropist and a member of the Kennedy family. She was the founder of the Special Olympics, a sports organization for persons with intellectual disabilities. For her efforts on behalf of disabled people, Shriver was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sargent Shriver</span> American diplomat, politician and activist

Robert Sargent Shriver Jr. was an American diplomat, politician, and activist. He was a member of the Shriver family by birth, and a member of the Kennedy family through his marriage to Eunice Kennedy. Shriver was the driving force behind the creation of the Peace Corps, and founded the Job Corps, Head Start, VISTA, Upward Bound, and other programs as the architect of the 1960s War on Poverty. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for vice president in the 1972 presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosemary Kennedy</span> Sister of John F. Kennedy (1918–2005)

Rose Marie "Rosemary" Kennedy was the eldest daughter born to Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. She was a sister of President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert F. and Ted Kennedy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Shriver</span> American journalist and author (born 1955)

Maria Owings Shriver is an American journalist, author, a member of the prominent Shriver and Kennedy families, former First Lady of California, and the founder of the nonprofit organization The Women's Alzheimer's Movement. She was married to former governor of California and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, from whom she filed for divorce in 2011; it was finalized in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timothy Shriver</span> American non-profit executive (born 1959)

Timothy Perry Shriver is an American disability rights activist, film producer, and former educator who has been Chairman of Special Olympics since 1996 and is the founder of UNITE. He is a member of the prominent Shriver and Kennedy families, as the third child of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and Sargent Shriver, who helped found the Peace Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kennedy curse</span> Premature deaths and calamities for Kennedy family

The Kennedy curse is a series of deaths, accidents, assassinations, and other calamities involving members of the American Kennedy family. The alleged curse has primarily struck the descendants of businessman Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., but it has also affected family friends, associates, and other relatives. Political assassinations and plane crashes have been the most common manifestations of the "curse". Following the Chappaquiddick incident in 1969, Ted Kennedy is quoted saying he questioned if "some awful curse did actually hang over all the Kennedys." However skeptics argue that it is not improbable for a large extended family to experience similar events over the course of several generations.

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It supports and conducts research aimed at improving the health of children, adults, families, and communities, including:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities</span> American non-profit organization

The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) is an American non-profit organization focusing on intellectual disability and related developmental disabilities. AAIDD has members in the United States and more than 50 other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Best Buddies International</span> American nonprofit organization

Best Buddies International is an American nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. It consists of volunteers that create opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The program's main purpose is to allow volunteers to be paired up with a buddy with an intellectual and developmental disability and provide them with a friend or a mentor. Best Buddies is the world's largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with IDD. It is an international movement that has spread to over 54 countries worldwide.

Special Olympics Canada is a national organization founded in 1969 to help people with intellectual disabilities develop self-confidence and social skills through sports training and competition.

<i>My Brother</i> (2006 film) 2006 American film

My Brother is a 2006 film directed by Academy Award nominee Anthony Lover. It stars Vanessa L. Williams, Tatum O'Neal, Nashawn Kearse and Fredro Starr. It also stars two first-time actors with Down syndrome, Christopher Scott and Donovan Jennings. Two developmentally disabled actors played leading roles, and also an African-American actor with a developmental disability played a leading role.

Loretta Claiborne is an American global speaker and multi-sport athlete who competes in the Special Olympics. She has been honored with the 1996 Arthur Ashe ESPY Courage Award presented to her by Denzel Washington. Claiborne was the first Special Olympics athlete elected to the Special Olympics International Board of Directors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose Kennedy</span> American philanthropist, mother of John F. Kennedy

Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald Kennedy was an American philanthropist, socialite, and matriarch of the Kennedy family. She was deeply embedded in the "lace curtain" Irish-American community in Boston. Her father, John F. Fitzgerald, served in the Massachusetts State Senate (1892–1894), in the U.S. House of Representatives, and as Mayor of Boston. Her husband, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., chaired the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (1934–1935) and the U.S. Maritime Commission (1937–1938), and served as United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom (1938–1940). Their nine children included United States President John F. Kennedy, U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith. In 1951, Rose Kennedy was ennobled by Pope Pius XII, becoming the sixth American woman to be granted the rank of Papal countess.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean Kennedy Smith</span> American diplomat (1928–2020)

Jean Ann Kennedy Smith was an American diplomat, activist, humanitarian, and author who served as United States Ambassador to Ireland from 1993 to 1998. She was a member of the Kennedy family, the eighth of nine children, and youngest daughter, born to Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald. Her siblings included President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Rosemary Kennedy, and Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver. She was also a sister-in-law of Jacqueline Kennedy.

Special Olympics Pakistan is an official recognized program of Special Olympics International which operates in Pakistan as not-for-profit organization and works with intellectually disabled individuals and help them through participation in sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities</span> Advisory body to the President of the US

The President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID) is an advisory body that provides assistance to the President of the United States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on public policy issues related to intellectual disability. It was started as a blue-ribbon panel by John F. Kennedy in 1961, and later reorganized through executive order into an official panel by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966, with the goal of ensuring the right to a "decent, dignified place in society". Originally known as the President's Committee on Mental Retardation, it was eventually renamed in 2003 by George W. Bush over concerns regarding negative labelling. It was established through the work of Eunice Kennedy Shriver while serving as the head of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Olympics Ireland</span> Sporting organisation

Special Olympics Ireland is a sporting organisation for children and adults with intellectual disabilities that operates in the Island of Ireland. It is part of the global Special Olympics movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alison Cernich</span> American neuropsychologist

Alison Nenos Cernich is an American neuropsychologist specializing in traumatic brain injury and computerized neuropsychological assessment. She is the deputy director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Cernich was previously deputy director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, assistant professor of neurology at University of Maryland School of Medicine, and chief of neuropsychology at the VA Maryland Health Care System.

References

  1. Kennedy, Robert F. Jr. (April 2, 2024). "RFK reveals why he thinks Biden is a bigger threat than Trump". Fox & Friends (Interview). New York City: Fox News Channel.
  2. "Official biography, Best Buddies International". Archived from the original on 2009-08-15. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  3. "Notable Alumni". Georgetown Preparatory School. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  4. "Best Buddies International." Best Buddies International. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2013.<http://www.bestbuddies.org/best-buddies Archived 2009-08-30 at the Wayback Machine >.
  5. "Kennedy's - Best Buddies and ICons." Kennedy's - Best Buddies and ICons. N.p., Oct.-Nov. 2008. Web. 13 Oct. 2013. <http://abilitymagazine.com/Kennedy.html>.
  6. "Tom Brady gives much to Best Buddies but has taken millions for his own charitable trust - the Boston Globe". 22 April 2017.
  7. "Best Buddies: Boston Globe Turned Away from Tom Brady Event Due to 'Misunderstanding'". 3 June 2017.
  8. "Barring photographer not a great look for Best Buddies - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe . 6 May 2017.
  9. "Best Buddies apologizes for barring Globe photographer from charity event - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe .
  10. "Security turns away Boston Globe photographer at Tom Brady's Best Buddies event". 2 June 2017.
  11. "Anthony K. Shriver." Businessweek.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2013. <[ dead link ]>.
  12. "Profiles". Forum of Young Global Leaders . Archived from the original on 2005-10-29.
  13. "About Level Brands". levelbrands.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  14. Sokol, Brett. "The Camelot Legacy." - Page 1. N.p., 20 Jan. 2005. Web. 13 Oct. 2013.<http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2005-01-20/news/the-camelot-legacy/>
  15. "Kennedy Family Tree". ABC News. 2024.
  16. 6."Shriver, Anthony." Astrology. N.p., 17 July 2012. Web. 13 Oct. 2013.<http://www.astro.com/astro-databank/Shriver%2C_Anthony>.

9. International programs- Best Buddies, https://www.bestbuddies.org/international-programs/