Tom Golisano Gifts $30 Million to Special Olympics to Expand Critical Health Services Globally for People with Intellectual Disabilities
PR91715
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --
Special Olympics announced today that it has received its largest single
private gift in the organization's 53-year history. Tom Golisano, Paychex
founder, philanthropist and father of a son with an intellectual disability,
will provide $30 million, his third major gift to Special Olympics, to expand
the Special Olympics Healthy Communities program(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3292452-1&h=505925378&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.specialolympics.org%2Four-work%2Finclusive-health%3Flocale%3Den&a=Special+Olympics+Healthy+Communities),
which provides health services globally for people with intellectual
disabilities (ID), a population that has been critically underserved,
especially during the pandemic.
Photo -
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1627025/Ann_Costello_and_Tom_Golisano.jpg
Through the Healthy Communities program over the past five years, Special
Olympics conducted 700,000 athlete health screenings – double the number done
in the previous five years – and offered follow-up care in the communities that
decreased urgent referral needs by half. Healthy Communities added 150,000
athletes to fitness and health programs, decreasing their blood pressure,
improving health outcomes and potentially adding years to their lives. More
than 150,000 health care providers have been trained in 60 countries and 130
health professional schools now have inclusive health curricula to train
students on intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics has also partnered with
many organizations, including foundations, governments, universities, and
philanthropists to contribute to Healthy Communities programming.
"By investing in our Healthy Communities, Mr. Golisano will allow us to expand
to hundreds of new domestic and global regions," said Dr. Alicia Bazzano,
Special Olympics Chief Health Officer. "This new gift comes at a critical time
for our global community as we have seen during this pandemic just how little
this population has been prioritized."
People with intellectual disabilities die on average 16-20 years sooner than
the general population. More often than not, these deaths are preventable and
result from treatable conditions, like constipation, seizures and heart
disease. During the pandemic many people with intellectual disabilities have
not had access to critical COVID-19 care and resources like ventilators and
vaccines.
A study published earlier this year in the New England Journal of Medicine
(NEJM) Catalyst(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3292452-1&h=2116837381&u=https%3A%2F%2Fcatalyst.nejm.org%2Fdoi%2Ffull%2F10.1056%2FCAT.21.0051&a=New+England+Journal+of+Medicine+(NEJM)+Catalyst); found that people with intellectual disabilities are almost six times more likely to die from COVID than the general population. The pandemic magnified how people with intellectual disabilities historically have not been seen as a
priority for access to equitable health care.
Over the next five years, Special Olympics will move the world closer to
inclusion in health care for people with intellectual disabilities through
multiple key strategic actions including:
-- Reaching three million in-person and virtual health screenings in over 100
countries and ensuring follow-up care is received.
-- Improving the overall health and fitness of 600,000 athletes.
-- Reaching 650,000 young children with intellectual disabilities and their
families—to provide them with early intervention services to enable them
to walk, run, skip and play earlier.
-- Creating the Golisano Virtual University to provide training to 100,000
more health care professionals enabling them to treat people with
intellectual disabilities.
-- Creating the first-ever Global Report on the Health of People with
Intellectual Disabilities – this report will evaluate disparities across
health systems to develop inclusive policies and practices in target
countries.
As the leading advocate for health of those with intellectual disabilities,
Special Olympics is driving towards access to life-changing health care for
this population. Since 2012, Tom Golisano and his foundation have prioritized
the health needs of people with ID, donating previous gifts totaling $37
million to help achieve health equity for people with ID all over the world,
beginning with the launch of Special Olympics Healthy Communities.
"I am pleased to continue financial support for Special Olympics' extraordinary
health work, which is giving people with intellectual and developmental
disabilities improved access to health services and the opportunity to live
happier, more productive lives," said Golisano. "Special Olympics' impact on
the health of people with ID is impressive – as is its strategy on how to build
on this success over the next several years. The focus on measurement,
standardization of practices, early diagnosis, a trained workforce, and health
systems that demonstrate inclusive policies, will effectively position Special
Olympics to further our mutual goal of health equity."
"Over the last decade, Tom's commitment of $67 million has helped us expand our
health programming from local and regional health services, to now over 120
Healthy Communities," said Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman, Special Olympics.
"Tom and Foundation Executive Director Ann Costello have been visionaries in
reducing health disparities and improving the quality of life for people with
different abilities. They have been consistent and outspoken in their
commitment to the physical and social-emotional health of those with
intellectual disabilities. We thank them for their leadership, partnership and
passion for making health care more equitable for our population."
Special Olympics Health, made possible by the Golisano Foundation, and in the
United States in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, is creating a world where people with intellectual disabilities
have every opportunity to be healthy and can take full advantage of the same
health programs and services available to people without intellectual
disabilities. Special Olympics has provided 2.5 million free health screenings
in 146 countries and trained nearly 350,000 healthcare professionals. The
organization is investing in a life-span approach, serving as health partners
for every person with an intellectual disability throughout their life.
About Special Olympics
Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination
against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all
people through the power of sport and programming in education, health and
leadership. With more than six million athletes and Special Olympics Unified
Sports® partners in over 190 countries and territories
(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3292452-1&h=2854419067&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.specialolympics.org%2Fprograms&a=190+countries+and+territories) and more than one million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers
more than 30 Olympic-type sports(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3292452-1&h=2977797715&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.specialolympics.org%2Four-work%2Fsports%2Fsports-offered&a=more+than+30+Olympic-type+sports) and over 100,000 Games and competitions
(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3292452-1&h=883370142&u=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.specialolympics.org%2Fgovernance%2Freach-report%3F_ga%3D2.144019637.1614511217.1578951641-1014708607.1578951641&a=100%2C000+Games+and+competitions) every year. Engage with us on: Twitter(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3292452-1&h=4234566297&u=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FSpecialOlympics&a=Twitter%2C),
Facebook(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3292452-1&h=692433163&u=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2FSpecialOlympics%2F&a=Facebook), YouTube(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3292452-1&h=3135169326&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fchannel%2FUCbgL_cannhXClCH6OKNpbJg&a=YouTube), Instagram(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3292452-1&h=3913312967&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fspecialolympics%2F&a=Instagram), LinkedIn(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3292452-1&h=3101666142&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fspecial-olympics%2Fmycompany%2F&a=LinkedIn) and our blog on Medium(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3292452-1&h=2734844650&u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fspecialolympics&a=our+blog+on+Medium). Learn more at www.SpecialOlympics.org.
About Tom Golisano and the Golisano Foundation
Tom Golisano(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3292452-1&h=827257601&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.golisanofoundation.org%2FIndex.aspx&a=Tom+Golisano) — entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader — is the founder and
chairman of the board of Paychex, Inc., a leading national provider of payroll,
human resource, and benefit outsourcing solutions with more than 14,000
employees and 100 office locations nationwide serving more than a half-million
small and medium-sized businesses. Tom's vision, perseverance, and action have
left an indelible mark on a broad spectrum of issues that touch our lives – in
business, healthcare, education, voter policies, politics, and tax reform. His
personal philanthropic contributions to hospitals, educational institutions,
and other organizations exceed $330 million. A fierce advocate for dignity and
inclusion, Tom Golisano applied his pioneering spirit to establish the Golisano
Foundation(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3292452-1&h=2315799012&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.golisanofoundation.org%2FIndex.aspx&a=Golisano+Foundation) to help make the world a better place for people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities. Founded in 1985, the Golisano Foundation is now one
of the largest private foundations in the United States devoted exclusively to
supporting programs for people with intellectual and developmental
disabilities. With $45 million in gross assets, it awards more than $2 million
in grants annually "Imagining the Possibilities," advocating for families,
fighting for their dignity, and giving people with IDD the opportunity to
thrive in their communities.
SOURCE: Special Olympics
CONTACT: Christy Weir, Special Olympics, Phone: +1 202-738-8511, E-mail
address: cweir@specialolympics.org; Jean Dalmath, Golisano Foundation, Phone:
+1 585-755-6911, E-mail address: jdalmath@dalmath.com
本プレスリリースは発表元が入力した原稿をそのまま掲載しております。また、プレスリリースへのお問い合わせは発表元に直接お願いいたします。
このプレスリリースには、報道機関向けの情報があります。
プレス会員登録を行うと、広報担当者の連絡先や、イベント・記者会見の情報など、報道機関だけに公開する情報が閲覧できるようになります。