Penn Quarter in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Eunice Kennedy Shriver

The Extra Mile

— Points of Light Volunteer Pathway —

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 28, 2015

1. Eunice Kennedy Shriver Marker

Inscription. When Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics in 1968, she envisioned a program of athletic competition for people with mental and developmental disabilities that sidelined prejudice and substituted opportunity and understanding. Through her advocacy, she has brought to millions of lives what all people deserve: A chance to experience self-worth, a chance to connect with their fellow man, a chance to live without walls.

“Special Olympics athletes are spokespersons for freedom itself — they ask for freedom to contribute, the freedom to belong, the freedom to contribute, the freedom to have a chance. And, of all values that unite and inspire us to seek a better world, no value holds a higher price than the value of freedom.”

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Women. In addition, it is included in the D.C. - Points of Light Volunteer Pathway series list.

Location. 38° 53.905′ N, 77° 1.957′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in the Penn Quarter. Marker is on G Street Northwest west of 14th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1405 G Street Northwest, Washington DC 20005, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Juliette Gordon Low (a few steps from this marker); Mary Church Terrell (a few steps from this marker); Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929 - 1968 (within shouting distance of this marker); Helen Keller 1880 - 1969 (within shouting distance of this marker); Cesar Chavez (within shouting distance of this marker); W. D. Boyce 1858 - 1929 (within shouting distance of this marker); Melvin Jones (within shouting distance of this marker); Ballington and Maud Booth (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Also see . . . Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Points of Light. (Submitted on December 31, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 28, 2015

2. Eunice Kennedy Shriver Marker

Eunice Kennedy Shriver image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, December 28, 2015

3. Eunice Kennedy Shriver

This 2009 portrait of Eunice Kennedy Shriver by David Lenz hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC.

“Eunice Kennedy Shriver was the creative force and organizer of Special Olympics, Inc., a nonprofit charitable organization that provides training and competition in Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. In 1962 she established a summer day camp at her home that became the basis for Special Olympics. In 1968 the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, working with the Chicago Park District, organized the First International Special Olympics Summer Games. Currently, Special Olympics serves more than 4 million children and adults from nearly 170 countries.

David Lenz was commissioned to paint this portrait as part of the first prize in NPG's inaugural Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. Lenz embraced the idea of making a portrait of Eunice Shriver that would also include five persons with intellectual disabilities who have been involved in Special Olympics and in the Best Buddies program: (left to right) Airika Straka, Katie Meade, Andy Leonard, Loretta Claiborne, and Marty Sheets.” — National Portrait Gallery

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 31, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 476 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 31, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.