Celebrating the Special Olympics 50th Anniversary with Ann Costello
In July, I had the honor to travel to Chicago and help celebrate the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics. One of my responsibilities was to interview partners, athletes, and volunteers. While in Chicago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ann Costello. Ann Costello is the Executive Director of the Golisano Foundation and has been working at the Foundation for more than 20 years.
The Golisano Foundation is an organization whose mission is to ensure that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are valued as people who can contribute and be a vital part of their communities — as good students, neighbors and workers.
The founder, Mr. Tom Golisano, has given Special Olympics the largest gift in Special Olympics’ history and also the largest that Mr. Golisano has given to a single organization.
Prior to joining the Golisano Foundation, Ann worked for the United Way in Rochester, NY. “I was working with many organizations in the community that worked with people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Tom Golisano and I connected In 1999 when he was interested in in expanding his Foundation’s work. Almost 20 years later, we hold the same hope for an incredible future for people with ID as we continue to work to break down the barriers to inclusion.”
I asked Ann if she had a Special Olympics story that stood out from all the others. She immediately told me the story of an athlete from the Middle East who competed in the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in South Korea. He practiced on sand because it never snowed in his country. He was able to win a gold medal because he practiced so hard. It’s harder to snowshoe in sand versus snow and he excelled. “No matter what part of the world you are from, everyone has his or her own challenges. By working hard, he brought home the gold for himself and his country,” said Ann.
When I asked Ann what she hopes to see in Special Olympics’ future. Ann responded, “Since 2012, when the Heathy Communities initiative began, Tom and I have seen tremendous progress in health outcomes. The organization, coaches, staff, and athletes all understand the impact of fitness and wellness in order to compete and do your best. This is an area for continued growth for Special Olympics around the world.”
50 years ago, Eunice Kennedy Shriver set forth the idea that all people with ID would be able to live their lives fully included in their communities. As Special Olympics goes into its next 50 years, the leadership of our athletes will show us the way to full inclusion.
