Eunice Kennedy Shriver to Receive Posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award at Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame Ceremony on May 4 in Silver Spring

For Immediate Release: Friday, April 18, 2025

The Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame (MCSHF) will posthumously honor Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, with its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award during its Class of 2025 induction ceremony on Sunday, May 4, at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza, located at 1 Veterans Place in downtown Silver Spring. The event will begin at 4 p.m.

“Eunice Kennedy Shriver changed the world—and her work started right here in Montgomery County,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “What began as a summer camp in her backyard became a global movement that redefined what inclusion means and used sports as a powerful tool for dignity and connection. Honoring her with this first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award is a meaningful tribute, and I want to thank the Shriver family for continuing to carry her vision forward. I also want to congratulate the other inductees being honored this year—athletes and coaches who have made Montgomery County proud—and thank the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame for making sure we don’t lose sight of the people and stories that shape our community.”

Shriver, who launched the first Camp Shriver in 1962 in Maryland, laid the foundation for what would become Special Olympics—a global movement promoting inclusion and empowerment through sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Her son, Mark Shriver, will accept the award on behalf of the Shriver family.

“Our mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, was a pioneer in the worldwide struggle for rights and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities,” said Mark Shriver. “In 1962, she first invited young people with intellectual disabilities to a summer day camp in her backyard right here in Maryland. Known as ‘Camp Shriver,’ that initiative became Special Olympics—the world’s largest sports movement for people with intellectual disabilities. On behalf of my siblings and myself, I am honored to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame at the birthplace of her vision.”

This year’s ceremony will also honor six new inductees into the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame:

• Thea LaFond, Olympic triple jumper and gold medalist
• Oguchi Onyewu, professional soccer player
• Paul Rabil, four-time All-American lacrosse player
• Haley Skarupa, Olympic gold medal-winning ice hockey player
• Al Thomas (posthumous), legendary high school football coach
• Bob Windsor, former NFL star

This marks the Hall of Fame’s sixth class of inductees. Since its establishment, 29 athletes and coaches with connections to Montgomery County have been recognized. In 2024, the Hall of Fame found a permanent home at the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center , operated by Montgomery County Recreation .

“Recognizing disabled athletes and their coaches, including those who participate in Special Olympics, is part of our mission,” said Bob Milloy, chair of the MCSHF Board of Directors. “Our new Lifetime Achievement Award honors those who have made a lasting impact by dedicating their lives to sports. Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s visionary work makes her the ideal first recipient.”

County Executive Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart, and Councilmember Gabe Albornoz are scheduled to speak during the program.

Special Olympics Maryland is a year-round sports organization offering training and competition for more than 25,000 athletes and Unified teammates statewide. Athletes participate in 27 sports at no cost to themselves or their families. In Montgomery County alone, more than 500 athletes take part annually.

“Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s induction into the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame is a well-deserved tribute to her vision of using sports to transform lives,” said Jim Schmutz, president and CEO of Special Olympics Maryland. “Montgomery County played a key role in her mission. At Timberlawn in Rockville, she hosted early camps showcasing the abilities of individuals with intellectual disabilities—laying the groundwork for a movement that has impacted millions.”

Today, Special Olympics operates in more than 200 countries, serving over four million athletes and one million coaches and volunteers. The organization delivers more than 30 Olympic-style sports and hosts nearly 50,000 competitions each year.

For more information about the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame, including past inductees and event details, visit www.MCSHF.org .

Release ID: 25-171
Media Contact: Neil Greenberger 301-445-2348
Categories: Recreation

For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=46906