Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Why Eunice Kennedy Shriver Founded Community of Caring

My original concept for Community of Caring was to create school environments in which children with mental retardation would be appreciated for their gifts, and all children would gain the skills to become strong, independent, joyful teenagers, whose decisions would be hopeful, caring, responsible and endowed with a sense of justice and a sense of freedom. Young people would be able to make decisions that would enlarge their capacities to contribute to the goodness of their families, schools, communities and nation.

My hope has always been, through programs such as Community of Caring, Best Buddies and Special Olympics, that young people with mental retardation would be appreciated and valued for the assets that they have, and not measured in terms of the deficits we think they have. I wanted people to realize that every child can learn, every child can accomplish real things, things that give them confidence and hope for the future. This is very different than offering them our pity, along with our low expectations. It requires energy and focus, and commitment to the worth and dignity of every single member of the school community.

Community of Caring is my answer to help schools foster a climate and a culture that allows authentic opportunities for achievement, and for social inclusion in a caring community, as well, for all members of the school community. When Community of Caring schools talk about integrating the core values of caring, respect, responsibility, trust and family into every aspect of school life, these are not empty words. It means that our schools make a real effort to build caring relationships, to structure opportunities to do things together, and to make certain that every person has a real chance for the basic things we all want most in life---a chance for friendships, for accomplishment, for dignity. A chance to live the kind of a life that is worth living.
Sincerely,