Eunice Kennedy Shriver Dies

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of President John F. Kennedy and founder of the Special Olympics, died Tuesday.

She was 88.

"We are tremendously grateful for the extreme outpouring of support and prayer from the public as we honor our beloved founder," said Special Olympics President and COO Brady Lunn. "Today we celebrate the life of a woman who had the vision to create our movement. It is an enormous loss, but I know we can rest assured that her legacy will live on through her family, friends and the millions of people around the world who she touched and transformed."

Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968. Since then it has grown from a few hundred athletes to nearly 3.1 million, and provides year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs.

For more, visit Special Olympics.org and
CNN.com.

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Statement from President Obama:

Michelle and I were deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

Eunice was many things to many people: a mother who inspired her children to serve others; a wife who supported her husband Sargent in the Peace Corps and in politics; and a sister to her siblings, including brothers John, Robert, and Edward. But above all, she will be remembered as the founder of the Special Olympics, as a champion for people with intellectual disabilities, and as an extraordinary woman who, as much as anyone, taught our nation – and our world – that no physical or mental barrier can restrain the power of the human spirit.

Her leadership greatly enriched the lives of Special Olympians throughout the world, who have experienced the pride and joy of competition and achievement thanks to her vision. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sargent; their children Robert, Maria, Timothy, Mark, and Anthony; and the entire Kennedy family.

Emailed from The White House
Office of the Press Secretary