Families

Family Support Network

Families are the most powerful and valuable natural resource available to Special Olympics. Families serve Special Olympics by reaching out to new athletes, coaching, transporting, raising funds, officiating, chaperoning and training other volunteers. Family members* also make energetic and enthusiastic goodwill ambassadors because they know first-hand the benefits and joys of being part of Special Olympics.

Special Olympics can provide those family members with a sense of pride in their athlete, a sense of accomplishment through sports, and the hope of an exciting and bright future for the individual as an athlete and citizen in any community. Additionally, Special Olympics can provide support and opportunities for sharing of challenges and accomplishments among family members.

Special Olympics strives to involve families in activities and to encourage them to share in the joy that comes from such participation. At the national level, the Family Support Network provides a framework to support local programs involving families in the Special Olympics movement.

Through Special Olympics, more than 2.5 million athletes — and their families (Read about some of our athletes and their families in the Meet our Families section) — are discovering that a bright future lies ahead. Special Olympics Families, funded through the generous contributions of Kim Samuel Johnson and the Samuel Family Foundation, brings your family a variety of ways you can become more supported, connected, honored and knowledgeable.

* A Special Olympics family member is a husband, wife, partner of an athlete, a blood/legal relative of the athlete, or an individual who serves as the athlete's legal guardian, foster parent or caregiver.

For the past six years, Kenya's Margaret Mbithi has been involved with Special Olympics Kenya on behalf of her nephew, 25-year-old Salim Twalib, who competes in the 400m and 200m athletic events. Active in her community and readily addressing the topic of people with intellectual disabilities, Mbithi has served as a coach and an inspiring leader for Special Olympics athletes. In 2003 she became a Global Family Leader and attended the 2003 World Games in Dublin, Ireland. As a Global Family Leader, Mbithi spent time traveling around Africa talking with families about Special Olympics, working to change their attitudes about people with intellectual disabilities. Mbithi used the fact that her students won a gold and silver medal at the 2003 World Games, as a recruitment tool to bring more athletes into her program, and to increase awareness among families of the importance of supporting their athletes. Following her role as a Global Family Leader, Mbithi plans to continue coaching and participating in sports activities, as well as continuing her work of recruiting more families into Special Olympics.