Anthony Shriver

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Anthony Kennedy Shriver (born July 20, 1965, in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American activist for people with intellectual disabilities. In 1989, he founded Best Buddies International, an international organization that helps people with intellectual disabilities to find employment and social opportunities.^[1]

Early life and education

The fifth of five children and a member of the Kennedy family, he was born to father, Sargent Shriver, a Democratic politician and activist, and mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver (née Kennedy), who founded the Special Olympics in 1968.

He graduated from the Georgetown Preparatory School, North Bethesda, Maryland; he then attended Brown University before transferring to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., from which he graduated in 1988 with a double major in theology and history.

Career

Shriver is the Founder and Chairman of Best Buddies International a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization which he created in 1989 dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.^[2] Recognizing the tremendous volunteer potential of university students, Anthony first inspired his college peers to personally collaborate in expanding the realm of opportunities that persons with intellectual disabilities should experience.

Today, through Anthony’s stewardship and entrepreneurial spirit, Best Buddies® has grown into a leading nonprofit entity with increasing international reach across six continents; establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Politics

As a member of a prominent political family, Shriver is often mentioned as a potential candidate for elected office. In 2005, he considered running for Governor of Florida in the 2006 election.^[3] He is considering a run for Governor of Florida in the 2010 election.^[4]

Personal life

Shriver married Alina (née Mojica^{[clarification needed]}) Shriver (born January 5, 1965, in Havana, Cuba)^{[5][clarification needed]} on July 2, 1993, in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and they have five children:^[6]

• Teddy Shriver (b. September 4, 1988 — adopted from wife's previous marriage)
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver II (b. January 4, 1994)
• Francesca Maria Shriver (b. December 13, 1994)
• Carolina Fitzgerald Kennedy Shriver (b. June 28, 2001)
• Joseph Patrick Kennedy Shriver (b. July 1, 2009)

They currently reside in Miami Beach, Florida.^[7]

References

External links

• bestbuddies.org, Best Buddies International official website
• Profile by Betsy J. Rosenblatt^{[clarification needed]}