A Kennedy Family Album

Motivated in part by the tragedy that befell her sister Rosemary, Eunice devoted her life to helping children with developmental disabilities.
JOHN LOENGARD / Time & Life Pictures / Getty

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, 1921-2009
Motivated in part by the tragedy that befell her sister Rosemary, Eunice devoted her life to helping children with developmental disabilities. She used her powerful connections to found and develop the Special Olympics, which grew from a competition that hosted 1,000 athletes to a worldwide network that services 3 million people in more than 180 countries.

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