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Special Olympics NorCal Athlete Leaders joined staff and chaperones to travel to Washington D.C. in early February as a part of #SOHillDay. The annual advocacy effort brings together delegates from across the country to meet with their respective Members of Congress at the Capitol, share the impacts of Special Olympics, and ask for continued federal funding in Schools and Health.

Special Olympics NorCal’s delegation included Athlete Leaders Jennifer and Cristhian; Cristhian’s mother; staff members Paul and Ilisa; and Athlete Leader Evan, who attended last year and was asked to assist Special Olympics International’s Government Relations team.

The three-day trip was packed with activities, including 17 meetings with Congressional offices, tours of the U.S. Capitol, witnessing the House in session from the gallery, seeing the White House, socializing with athletes from across the U.S., visiting museums, meeting Special Olympics Chair Tim Shriver, and sampling some great D.C. restaurants.  

“My experience in Washington D.C. was amazing because it was my first time going to the East Coast and my first time at Capitol Hill Day in person,” said Cristhian. “My favorite parts were going to museums, trying their food, and meeting Tim Shriver for the first time. For me, it means helping people and representing the Hispanic community that speak Spanish.”

“It was amazing and the best experience,” said Jennifer. “My favorite parts were getting to talk with Congress and I got to meet Miss America.”

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Matthew Freeman (left) and Special Olympics friends

Matthew Freeman has danced with a legend.

The Santa Cruz-area athlete has been involved with Special Olympics in California for more than 50 years and has compiled an incredible 456 medals. Yet his favorite memory isn’t from on the field or the court.

“I danced with Eunice Kennedy Shriver,” Matthew said, reminiscing about the time he met the Special Olympics founder. “I got to meet all the movie stars down there and I got to meet Eunice personally.”

Matthew is referring to the Special Olympics California Summer Games held at the UCLA campus in 1990, when Special Olympics Northern California and Special Olympics Southern California were still combined into one large chapter. Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver visited the Games and met a younger Matthew, who still cherishes the moment today.

More than 30 years later, Matthew has competed in eight different sports and also serves as a volunteer coach for Special Olympics. He participates in the Torch Run and recently became an Athlete Leader to help bring new athletes into the program. He says that Special Olympics has not only changed his life, but also the lives of his family, including his niece who became a Special Olympics coach.

Matthew’s Special Olympics journey has been packed full of memories and life lessons – and what’s most important to him is passing that knowledge on to younger athletes.

“I get to pass my experience on to new athletes,” he said. “That’s what ‘Special’ means to me.”