With anything that I do, I try to start with a spirit and lens of thankfulness. . . always. So, especially on this Thanksgiving Day, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every person in our Special Olympics Virginia family, including you.
From the passionate coaches and volunteers to the dedicated fans, supporters, families and of course our inspiring athletes, our inclusion movement is stronger than ever.
I know you’ve never lost sight of why Special Olympics is essential: We transform the lives of athletes with intellectual disabilities through the power of sports. You’ve risen to the moment for our athletes – and in turn, you’ve honored how they rise to the moment on and off the field every single day.
As we gather around our tables today and cherish time with loved ones, it’s impossible to ignore the empty chairs at so many families’ tables around the world. Our hearts ache for the lives of our fellow human beings impacted by war, natural disasters, hate and division – sometimes it can feel like the world is running short on hope.
We need strength and clarity of purpose now more than ever. That’s why I’m especially grateful for the work we do together. Hopeful, joyful, one-of-a-kind communities of dignity like ours that make extraordinary moments possible for athletes:
- The moment an athlete hears their name cheered and celebrated by family, friends, coaches and teammates.
- The moment a team rallies through a challenge and inspires their community to open their hearts to people of all abilities.
- The moment a family sees an athlete nominated for that first leadership position, give that first public speech or become included in a group of friends through sport.
The moments that inspire. The moments that transcend differences. The moments that create a world where each one of us feels included. A world where there are a million different abilities but no disabilities. This is the spirit of Special Olympics.
With my warmest wishes this Thanksgiving,
David Thomason, Special Olympics Virginia President & CEO