| The San Diego Golf Academy (SDGA) is teaming | | | | mental disabilities had the greatest unmet needs in all |
| together with the Honolulu Advertiser for the second | | | | of the nation's health care delivery systems, they were |
| year at the annual Swing for the Gold golf tournament | | | | inspired to start a summer day camp for 100 mentally |
| to benefit Special Olympics Hawaii. The event will take | | | | disabled adults and children at their home in Rockville, |
| place on Friday, August 11th at 11.30 a.m. at the Hawaii | | | | MD. |
| Prince Golf Club. Paul Zagnoni, President of SDGA, | | | | The day camp was a huge success, and |
| promises a fun-filled day of golf followed by an | | | | demonstrated that people with mental disabilities could |
| awards dinner celebrating the Honolulu Advertisers | | | | not only participate in a wide range of recreational |
| Sesquicentennial anniversary. | | | | activities, but that they also enjoyed them |
| Swing for Gold is part of Special Olympics Hawaii, | | | | tremendously and benefited greatly from the |
| which conducts a year-round program of physical | | | | experience. As a result, the foundation awarded more |
| training and competition at local, area and chapter | | | | than 80 small grants to organizations throughout the |
| levels. During the Special Olympics athletes compete | | | | USA, enabling them to create similar day camps in |
| at local and area events prior to advancing to the | | | | many communities. |
| chapter level competition. Special Olympics Hawaii | | | | Special Olympics Inc. was originally established in |
| athletes are offered the opportunity to participate and | | | | December 1968, as a non-profit organization, to provide |
| compete in clinics, camps and competitions in the | | | | year-round sports training and athletic competition in a |
| following sports and events: Aquatics, Athletics, | | | | variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults |
| Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Fitness, Power Lifting, | | | | with mental challenges. The program also helps to |
| Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Speed Skating. | | | | foster increased understanding and integration of |
| The story of Special Olympics Inc. begins back in 1946 | | | | people with mental retardation in the general |
| when the Kennedy family founded the Joseph P. | | | | community. All the money raised in Hawaii stays in |
| Kennedy, Jr., Foundation, to honor the memory of | | | | Hawaii to establish and maintain programs for the |
| Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., who was killed in World War II. | | | | thousands of people with mental disabilities that live |
| The foundations mission was to learn how to prevent | | | | throughout the state. |
| mental retardation, and to improve society's treatment | | | | People wishing to support Swing for the Gold golf |
| of people with mental retardation. | | | | tournament can choose to become bronze, silver or |
| In the 1950s Eunice and Robert Sargent Shriver came | | | | gold sponsors, or make a regular donation. The last |
| into the picture; two remarkable individuals who | | | | day for sponsorship is July 21st |
| dedicated their lives to helping people with disabilities. | | | | For more information regarding the tournament, |
| After discovering that people in the United States with | | | | contact Kehau Christian at (808) 943-8808 ext. |