Convent of the Sacred Heart has partnered with Special Olympic to make participation in physically demanding Olympic sports possible for both children and adults despite their physical or mental conditions. In order to help participants prepare for this year’s regional event in Connecticut, Sacred Heart hosted a group of athletes from the Catholic Guardian and Home Services Bureau.
The group consisted of 50 developmentally disabled athletes from various group homes in the Bronx. In addition, there were 22 student volunteers and five faculty volunteers.
Courtesy of GreenwichTime
“The clients come from an urban setting where access to facilities is extremely limited,” Upper School theology teacher Mrs. Bader said. “The athletes and coordinators were very grateful for the use of the grounds and for the energetic and enthusiastic volunteers.
Sacred Heart first became involved with Catholic Guardian last year through the organization’s participation in the social justice component of the Senior Seminar class. The program, as well as the sporting event itself, relates to Goal Three of Sacred Heart’s Goals and Criteria, a social awareness which impels to action.
Not only was the experience beneficial for the athletes, but also enriching for the students who volunteered.
“The program provided an opportunity for our students to meaningfully engage in activities with a diverse population and allowed them to share their talents with these athletes,” Mrs. Kerry Bader said.
– Gabrielle Giacomo, Staff Writer
