Special Olympics Team USA proudly announces the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) as the newest Official Sponsor of the 2013 team!

AFT is not new to Special Olympics Team USA however: their support includes the last four Special Olympics World Games, beginning with the 2007 Summer Games in Ireland, the 2009 Winter Games in Idaho, the 2011 Summer Games in Greece, and now these Winter Games in Korea. AFT also hosted the Volunteer Recognition Party of the 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games in Nebraska.

For these Games, AFT is serving as the Presenting Sponsor of the team’s send-off and homecoming celebrations, which will be held in Los Angles, California.

“The continued support of AFT speaks to the commitment educators and AFT have to ensure that all student-athletes have the opportunity to reach their full potential,” said Chris Hahn, Head of Delegation for Special Olympics Team USA. Hahn added “The lessons learned through sport help our athletes gain the self-confidence and skills necessary to be productive and accepted members of their schools, families and communities, and AFT understands the important role Special Olympics plays in the development of students.”

The financial support of Special Olympics Team USA’s official sponsors helps pay for such critical items as travel, lodging, meals, uniforms, equipment, training and much more, as Special Olympics never charges the athlete or their families a fee for the athlete’s participation.

About AFT:

The American Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, was founded in 1916 and today represents 1.5 million members in more than 3,000 local affiliates nationwide.
Five divisions within the AFT represent the broad spectrum of the AFT’s membership: pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; and nurses and other healthcare professionals. In addition, the AFT represents approximately 80,000 early childhood educators and nearly 250,000 retiree members.

Many well-known Americans have been AFT members, including John Dewey, Albert Einstein, Hubert Humphrey, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt, Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, former Senate Majority Leader and Ambassador to Japan Mike Mansfield, former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, and former United Nations Under-Secretary and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ralph Bunche.