Timothy Shriver

Timothy Perry Shriver was born on August 29, 1959, in Boston, Massachusetts. He is an American activist focused on disability rights, a film producer, and a former educator. Since 1996, he has served as the Chairman of the Special Olympics and is the founder of UNITE.

Parentage and Family Background:

Shriver is a member of the prominent Shriver and Kennedy families. He is the third child of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who founded the Special Olympics, and Sargent Shriver, who was a diplomat and a key figure in founding the Peace Corps. His maternal relatives include President John F. Kennedy, as Eunice Kennedy Shriver was his younger sister. His paternal ancestor, David Shriver, was a delegate of Frederick County, Maryland, who signed the Maryland Constitution and Bill of Rights in 1776.

Education:

Shriver attended St. Albans School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1981. He obtained a Master of Arts in religion and religious education from The Catholic University of America in 1988 and completed a Ph.D. in education from the University of Connecticut in 1996. He participated in the Global Leaders for Tomorrow program conducted by the World Economic Forum in 1997.

Career:

Shriver spent approximately 15 years working in public education, including special education. His roles included teaching at a high school in the New Haven, Connecticut public school system and serving as a counselor and teacher within the University of Connecticut’s Upward Bound program for disadvantaged youth. He was a Fellow at the Yale Child Study Center's School Development Program and contributed to establishing the Social Development Project in New Haven public schools. Additionally, he helped create the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Shriver's involvement in media extends to production. He was an executive producer for the film "The Ringer" and a co-producer for the film "Amistad" and "The Loretta Claiborne Story." His production credits also include work with major broadcasters such as ABC, NBC, and TNT.

He serves as a board member of Malaria No More, a nonprofit organization launched at the 2006 White House Summit aiming to eliminate malaria-related deaths. As Chairman of the Special Olympics, he has led campaigns against discrimination and the mocking of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Notably, he has spoken out against the use of the "R word," advocating for respect and inclusion.

In 2008, Shriver and supporters called for a boycott of the film "Tropic Thunder," because of its portrayal of people with mental disabilities. He argued that such depictions perpetuate stereotypes and contribute to social exclusion.

He authored a memoir titled "Fully Alive: Discovering What Matters Most," published in 2014 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Recently, Shriver stepped down as CEO of the Special Olympics to focus on establishing UNITE, a national initiative for fostering unity and collaborative problem-solving among Americans.

Activism and Public Engagement:

Shriver’s activism includes campaigns against derogatory language and representation of individuals with disabilities in media. He has been involved with initiatives such as the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Challenge, created with his brother Anthony Shriver, to promote acceptance for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Personal Life:

He married Linda S. Potter on May 31, 1986, at Dahlgren Chapel on the Georgetown University campus. They reside in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The couple has five children: Sophia Rose "Rosie" Shriver Newbert, Timothy "Timbo" Perry Shriver Jr., Samuel "Sam" Kennedy Shriver, Kathleen Frances Shriver, and Caroline Elizabeth Shriver.

Linda Potter descends from notable families, including the Russell, Pyne, and Rutherfurd lineages, with connections to prominent historical figures and financiers.

Honors and Awards:

Shriver has received multiple honorary degrees from institutions including Georgetown University (2022), Fordham University (2019), and the University of Connecticut, among others. His awards include the Medal of the City of Athens, Greece, the Connecticut Citizen of the Year (1995), and the Walter Camp "Distinguished American" award (2015).

Board Memberships:

He has served on several boards, including the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the Council on Foreign Relations, and various educational and social organizations.

Further details:

Shriver’s siblings include Maria Owings Shriver, Mark Kennedy Shriver, Robert Sargent Shriver III, and Anthony Paul Kennedy Shriver.

Published Works:

Shriver's memoir, "Fully Alive: Discovering What Matters Most," was published in 2014.