Special Olympics recently instituted the Golisano Global Health Leadership Awards to recognize the organizations that have made the most meaningful contributions to health care services for people with intellectual disabilities around the world. The awards take their name from the founder of Paychex, B. Thomas Golisano, who created The Golisano Foundation to serve people with developmental disabilities.
The first seven recipients of the award were recognized in Schaldming, Austria, during the 2017 Special Olympics Winter World Games. These recipients have all forged essential and unprecedented services for people with intellectual disabilities, especially through the Special Olympics Healthy Communities initiative. Since 2012, this initiative has brought year-round access to care in more than 80 communities. With the help of reward recipients, Special Olympics is on track to expanding this number to 100 communities by 2020.
Individuals can learn more about the award and the seven organizations that received it online at SpecialOlympics.org.