Special Olympics Breaks Ground On Headquarters
Center To Open Next Year In Marlborough
POSTED: 3:17 pm EDT October 1,
2008
UPDATED: 5:57 pm EDT October 1,
2008
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BOSTON -- The Special Olympics of Massachusetts is not being deterred by the economic downturn.NewsCenter 5's Liz Brunner reported that the organization that benefits Bay State residents with intellectual disabilities and their families broke ground Wednesday on a new 25,000-square-foot headquarters in Marlborough.
Special Olympics Breaks Ground On Headquarters"My name is Colin Davidson. I'm a Special Olympics athlete," Davidson said.It was fitting that Davidson, 25, of Shrewsbury, welcomed Massachusetts Special Olympics supporters and other athletes to the training center groundbreaking.He represents the more than 10,000 people with intellectual disabilities who benefit from the work of the Massachusetts Special Olympics.For 15 years, Davidson has been playing a variety of sports and medaling in many of them."I like it a lot. It gives me a lot of confidence. It gives me self-esteem, and it's a really great organization," he said.This organization is about to get even greater with the Yawkey Training Center that is on target to open next year in Marlborough -- a location chosen because it's right in the middle of the state.Half the funds for the $10.8 million project have been raised, but the economic downturn does give Special Olympics leaders pause."It remains to be seen a little bit of the impact that the financial crisis will have. We expect it will have some. We have an obligation to continue the services we provide and do it in the best possible way," said Bob Johnson, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Special Olympics.It is very good news for Melissa Reilly, 22, of Boxborough, who is also a medaling athlete and global messenger for the Special Olympics."This new facility means a lot to us. We really need this building so we can get together and see each other again," she said.
Special Olympics Breaks Ground On Headquarters"My name is Colin Davidson. I'm a Special Olympics athlete," Davidson said.It was fitting that Davidson, 25, of Shrewsbury, welcomed Massachusetts Special Olympics supporters and other athletes to the training center groundbreaking.He represents the more than 10,000 people with intellectual disabilities who benefit from the work of the Massachusetts Special Olympics.For 15 years, Davidson has been playing a variety of sports and medaling in many of them."I like it a lot. It gives me a lot of confidence. It gives me self-esteem, and it's a really great organization," he said.This organization is about to get even greater with the Yawkey Training Center that is on target to open next year in Marlborough -- a location chosen because it's right in the middle of the state.Half the funds for the $10.8 million project have been raised, but the economic downturn does give Special Olympics leaders pause."It remains to be seen a little bit of the impact that the financial crisis will have. We expect it will have some. We have an obligation to continue the services we provide and do it in the best possible way," said Bob Johnson, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Special Olympics.It is very good news for Melissa Reilly, 22, of Boxborough, who is also a medaling athlete and global messenger for the Special Olympics."This new facility means a lot to us. We really need this building so we can get together and see each other again," she said. Copyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
