Philatelic News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2002
Stamp Release #02-073
SPECIAL OLYMPICS POSTAGE STAMP UNVEILED AT
THE NATIONAL POSTAL FORUM
Social Awareness Award Presented to Booz Allen Hamilton and AOL
BOSTON - The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the 2003 Special Olympics International Rate postage stamp today at the National Postal Forum in Boston, Mass. The unveiling took place during the Social Awareness Award Luncheon at the Hynes Convention Center.
This stamp, which will be issued in early 2003, continues the tradition of social awareness stamps that have been issued since the 1960s. The Special Olympics stamp will be an international rate stamp intended to help raise awareness about Special Olympics' international year-round sports training and athletic competition program for children and adults with mental retardation. The stamp will be issued in the spring to highlight the upcoming 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games, which will be held June 21-29 in Dublin, Ireland.
Joining Postmaster General John E. Potter for the unveiling were Dr. Timothy P. Shriver, President and CEO for Special Olympics; John F. Walsh, member of the presidentially appointed Postal Service Board of Governors; and Jamie Lazaroff and Kathleen Gibbons, Special Olympics athletes.
In addition to the stamp unveiling Potter presented this year's Social Awareness Awards to representatives of Booz Allen Hamilton and America Online (AOL).
For the past three years, the Postal Service has honored companies or organizations in the mailing industry that show a commitment to their communities by supporting important social causes at its bi-annual National Postal Forum. Many of these causes, such as literacy, philanthropy, breast cancer awareness, AIDS awareness, mentoring and organ and tissue donation, have been featured through the nation's commemorative stamp program.
"I'm pleased that our Social Awareness Awards this year recognize companies that continue to demonstrate their commitment and support for an organization that showcases the athletic skills, courage and dignity of thousands of very special athletes from around the world," said Potter.
"It is a great honor for Special Olympics athletes worldwide to be portrayed on this international stamp by the image of the skilled athlete in victory," said Shriver. "This icon of empowerment represents the voices of our athletes, asking us all to focus on the important gifts in life: the chance to learn that excellence comes from doing one's best, to feel the freedom that comes from overcoming fear, to experience the friendship of a teammate, and to be part of a world where everyone has a chance to be a champion! These are the lessons of the Special Olympics athlete - lessons that the world needs today as urgently as it needs any value or any skill or any message."
"Special Olympics is a truly unique and impactful organization," said Steve Delfin, Director, Community Relations, for Booz Allen Hamilton. "Booz Allen Hamilton is proud to sponsor their various programs that do so much to empower individuals with mental retardation to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society."
"America Online is honored to be one of the recipients of the Postal Service's 2002 Social Awareness Award," said, Denise Perka, from AOL's Corporate Community Relations group.
Special Olympics is an international year-round program of sports training and competition for individuals with mental retardation. More than 1 million athletes in more than 150 countries train and compete in 26 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with mental retardation continuing opportunities to develop fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with other athletes, their families and the community.
The stamp features a computer-generated design by Lance Hidy of Merrimac, Mass. The stamp art captures the enthusiastic and communal spirit of Special Olympics. In the center of stamp, an athlete wearing a medal celebrates by grasping the hands of his fellow competitors and raising them high in the air. The Special Olympics logo is depicted above the athlete's head.
Current U.S. stamps, as well as a free comprehensive catalog, are available toll free by calling 1 800 STAMP-24. In addition, a selection of stamps and other philatelic items are available in the Postal Store at www.usps.com.
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Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits 137 million homes and businesses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $65 billion, it is the world's leading provider of postal services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The Postal Service delivers more than 46 percent of the world's mail volume-some 207 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year-and serves 7 million customers each day at its 40,000 retail locations nationwide.
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