Of all the celebrations that take place during the holidays, there is one that will forever stand out to the Special Olympics athletes, youth leaders, supporters and staff who attended. On December 10, 2024, President Joe Biden hosted a dinner titled, “A Christmas for All: Celebration of Unity, America and Special Olympics.” The event recognized the work that Special Olympics, with the support of the Biden administration and Members of Congress, has done to engage U.S. government officials, educators, health professionals, parents, coaches, youth and communities everywhere to not only fight intolerance, but inspire us all to be more inclusive.
For many in attendance, including Hanna Atkinson, the highlight of the evening was the jaw-dropping holiday decorations found throughout The White House.
"My favorite part of visiting was seeing the Christmas decorations!" she shared. Ralph Gemmill agreed with her sharing details of his "dream come true" for family and friends back home.
Kiera Byland joined the evening after traveling from Great Britain and was honored to represent the Special Olympics International Board of Directors.
"I was given an opportunity of a lifetime, so it was all very special. It was a way for me to represent the Board and showcase the skills and knowledge I have learned since becoming an athlete and a leader," she shared.
Claire Potter, who will represent Special Olympics USA by competing in alpine skiing at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, recalls a memorable moment with President Biden.
"My favorite part about the evening at The White House was meeting President Biden. I really appreciated how he took time to talk to each athlete. I loved how he took extra time to talk to me about going to World Games."
The evening held significant meaning for each attendee, often found in the remarks from President Biden, Loretta Claiborne, Chief Inspiration Officer at Special Olympics, and Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman of the Board at Special Olympics.
"I am so proud to have shared this amazing event with my fellow Special Olympics athletes. I believe this evening was a demonstration of what the world can look like when we are all included," shared Renee Manfredi.
There we were in the room, like everyone else, demonstrating unity & shining a light on the message of inclusion. Special Olympics teaches the world that anything is possible & that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are so much more than their disability. We are members of society & we can contribute if given the chance.
Manfredi also had the distinct privilege of sharing one of her many talents during the evening.
"The most exciting part for me was I was invited to sing a song for the evening. So, I not only got to meet the President, I sang a song for the President. I also really loved the song I chose: 'This is Me' from The Greatest Showman. I think this song says so much about who we are at Special Olympics and the movement of inclusion. Standing there before the President is a moment I will never forget. I am overcome with emotion just sharing about it," she said.
For Sam Lara and Kate Gonzalez, the long trip from Southern California was incredibly worth it.
"Our highlight was meeting President Biden and hearing his speech in person while observing the beautiful scenery of the White House. His words about Special Olympics reminded us that our differences should be celebrated, and that we all have something unique to offer, making us stronger together," shared the Unified pair and members of the Global Youth Leadership Council in a written reflection.
That message also resonated with Jay Choi, who shared, "Even though I am capable of doing things on my own, it is not easy to do them on my own. As humans, we need more support from each other."
The presence of Special Olympics on such a large stage offers the organization an invaluable opportunity to share key messages and learnings with the larger community.
Brindi Brittain, a youth leader from Special Olympics Wyoming, hopes "people take away that it is not scary to talk to someone with a disability" and that inclusion can be quite easy.
"I hope that Special Olympics can educate the larger community that individuals with intellectual disabilities are unique and can do whatever they set their mind to with the right support," said Lisa Noble, incoming Chair of the United States Athlete Leadership Council.
Elaina Camacho echoes Noble's words, "I hope Special Olympics teaches the larger community that just because I have an intellectual disability, I do not let it define who I am as a person overall."
Want to learn more about Special Olympics at The White House? Listen to this podcast from Daniel Smorkowski and Wyatt Spaulding.