Special Olympics Leader Calls for 'Department of Development and Service'

December 04, 2008

Special Olympics Leader Calls for 'Department of Development and Service'

Since Barack Obama was elected, there’s been a drumbeat of encouragement for him to develop a new government role for charity — a cabinet-level position to promote the arts or a new White House office to support philanthropy.

Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics and a member of the Kennedy family, is going one step further, calling for the creation of a U.S. Department of Development and Service. Mr. Shriver is the son of Sargent Shriver, who helped form the Peace Corps, and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who established Special Olympics.

“Today, there’s no national voice inviting Americans to serve humanitarian interests around the world and no clear strategy for promoting democracy, economic development, health, education, and human rights,” he writes in The Washington Post.

“More than ever, citizen groups, philanthropies, businesses, and faith-based organizations are willing to do more to promote basic education for all, opportunity for women and girls, inclusion for those with disabilities, and peace. More than ever, the ability exists to eradicate age old diseases of the body like malaria and age old diseases of the spirit like fear and intolerance. With Obama’s inspirational power, the response to a presidential call would be monumental,” he writes.

What do you think of Mr. Shriver’s proposal? Click on the comments box below to add your thoughts.

— Ian Wilhelm

Comments

I appreciate Mr. Shriver’s passion and his background & tradition in community service. That said, I would rather not see government grow even bigger than it already is. Also, if we need the government to “invite Americans to serve humanitarian interests around the world,” we’re in worse shape as a country than even the economic recession would suggest.

— Olivia Dec 4, 01:50 PM #
Well said!

— Richard S. Thill Dec 4, 02:23 PM #
May be some people don’t recall the days when the words: “I’m from Washington, DC and I’m here to help you” were very ironic. I think nonprofits need to do more to help themselves and not look to the government for a hand out.

— Philanthro Joe Dec 4, 02:33 PM #
I have no problem with more organization to bring a more focused effort to various issues that face the world. Further, I would urge the new President to use his office to advocate for enhanced engagement of the citizenry in this.
That said, I am adamently opposed to the recommendation to create a “Department of Development and Service”. The government has shown, time and again, that they are incapable and inept (in many things). This would represent another layer of bureaucracy that would start out innocently but like other similar and well-intentioned initiatives, would morph into a monster generating edicts and (unfunded) mandates.
Great concept until the recommendation for a new Department.

— Kevin O Dec 4, 03:09 PM #
What’s this American obsession with the size of the Government?
Don’t you know that it’s not the size that matters? Small government is no guarantee for…anything.

It’s the adequate resources, clearly stated goals, and, most importantly, the quality of individuals running things that does.

And what is exactly a “small” government for a country of 300 million people, 200 million automobiles, 150 million deadly weapons in private hands, 50 million people with no access to adequate health care, and 100 million people three paychecks away from an
economic catastrophe.

And how come you don’t question the size of gigantic corporations running things? They are, in fact, just as bureacratic and inefficient as equally gigantic enterprises in the old USSR. Except that they have far more power in this country.

At least in the old USSR, those enterprises sent their workers’ kids to summer camps for a month every year, at the company’s expense. Does Wal-Mart?

— Sam Dec 4, 03:17 PM #
I differ in opinion, somewhat, with my namesake above.

As a fundraiser, I am in the business of the voluntary redistribution of wealth. I do not see a need for a government agency interfering with what goes on in this country now.

It is useful to remember that de Tocqueville noted Americans believed that small groups of local citizens can do more to solve local problems than governments can who are far away.

There is a great deal government can do to improve the financial and human resource climate for non profits. Creating a government agency is not, however, one of them.

Sam Prince – the one who
raises money to hire lawyers for poor people.

— Sam Prince Dec 4, 03:25 PM #
My experience with government is different, and happier, from that expressed in earlier comments. But that’s not really the point here.

The point is to consider the possibility that the federal government could play a positive role in extending and expanding the ways Americans serve their communities, our society, and people around the world. I think the answer is definitely “yes”.

I’m not sure about a “Department” — at least not to start with. But someone with stature, a competent group of advisors from across the spectrum of community service and philanthropy, and an energetic staff could bring positive energy to this worthwhile goal.

The IRS does its job of monitoring tax-exempt status and facilitating accountability through disclosure pretty well considering its resource limits. But that’s not the whole of the job. A modest effort to do more would be welcome.

— Putnam Barber Dec 4, 03:26 PM #
I’m all for The Shriver influence and idea. Is there a more truly philanthropic family in our country? No, not through the ages and as a legacy. There are many wealthy philanthropists but The Kennedy/Shriver history is broad and focuses not only on this country – which some lose sight of – but also internationally, like Special Olympics.

I think an office with dedicated, experienced and broad-thinkig non-profit and corporate executives as well as successful volunteers would help those that want to make a difference realize their dreams and know that not everyone is Oprah nor do they have to be.

Sign me up to Help!!

— Sylvia Dec 4, 03:38 PM #
I think the Obama administration can encourage an increase in philanthropy, and modeling that behavior through their personal giving is a great way to start.

I have a concern that creating a cabinet-level department will result in a bureaucracy that will require more of nonprofits and will not necessarily result in benefits to the missions of the those nonprofit agencies. I would suggest caution when asking for government assistance because we may not be able to afford that assistance.

— annetta Dec 4, 05:14 PM #
Should we be worried that a cabinet level department will take the ‘voluntary’ out of ‘volunteering’?Mandatory volunteerism is not volunteerism

— Tami Dec 4, 07:22 PM #
The thought is appreciated…but having been in Non-profit/Development for years…my concern is that another off-site management office will slow down and complicate progress, take local funds to a national level, and create a new responsibility to financially support this new department.

— Jane Dec 5, 09:51 AM #
There certainly is a lot of energy being exchanged here.

They say that a mind is a terrible thing to waste. I agree, but what’s even sadder is when an educated mind wastes away within a disabled body, and no one helps because they’re too busy debating whether the help should come from the public or private sector.

Is anyone willing or able to connect me with the Kennedy/Shriver family?

As a Kennedy of long-gone descent, I am not privy to the wealth enjoyed by “the family”, but I could certainly use their help.

I am the disabled widow of a Vietnam War Vet, and am now 2 months behind on my mortgage. My savings are gone, and the Social Security’s Widows benefit application process will be too late to save me from becoming homeless. I’m 51 years old and have never been late on my mortgage in my adult life. But with no steady income and no more savings, I’m about to become just another uncounted statistic among the homeless when my property is auctioned out from under me.

Please put me in touch with them, or vice versa. Or, on the chance they may view me as a “distant relative in search of a hand-out”, perhaps one of you will ‘volunteer’ to help move me and my lap-top to the nearest slum.

Thanks in advance,
Terrice Carrol Kennedy-Strunk
MorganTheCelt@msn.com
928-468-0078

— Terrice Kennedy Dec 7, 10:18 PM #
A government department is not in a position to help increae philanthropy. Encouraging philanthropy requires long term relationships. Government officials want instant success and their attitudes are often a turn-off to donors and prospective donors. As committed as the Shriver family is, Special Olypmics could have been extraordinarily more successful if its many separate organizations had long term passionate volunteer leadership who gave money, not just their name.

— Susan F. Rice Dec 8, 12:43 AM #
Fullhearted agreement!

— Carlos Dec 8, 08:15 AM #
To those of you who think the government bungles everything it tries, think again. Think Social Security, Medicare, Peace Corps, Head Start, Job Corps, etc., etc. I would welcome a new department such as Mr. Shriver suggests. I learned almost all I know and got my abiding sense of service from working for his father in the 60s, and I say “bring it on!”

— Tomas Dec 8, 08:43 AM #
Well, if not a government department, maybe at least a bully pulpit. Once upon a time there was a position known as Surgeon General. It carried at least moral authority and trust with the American people and called upon individuals and institutions to do the right things in the interests of public health. The SG was expected to know the science, be an effective communicator, and to be able to mobilize individuals and institutions to personal and collective action. In recent years this position has been considerably weakened.

I could see the need and opportunity here for a strong leader and advocate in meaningful public and community service. There are lots of non-profits and voluntary efforts that though worthy in intent, may not be achieving worthwhile results, and, thus wasting resources.

— Stephen Corbin Dec 8, 03:37 PM #
AS OF A FRIEND OF TIM SHRIVER HE HAS GOOD IDER FOR IT

— Peter fleming Dec 12, 08:03 PM #

Commenting is closed for this article.

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