CLERMONT, Fla., Sept. 6, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Special Olympics Florida today announced that Susan O'Day is the recipient of the 2016 Eunice Kennedy Shriver Award. O'Day is the Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer for the Walt Disney Company.
"Susan exemplifies the Special Olympics mission and the spirit of Eunice Kennedy Shriver," said Sherry Wheelock, President and CEO of Special Olympics Florida. "Susan and Disney are tremendous supporters of inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities and the power of sports to break barriers and unite people of all abilities."
O'Day will be recognized with the award at the Special Olympics Florida Champions' Gala. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Award from Special Olympics Florida is presented to a person or company who has played a role in furthering the vision of the charity's founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Ms. Shriver was a pioneer in the worldwide struggle for rights and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities.
Since 2012, O'Day created and served as co-chair for the Special Olympics Florida Invitational Golf Tournament, raising more than $3.5 million to benefit the organization. During her years of involvement, the number of Special Olympics Florida athletes served across the state has grown by 62 percent to more than 35,000 annually.
"I'm incredibly honored to receive this award on behalf of The Walt Disney Company." Said Susan. "I have admired the Special Olympics and its support of athletes and families with special needs since its founding by one of my heroes, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. It is a pleasure to work with such an inspirational organization, and I look forward to our continued partnership."
What: Special Olympics Florida Champions' Gala
Where: Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort
10100 Dream Tree Boulevard
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. 32836
When: October 29, 2016, 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
RSVP: For more information or to reserve tickets, contact Vanessa Maceira at vanessamaceira@sofl.org or 407-271-3046.
About Special Olympics Florida:
Special Olympics Florida provides year-round sports training, competition, and health services to children and adults with intellectual disabilities, at no cost to the athletes or their caregivers, as a means to achieve physical fitness, self-esteem, socialization skills, and the life skills necessary to be productive, respected, and contributing members of their communities. To learn more, visit www.specialolympicsflorida.org.
The Walt Disney Company and Special Olympics:
The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media enterprise with the following business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media. Disney has long supported Special Olympics. As Special Olympics Games Sponsor and Founding Champion of the LA2015 World Games, Disney celebrates the power of sports to promote social inclusion, and acceptance by uniting people with and without intellectual disabilities. In 2013, Disney and ESPN announced a global two-year, multi-million dollar financial and in-kind investment supporting the Special Olympics Unified Sports initiative. ESPN, the official broadcaster of the LA2015 Special Olympics World Games and media partner of the Unified Relay Across America, is also the global presenting sponsor Special Olympics Unified Sports. Being a good corporate citizen is a time-honored Disney tradition. Through contributions, collaborations with local organizations, in-kind gifts and volunteering, Disney helps to brighten the lives of kids and families in need and strengthen communities around the world. For more information visit, TheWaltDisneyCompany.com/Citizenship or Twitter.com/CitizenDisney.
About Susan O'Day:
As Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer for The Walt Disney Company, Susan leads Disney Technology Solutions and Services, delivering technology capabilities that enable business segment strategies while achieving enterprise efficiency and promoting cross-company collaborative innovation.
Susan joined Disney in 2008 from the global biopharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb, where she served as Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Global Shared Services. In that role, she oversaw the company's information management, global technology strategy, which included enterprise programs that significantly improved and streamlined operations and processes.
Susan began her career at Florida-based transportation company CSX Corporation where she spent 11 years, ultimately becoming Assistant Vice President of Telecommunications. At CSX Corporation, she led the railroad division in telecommunications and computer operations, research and application development.
Susan holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from The College of William and Mary and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from St. Lawrence University. She is also a proud graduate and serves as an Emeritus Trustee for Miss Hall's School in Pittsfield, MA. Susan lives in Los Angeles, CA and enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle.
A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=41320
