Barnabas Health Named Newest Partner Of 2014 Special Olympics USA Games

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Organizing Committee of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games today announced Barnabas Health as the newest Partner of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games. Barnabas Health will be the Presenting Sponsor of the Games' Family Programs, welcoming the thousands of family members from throughout the U.S. expected to attend the Games.

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Barnabas Health will provide families with hospitality centers, information, and will play host to various special events. Barnabas Health is also a Contributing Sponsor for Special Olympics' first-ever Healthy Young Athletes program, designed to assist families of future Special Olympics athletes (ages 2 – 7) to meet the challenges they face in identifying their child's medical needs through free educational programs, medical screenings, and family consultations.

"Barnabas Health is excited to be a Presenting Sponsor of Family Programs for the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games. As New Jersey's largest healthcare system, we are proud to contribute the expertise of our physicians and employees to the success of the programs for families and healthy young athletes," said Barry H. Ostrowsky, President and Chief Executive Officer, Barnabas Health.

Special Olympics provides families with a support network and the chance to cheer with pride. One family that knows first-hand the remarkable difference Special Olympics can make in the life of an athlete is the McAuliffe family of Cranford, NJ.

The heart of "Team McAuliffe" is fourteen-year-old athlete Brian, who competes in soccer, basketball, swimming, and track. Dad, Bob, coaches Brian's basketball team, and sisters Erin and Kelly volunteer with their brother's Special Olympics track and basketball teams.

"Special Olympics has been part of our lives now for the past six years since Brian was first eligible to participate. It has provided for Brian the stage to be able to express himself, to compete, make friends and an outlet to be successful and excel. Children will be identified with academics, some may play an instrument, Brian is an athlete and Special Olympics is a big part of his identity. It is his stage and the place he outshines a family of athletes." Bob McAuliffe added "Special Olympics brings a sense of perspective about what is good about athletics and the spirit of competition. Seeing Brian being able to compete with his friends and against his competitors and the smiles on their faces is a humbling and gratifying experience."

The 2014 Special Olympics USA Games will take place at sporting venues throughout New Jersey, June 14 through June 21. More than 3,500 Special Olympics athletes from all 50 states and the District of Columbia will compete in 17 sports. An estimated 10,000 volunteers as well as 50,000 additional spectators will be in attendance.

Learn more about the Games at 2014specialolympics.org. Follow the Games at Facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsUSAGames

Barnabas Health is the largest not-for-profit integrated health care delivery system in New Jersey and one of the largest in the nation, with more than two million patient visits and delivery of more than 17,600 babies annually. The system includes six acute care hospitals, two children's hospitals, a freestanding behavioral health center, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state's largest behavioral health network and comprehensive homecare and hospice programs. Barnabas Health includes 18,200 employees, (second largest private employer in NJ) and 4,600 physicians (one-fifth of the actively practicing physicians in NJ). For more information, visit www.barnabashealth.org.

Media Contacts:
Special Olympics
Amie Dugan
(407) 401-9209
[email protected]

Barnabas Health
Ellen Greene
(973) 322-4018
[email protected]

SOURCE 2014 Special Olympics USA Games