Betsy DeVos Proposes to Defund Special Olympics, Portillo’s Donates Money to Help: “It was a natural

Photo Courtesy of Special Olympics Illinois

According to www.usatoday.com, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos proposed cutting $18 million in federal funding that helps pay for Special Olympics programs across the country.

Special Olympics Illinois CEO Dave Breen told www.wifr.com reporters that the state currently receives about $300,000 for the Unified Champion Schools Program, a special olympics program that promotes social inclusion by bringing together young people with and without intellectual disabilities on sports teams.

“The special needs students are kind of put out there as a part of the school just like every other kid. It's all done through athletics because a lot of these kids are competing with each other. That's the whole point of unified sports. It is individuals with and without disabilities competing together,” Breen told reporters.

Special Olympics has the support of local businesses like Portillo's. The Portillo’s restaurant in Normal, Ill. has decided to donate a portion of their March profits to the organization to keep it afloat, according to www.centralillinoisproud.com.

According to the source, local Special Olympics athletes and their families hope the non-profit organization can continue to impact Illinois.

"Special Olympics has always been a part of Bloomington-Normal. The one in Illinois was even headquartered right here. It kind of came about because we have done some fundraisers for them in the past and it is so well-known in the community. It was a natural partnership for us," said Portillo’s general manager Megan Thornton.

According to www.cnn.com, DeVos is standing firm on her 2020 Education Department budget proposal that includes eliminating all grant money for the Special Olympics, arguing that the non-profit does not need federal backing because it can successfully raise private contributions.

Rockford resident Bennie Radford said, “I volunteered with special olympics program all throughout high school and loved every minute of it.” He continued, “I can’t imagine how the participants are feeling. DeVos is cutting funding for people with special needs who may not have an advocate for themselves. It’s disappointing.”

For more information on Special Olympics Illinois, please visit https://www.soill.org/.