The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation
Senator
Edward M. Kennedy, President
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Executive Vice-President
The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation, established in 1946 by
Ambassador and Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy, honors their eldest son who
was killed in World War II. The Foundation has two major objectives:
to improve the way society deals with its citizens who have mental
retardation (intellectual disabilities), and to help identify and disseminate ways to prevent the
causes of mental retardation (intellectual disabilities). The guiding strategy of the Foundation
is to use its funds in areas where a multiplier effect can
be achieved through development of innovative models for services
and supports to persons with intellectual disabilities and their families, or for highly selective demonstrations of the prevention of intellectual disabilities. The Foundation operates by providing seed
funding that encourages new methods of service and supports, and
through use of the Foundation's influence to promote public
awareness of the needs of persons with intellectual
disabilities and
their families.
Mission
"The mission of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation is to provide
leadership in the field of mental retardation and service to persons
with mental retardation, both those born and unborn, and their families."
Statement of Philosophy
The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation believes that persons with intellectual disabilities have the ability to live, learn, work, recreate, and worship
like everyone else. We recognize that people with intellectual disabilities may need assistance to do these things.
We believe that families of people with intellectual
disabilities, especially
families of children with intellectual
disabilities, benefit from support
and information to successfully include their family member with mental
retardation (intellectual disabilities) in the everyday activities of their community.
The Foundation works to improve the lives of people with intellectual
disabilities and to prevent the causes of intellectual disabilities.
Goals
- Enhance the quality of life of persons with intellectual
disabilities and
their families.
- Provide seed funding to capitalize on Federal and/or State
or Local spending on behalf of persons with intellectual disabilities and their families by funding initiatives that evolve beyond
where existing programs are going, and do not duplicate public efforts.
- Increase professional and public awareness of the needs of persons
with intellectual disabilities and their families.
- Work to reduce the incidence of intellectual disabilities.