For Immediate Release
20 May 2008                            
 

Washington D.C. -- (May 20, 2008) – Today, the Special Olympics International Board of Directors elected J. Brady Lum as President and Chief Operating Officer of Special Olympics. Timothy Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics, introduced Lum to the Board Directors at their meeting in Atlanta, which was hosted by The Coca-Cola Company, a founding partner of Special Olympics.

Lum joins Special Olympics after spending 15 years at The Coca-Cola Company, serving in a variety of senior management positions.  Most recently, he held the position of Vice President and Project Director, Manifesto for Growth, at the company’s worldwide headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.  In this role, he led the integration of the global initiative to recast Coca-Cola’s mission, vision, values, distinctive capabilities, and a global team design to better drive long-term growth and sustainability.  Prior to this position, Lum was Coca-Cola’s Regional General Manager for the Northeast, operating one of the largest business units in North America.  During his tenure at Coca-Cola, Lum obtained valuable experience in regional operations, marketing, strategic planning and integration, change management, and organizational development.

“Brady Lum’s strong and proven experience in establishing sustainable strategic plans, building strong collaborative teams and working within multinational, decentralized businesses will greatly benefit Special Olympics,” said Shriver. “Brady is by all measures an accomplished, successful executive who brings unique personal and professional qualities to the movement that will position us at all levels to grow build communities of acceptance and inclusion for our athletes and their families around the world.”

Lum joins Special Olympics at a time when the organization is experiencing its greatest growth period in its 40-year history. Today, Special Olympics reaches more than 2.8 million athletes in 180 countries.  In 2000, just over 1 million athletes were involved.

“I have unbridled enthusiasm for the challenge ahead as I join Special Olympics,” shared Lum. “Because of my experiences with Coke, I am empathetic with the breadth of the movement and look forward to the opportunity to bring Special Olympics to the next level as it continues to grow tremendously.”

The appointment of Lum comes as The Coca-Cola Company renewed its partnership with Special Olympics. The worldwide sponsorship commitment, which covers the calendar years 2008 through 2011 – including support for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games and the 2011 World Summer Games – consists of cash, in-kind products and services, technical support and marketing and fundraising support for Special Olympics.

Lum’s community involvement has also been extensive. He has served as Chairman of the Board of the national Hands On Network, and, as a Board Member, chaired the Strategic Planning Committee of the recently combined Hands On Network and Points of Light Foundation.  He also serves on the Jefferson Scholars National Selection Committee at the University of Virginia, Diversity Leadership Academy in Atlanta, and the Mead Endowment Committee at the University of Virginia.

Lum is an Honors graduate of the University of Virginia, received a Master’s of Business Administration from the Harvard School of Business, served as a Research Associate at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Kuala Lumpur, and is conversationally fluent in Spanish and Malay.  He and his wife, Jill Morehouse Lum, will relocate to the Washington, D.C., area with their three children.

About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. Through year-round sports training and athletic competition and other related programming for 1.4 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries, Special Olympics has created a model community that celebrates people's diverse gifts. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. There is no cost to participate in Special Olympics. Visit Special Olympics online at www.specialolympics.org

Contact:  Kirsten Seckler
                                                                     Special Olympics
   +1 (202) 715-1147
                                                                                                   kseckler@specialolympics.org