Christine Spieth, mother of Preston Hollow neighbor and professional golfer Jordan Spieth, has joined thousands of people who are opposing proposed budget cuts to the Special Olympics program.
The Trump administration’s budget, released earlier this month, calls for elimination of all $17.6 million in federal funding for the Special Olympics. The competition, started in 1968, runs programs for more than 5 million athletes in more than 170 countries, according to its website.
Christine Spieth tweeted yesterday following a congressional hearing on the topic that Ellie Spieth, Jordan’s sister who was born with special needs, “lives for these medals,” referring to the Special Olympics medals.
“What our administration is proposing by cutting Special Olympics is a travesty,” she added.
https://twitter.com/jsekiddos/status/1110713846556225537During the congressional hearing, Democratic members of the committee pressed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on the funding cut.
“We had to make some difficult decisions with this budget,” DeVos said. She added that the Special Olympics is an “awesome organization” that has major support from the philanthropic section.
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Several political figures, sports figures and family members of people with special needs have spoken out about the budget cuts. Some ESPN personalities called on DeVos to watch a Special Olympics event to truly understand the importance of the program.
Jordan Spieth, a Jesuit Dallas alum, has been quiet on Twitter about the proposed budget cuts. His foundation, the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation, supports people with special needs, the military and junior golfers.
