To grow up in Tim Shriver’s family — populated by senators, ambassadors, best-selling authors, illustrious awardees, a president — one was constantly measured by how fast, how smart, how successful. But through personal experience with his Aunt Rosemary, who had an intellectual disability, Tim and his family gained a priceless lesson in human dignity and unconditional love. “You have to be able to see the dignity in another person, but you can't see that dignity in another person with your head. You have to see it with your heart.”
Join hosts Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson as they welcome Tim to share his inspiring story of faith, leadership and service with our listeners, including:
Special Spotlight: New this season, we highlight a Catholic Charities leader whose work champions a theme of our episode. Anita Hassell, who leads Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Augustine, shares the inspiring program, Camp I Am Special, which has brought a joyful summer camp experience to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in northeast Florida for more than forty years.
Chairman, Special Olympics | Chairman, UNITE | Chairman, CASEL | Best-Selling Author
Tim Shriver is a husband, father, grandfather, educator, and social entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to advancing human dignity. As Chairman of Special Olympics, he drove the largest expansion in its history—growing the movement from one million athletes to over six million athletes in more than 170 countries around the world.
After passing the CEO torch, Tim co-founded UNITE and pioneered the Dignity Index—a groundbreaking tool to help Americans disagree without demonizing each other. Before joining Special Olympics in 1996, Shriver co-founded and currently chairs the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the leading school reform organization in the field of social and emotional learning.
Education: B.A. from Yale University | M.A. from Catholic University | Ed.D. from University of Connecticut
Books: Fully Alive: Discovering What Matters Most (NYT Bestseller) | Co-editor of The Call to Unite: Voices of Hope and Awakening
Films: Executive producer of Amistad, The Loretta Claiborne Story, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Front of the Class, The Ringer and more films that spread hope and connection across differences.
Connect with Tim: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
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CEO, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Augustine
Anita Hassell brings over 30 years of nonprofit leadership experience to her role as CEO, where she has served for the past decade in progressively senior positions. Her career spans program development, human resources, fiscal management, strategic planning and accreditation oversight.
Before moving to Fernandina Beach in 2006, Anita served as Executive Director of Deaf Services Bureau, Inc. in Dade County and spent 10 years at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, ultimately overseeing a division with an annual budget exceeding $13 million.
Education: M.S.W. (Social Work) | M.B.A. (Business Administration)
Credentials: Peer Reviewer, Council on Accreditation
Connect with Anita: LinkedIn
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The Catholic Leaders Podcast is a space where we host conversations with inspirational leaders to talk about their leadership and how faith informs it. The Catholic Leaders Podcast is hosted by Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson, CEO and President of Catholic Charities USA.
