A Gold Medal Heart

March 1, 2006
Barbra's charitable activities and financial support over the years have been extraordinary. But one particular cause was first championed by Barbra in 1971. Her desire to work on behalf of mentally challenged children allowed her to speak on behalf of both The National Association of Retarded Children and The Special Olympics.

The National Association for Retarded Children
Many people remember Barbra Streisand serving as the nationwide spokesperson for The National Association for Retarded Children during the early '70s. Barbra made several public service announcements that were broadcast nationally on radio and television. As part of that awareness campaign, Barbra also lent her name to charitable sales of greeting cards designed by mentally challenged children. Cardboard stand-ups with Barbra's photo were also placed at check-out counters offering shoppers the opportunity to make an on-the-spot donation of loose change.

Streisand's support for The National Association for Retarded Children was surely one of the most successful celebrity endorsements the association had ever received. Later, the association changed it's name to reflect it's growing service to mentally challenged adults as well as children. Today, it is known as The Association for Retarded Citizens.

The Special Olympics
Another notable Streisand endorsement of the 1970s was her work for The Special Olympics. In 1975, The Special Olympics received national publicity in conjunction with the release of Barbra's new film, Funny Lady. A televised live event called Funny Girl to Funny Lady was broadcast by ABC on March 9. Barbra performed in a live concert at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and a recorded promo, in which Barbra is seen working with some of the athletes, was shown.