Special Olympian Homeowner Trisha Torre
Journeys to Morocco for Global Congress
Indian River Habitat homeowner and Special Olympics athlete Trisha Torre was one of only two Florida Special Olympians chosen to travel to Morocco this past June to attend the Special Olympics Global Athlete Congress. Torre is one of an elite group of 66 athletes from around the world who were to discuss ways to improve the Special Olympics and increase leadership opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities.
Trisha, an outstanding athlete, had been named to the Special Olympics Florida Board of Directors in February. In that capacity, her responsibilities include communicating with more than 200 other athletes in Indian River County, chaperoning events, and working with younger athletes.
She was selected into the Special Olympics Hall of Fame last year. Trisha’s mom, Pam, said her daughter’s involvement in Special Olympics provided a support network that has helped her grow as a person.
“She’s achieved what she’s achieved because of people supporting her,” Pam said, noting that before her daughter joined Special Olympics she was shy and not particularly sociable, but now embraces her identity. “We’ve gone full circle from her not wanting to be identified with people with intellectual disabilities to her being a spokesperson,” she said.
Using independent living skills learned in Special Olympics, Trish successfully completed the Habitat program and now lives in her own Habitat home. She is employed as a clerk at a Vero Beach Publix Supermarket.
Trisha made sure she was well-prepared for her adventure by thoroughly reading all the pre-conference materials and a lot of information about Morocco and its culture. Upon her return, the well spoken young woman wrote about her North African experience. “The Congress was about bringing together 66 athlete leaders from more than 35 countries to examine the SO strategic plan pillars: Athlete Experience, Fan Engagement and Fundraising, Leadership, Building Communities and Culture. One of the many things I liked . . .was that we all came from different countries, states and regions from across the globe to talk about changes that would improve the Special Olympics. I spoke with people from Albania, Kosovo, Germany, Norway, Italy, Romania, Belize, Bahamas, Canada, California and New Hampshire. We need to unite and create a movement to fight for the rights of those with intellectual disabilities. We need to tell others how SO changes lives.”
The Congress was not all work, though. There were plenty of opportunities to enjoy the culture of the country. Dinners were served in a huge tent.
“We walked on special carpets as rose petals were thrown at our feet and musicians played. It felt like a Hollywood experience that you might see on TV.” The group played table tennis, soccer and bocce at the Youssef Ben Ali Stadium, where they were greeted by Princess Lalla Amina. “The stands were filled with people from different countries, many in native dress. There were acrobats and stilt-walkers there as well.”
The group took a bus tour of Marrakech where they saw the colorful bazaar, snake charmers and monkey trainers. Trisha got to ride a camel and take a horse drawn carriage back to the hotel.
“I left Morocco with a new sense of unity and a commitment to the mission of Special Olympics.”
IRHFH Board of Directors Chairman Todd Heckman, expressing his pride in Trisha, commented: “Millard Fuller had it right: ‘Safe, affordable housing’…‘A hand up, not a hand out’….‘We are not a builder of homes, but rather, a builder of homeowners.’ Trisha, thank you for allowing Habitat to be a part of your life and sharing your successes! May God bless you.”
Pictured, from top: Trisha at her Habitat home with Barbara, a caregiver, and her mom, Pam Torre; Picking the right dress for meeting royalty; Trisha, top left, with the other elite athletes and Moroccan Princess Lalla Amina, center; Partying with Maria Shriver, daughter of Special Olympics founder Eunice Shriver (sister of JFK); Trisha with Tim Shriver, Eunice's son, who now heads Special Olympics.
