Eunice Kennedy Shriver was born on July 10, 1921, in Brookline, Massachusetts. After attending Convent of the Sacred Heart School in Noroton, Connecticut, and Manhattanville College, she attended Stanford University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology in 1943. Eunice's sociology degree was an early indication of her interest in helping others. Shortly after her graduation, she began working on a juvenile delinquency project for the Department of Justice. By 1950, her interest had expanded to include social work. For a year she worked in Alderson, West Virginia, at the Penitentiary for Women.

Eunice's true passion came out after she married Robert Sargent Shriver. She took on the cause that had ailed her sister Rosemary for her entire life. Out of all the Kennedy children, she had been the closest to Rosemary. She understood her and felt a unique bond and responsibility for her. In 1957, she began with her service to the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation. She led the foundation in its efforts to discover the cause of mental retardation and in the organization's attempt to promote new ways for society to deal with its mentally retarded populace. One of Eunice's greatest accomplishments was the creation of the Special Olympics in 1968. For her dedication to helping those with disabilities, she has received numerous awards such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Legion of Honor, and the Theodore Roosevelt Award.