Maureen Spindt is a dedicated mother, wife, grandmother, advocate, volunteer, grant writer, board member, and much, much more. Maureen brings an intense passion for quality in everything she does, and her high expectations encourage those around her to do their best as well. Maureen has greatly assisted our non-profit as both a volunteer and a grant-writer, and we are proud to honor her for Women’s History Month.
Maureen Spindt has been involved with non-profit organizations for over 40 years. Right out of college, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, Maureen became the Teacher/Director of Family Affair Co-op Preschool. This was not a typical nursery school, but rather a ‘parent participation preschool,’ which maximized a parent’s opportunity to nurture their child’s growth and development socially, emotionally and academically in their early years and beyond. Maureen always welcomed young children with special needs in her classrooms and was a firm believer in the positive benefits this brought to ALL the families in her program.
During the 25 years of her early childhood education career, Maureen and her husband Gary, raised two biological sons, Eric and Kevin, and adopted a one year old baby daughter, Janelle, from Korea. Janelle began having grand mal seizures 4 days after her arrival. Maureen soon realized that Janelle was slow in reaching developmental milestones, which led to testing and a diagnosis of her being ‘mentally retarded’ (yes, that label was still unfortunately being used in the 1980’s.)
After the typical initial parental stages of denial, anger, and grief associated with learning your child has intellectual disabilities, Maureen decided to choose the “when life give you lemons, make lemonade” attitude. She enrolled Janelle in Special Olympics and volunteered as swim coach in the San Fernando Valley, since Santa Clarita only had a small track program. Fast forward a few years, and Maureen volunteered to write a large foundation grant that was awarded. This enabled the formation of Santa Clarita Special Olympics with Maureen as the first Area Director, working in the non-profit’s first administrative office. Under Maureen’s leadership, the number of athletes with intellectual disabilities in SCV increased from 20 to 450; the number of year-round sports increased from 1 to 15; and a new program called “Unified Sports” began. This program promotes social inclusion by combining athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team to foster friendship and understanding of the capabilities of those with intellectual disabilities. Maureen’s contribution to Special Olympics of Santa Clarita Valley was recognized by being awarded the 2005 Zonta Carmen Sarro Award, “Improving the Status of Women Through Service,” and numerous City, County and state awards as well as many distinguished Southern California Special Olympic awards.
After Maureen retired from Special Olympics, she became a successful grant writer for various social services non-profit organizations including programs benefiting youth, the homeless, seniors, foster youth, those with mental health challenges, cancer patients, domestic abuse survivors, minorities, and of course children and adults with medical challenges and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Her community volunteer activities have included everything from parent teacher associations, sports and scouting groups, senior centers, and non-profit groups that have touched Janelle’s life such as New Horizons, Carousel Ranch, LETMESAIL/Bridges to Ability, Young Life/Fun Life, Major Impact Theater, and MOST importantly Avenues Supported Living Services.
Maureen is very proud of her husband Gary, who shares in her passion for helping others. In addition to being Maureen’s side-kick in everything she does, Gary founded a non-profit organization in Santa Clarita that for 10 successful years provided social, recreational and educational opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities. Their two sons followed in their parent’s footprints. Kevin started The LINE UP Foundation in San Diego, that provides access and financial assistance to disadvantaged youth so they can participate in life-enhancing extracurricular activities. Eric, has been very active in Massachusetts Special Olympics. He has served as Board Chair for several years; helped raise almost 2 million dollars through an annual Bio Ball basketball fundraiser that he co-founded; and has been inducted into the Massachusetts Special Olympics Hall of Fame.
Maureen and Gary will happily celebrate their 52nd anniversary in June and enjoy spending time with their family and grandchildren on both the east and west coast.
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