Editor, The Community Action network, made up of 1,000 community action Agencies nationwide, is deeply saddened at the recent passing of R. Sargent Shriver. Mr. Shriver was a distinguished public servant and visionary leader. Along with his wife, the late Eunice Shriver, he was the founding director of the Peace Corps, the Office of Economic Opportunity and the Special Olympics.
As the first director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, established under President Lyndon Baines Johnson in 1964, Shriver helped to create Community Action, Head Start, Job Corps, senior citizens’ centers, adult basic education programs, summer youth programs, community health centers and many other programs that grew out of the war on Poverty. 
To the members of the Community Action family, however, Shriver will always be known as the father of our great movement. 
Thank you, Sargent Shriver! We will never forget you.

— Ophelia K. Gaines,
executive director
Concerted Services Inc.