Illinois State University alum David Breen ’88 joins Redbird Buzz to share memories from his 37-year career with Special Olympics Illinois and how his experience as a recreation program management major prepared him for more than a decade as the organization’s president and CEO.
A 2024 Alumni Achievement Award winner, Breen recounts his experience as an Illinois State student volunteering for Special Opportunities Available in Recreation (SOAR) in Bloomington-Normal before graduating in 1988. It was this work and the individuals he met through SOAR that inspired a life-long commitment to making sports and recreation accessible through Special Olympics Illinois.
Tune into this episode to learn more about Breen’s journey from a small-town farm to his time at Illinois State to becoming president of Special Olympics Illinois until his retirement in 2023.
Redbird Buzz is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. Transcripts of each episode are available online at Alumni.IllinoisState.edu/Podcast.
