Special Olympics Connecticut Global Messenger

John M. Brillante Jr.

Birth Date: November 5, 1978
Home Town: Wallingford, CT
Sports: Power-lifting and Skiing

John Brillante Jr. is the oldest of five children and currently works as a Waste-handler Technician at the Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven. He also volunteers about 10 hours a week in the Day Care Center at the hospital. John has competed in numerous sports during his 15 years of Special Olympic participation. These include skiing, track and field, bowling, volley ball, swimming and power lifting; he currently participates in skiing and power lifting. During competition, John works hard and constantly struggles to beat his previous records. For him, it is not about winning, and even if he does not beat his best times or weight records, he always has fun and enjoys all the people, athletes and supporters alike. One special memory was when John participated in the 1995 World Games here in New Haven.

He has been a Global Messenger for the past 4 years and in that time has had the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Special Olympics at numerous functions including fund raisers, companies' volunteer informational meetings, and the Knights of Columbus National Convention where he spoke in front of about 200 people. During those speeches he tells people about Special Olympic events, and thanks them for their support; he explains how their generosity helps him and the other Special Olympians strive to be their best. He has also worked other facets of the Special Olympics including opening ceremonies and presentations of awards to sponsors.

John always says, "The Special Olympics is a great place to meet new people as well as hang out with old friends."

Pictured (Left to Right): NBC 30's Janet Peckinpaugh, Global Messenger Jeff DePina, and John Brillante