history

Spirits in Action was founded by Minhchau Nguyen during her senior year in 1988. Minh was inspired by an experience she had while being a big sister for a mentally challenged girl during her freshman year at USC. During that year, Minh's friend participated in the Loyola Marymount Special Olympics at which time she received souvenir T-shirts, ribbons, and medals for her participation. From that day on, Minh's friend was a new person; she came out of her shell. She grew more expressive and cherised the prizes she received at the event. Being a big sister through the Joint Educational Project at the Exceptional Children's Foundation was an enlightening experience for Minh.

Minh knew that she wanted to bring that kind of pleasure to many other people. While creating Spirits in Action, Minh made a couple of very important decisions. First, Spirits in Action would be a student run event, seeking the support and participation of the entire Trojan Family. Second, athletes from the immediate area around USC would have priority. Being a lower economic area, many disabled people may never have an opportunity like Spirits in Action. Third, the event would be entirely free for all participants. Finally, it would be open to people with all disabilities, mental and physical.

As it turned out, her last decision was the most controversial. Due to the fact that Spirits in Action was not limited to people with mental disabilies, as most games of this sort are, the Special Olympics refused to help Minh get started. Without support, Minh set out to establish USC's first track and field meet for the disabled athletes by herself. Minh had no trouble gaining student support. One by one, students came forward until a core group of ten volunteers were formed to create the first Spirits in Action.

Eventually, Minh and her committee mananged to get past many administrative barriers. On February 19, 1989, despite rainy weather, USC Spirits in Action hosted over 70 athletes and 100 volunteers. Thus a wonderful tradition began.