Ann Costello, Director of the Golisano Foundation, American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) students from the University of Rochester and Nazareth College, and Special Olympics attended Clinton Global Initiative – University (CGI U) in April and met with President Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton.

Each year, CGI U hosts a meeting where students, youth organizations, topic experts, and celebrities come together to discuss and develop innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. CGI U 2013 was held at Washington University in St. Louis from April 5 – 7, 2013, bringing together nearly 1,200 attendees to make a difference in CGI U’s five focus areas: Education, Environment and Climate Change, Peace and Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health.

President Clinton and Chelsea Clinton greeted AADMD student chapter program leaders (who are making a Commitment to Action to enhance healthcare for people with intellectual disabilities) and representatives from the AADMD, the Golisano Foundation and Special Olympics afterthe opening plenary session at CGI U at Washington University in St. Louis.

The delegation attended meetings and spoke about Healthy Communities, launched in Mexico, Peru, Romania, Malawi, South Africa, Malaysia, and Thailand and six states in the U.S. (Arizona, Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, Wisconsin and New York), to build upon and broaden the scope of Healthy Athletes program, which has provided free health screenings and products to athletes for 15 years.

Healthy Communities’ goal is to achieve improved health outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities with the ultimate goal of ensuring that all are receiving health services and are able to reach their full potential. It will expand services to more athletes, increase partnerships with local organizations, expand the use of technology, and promote awareness of the health difficulties facing people with intellectual disabilities.

Building on the successful model of the Clinton Global Initiative, which brings together world leaders to take action on global challenges, President Clinton launched the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) in 2007 to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world.

Tom Golisano is the founding sponsor and major underwriter for eight consecutive years of the CGI Annual Meeting.

But CGI U is more than just an event. It is a growing community of young leaders who don’t just discuss global challenges – they take real, concrete steps toward solving them. Throughout the year, and as a prerequisite of attending the CGI U Annual Meeting, students and youth organizations develop their own Commitments to Action: a specific plan of action that addresses a pressing challenge on campus, in the community, or around the world. Commitments range from manufacturing wheelchairs for developing countries to establishing campus bike share programs, from creating free vision clinics to mentoring youth through chess.