All of the CDs in the series, as well as the Noche de Paz and 20th Anniversary DVDs, can be found at Borders Books and Music and other retail stores, Amazon.com or visit www.veryspecial.org.        The identity and success of the A Very Special Christmas series owes a great deal to the original project logo and album art — a simple but evocative mother-with-child-donated by the late artist Keith Haring. "The first time I saw it I cried," says producer Bobby Shriver. "A woman and a baby, not religious or denominational, but communicating a sense of holiness. And it was playful. It got across every vibe that we felt about the music itself." The first A Very Special Christmas® was released in 1987; since then, the incredibly successful series has raised more than US$100 million for Special Olympics — the most ever raised by a benefit series.  < Performers and Song Lists for each CD > In 2007, Special Olympics marked the 20th anniversary of the A Very Special Christmas series by releasing its first DVD collection of music videos and live performances by some of the top musical artists in the world. The A Very Special Christmas series got its start when producer Jimmy Iovine decided that a Christmas album would be a beautiful memorial to his father. His wife Vicki suggested that the album benefit Special Olympics, for which she was working as a volunteer. Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss (the "A" and "M" of A&M Records) helped make the first A Very Special Christmas album possible with an advance and a commitment to handle the record without taking any royalties, and Bobby Shriver signed on as a producer. The impact of A Very Special Christmas album sales are felt around the world through the Christmas Record Grant Initiative, which generates much-needed funding for the growth of Special Olympics Programs. Grants funded through the sales of albums, support programs designed to: Increase the number of Special Olympics athletes Improve the quality of services provided to athletes, families, coaches and volunteers Create new, innovative ways of expanding the Special Olympics movement. "I am full of admiration for the many artists who have helped us. It's a great tribute that these men and women say to themselves, 'I'll use my talent to help others,'" said Eunice Kennedy Shriver, mother of Bobby and founder of Special Olympics. "It's not easy because they've got so many demands on them and every charity wants them, but they've helped us and I'm very grateful." In order for Special Olympics to fulfill its mission to provide more and better sports training and competition opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities around the world, coaches, personnel and volunteers are necessary to make that happen. The Special Olympics Christmas Record Grant Program disburses album proceeds as grants for worthwhile and innovative training initiatives that encourage growth, enhance services, or provide creative new ways to advance the Special Olympics movement around the world. As an example, Unified Sports®, which takes Special Olympics to a new level with its focus on integration and inclusion, was originally funded through a Special Olympics Record Grant. "A Very Special Christmas is a fitting way to spread holiday cheer," said Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics CEO, "but more importantly, this gift will help bring the joy of the Special Olympics Movement to many more children and adults with intellectual disabilities and providing them the chance of a new life —a life of participation, pride, teamwork, friendship, and joy! Raising over US$100 million dollars, the series has enabled us to implement programs in countries like Russia, China, Uganda, and Brazil. These funds have enabled us to reach more athletes...the growth that we have experienced is due in large part to the collective energy of the record companies, producers and artists that have contributed to the albums. For this effort Special Olympics, the global Movement to change the world simply by including in all aspects of life those among us with intellectual disabilities, is deeply grateful." < Learn more about how the A Very Special Christmas album sales benefit Special Olympics Programs around the world. > For additional information about A Very Special Christmas, contact Kim Widdess at kwiddess@specialolympics.org or visit www.veryspecial.org.