Thanks to a partnership with Bank of America, two students from NYL's Roosevelt Children's Center participated recently in the Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America.

Amelia Brown and Emmett Penna were joined by their fathers to carry the Flame of Hope a few blocks down 42nd Street to Bryant Park. The flame is making its way across the U.S. to Los Angeles for the Special Olympics World Games in July.

For Amelia's family, the honor carried even more significance. "Being part of the special Olympics torch relay was truly an honor for Amelia and I," said Cameron Brown. "It was especially meaningful for

Amelia's grandmother, a former Olympic athlete, to watch us both participate."

Amelia's grandmother 'Joey' Brown was a 16-year-old Olympic swimmer for Canada in the 1964 World Games in Tokyo. As soon as Cameron told her about the opportunity, "I was on the phone calling all the relatives in Canada," Joey said.

“Emmett loved it,” said Vinnie Penna. “He could tell that day was special. The torch really amazed him. He was thrilled.”

“This was a great opportunity to have children with disabilities recognized publicly in New York City,” said Karen Tumulty, Roosevelt’s Educational Coordinator.

Both Emmett and Amelia use eye-gaze devices to communicate. Shannon Thomason, Emmett's mother, recalled the first time he used the device at home. "It was around dinner time and I asked what he wanted to eat? He said 'mac and cheese,'

which I wouldn't have even thought of offering. So by golly he got mac and cheese. It was amazing. Normally I would have gone through five other options and none of them would have been what he wanted. This gave him the power to tell us exactly what he wanted."