Brooklyn Decker’s Tie to Special Olympics: Her Aunt

Brooklyn Decker revealed in an interview with People magazine this week that the Special Olympics hold a special place in her heart, thanks to an extra special member of her family.

Decker has an aunt with intellectual disabilities who has been involved with the Special Olympics for many years, and she says that her family's affiliation with the organization has left her with a tremendous appreciation for all that it does to help improve the lives of its athletes.

"They hosted events every weekend, and [my aunt] always looked forward to participating and was so proud to bring home a medal," Decker told the mag. "I saw how important the organization was to her life."

But even before she learned of the organization, Decker had an experience as a child that set her up for a future of wanting to help developmentally disadvantaged individuals.

"I remember in elementary school, we had a program that involved many athletes with intellectual disabilities, and their goal was to get students involved with those students," she recalls. "They wanted to introduce this idea of inclusion, which is what Special Olympics does so well, especially with unified sports. It was so impactful to me."

Now, Decker herself has signed on as a global ambassador for the Special Olympics after working for years as an ambassador on the national level.

She's even gotten her husband, tennis star Andy Roddick, involved in her charitable endeavors.

"I'm no athlete, but I do know one," she quipped. "He's done a fantastic job helping with the cause as well."