Maria Shriver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria Shriver
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Shriver in 2018
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| 35th First Lady of California | |
| In role November 17, 2003 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Governor | Arnold Schwarzenegger |
| Preceded by | Sharon Davis |
| Succeeded by | Anne Gust Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Maria Owings Shriver
November 6, 1955 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Independent (2011–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic (until 2011) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, including Katherine and Patrick Schwarzenegger |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Shriver family Kennedy family Gustav Schwarzenegger (father-in-law) Chris Pratt (son-in-law) |
| Residences | Brentwood, California, U.S. |
| Education | Georgetown University (BA) |
| Profession |
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| Signature |  |
Maria Owings Shriver, born on November 6, 1955, is a well-known American journalist and author. She comes from two famous families, the Shrivers and the Kennedys. Maria Shriver also served as the First Lady of California. She founded The Women's Alzheimer's Movement, a group that helps people with Alzheimer's disease.
Maria Shriver was married to actor and former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. They separated in 2011, and their divorce was finalized in 2021.
Shriver started her career in journalism at a CBS TV station. She later joined NBC News in 1986. At NBC, she anchored weekend news shows and reported on politics. She left NBC in 2004 to focus on her role as First Lady of California. She returned to NBC in 2013 as a special anchor.
For her work at NBC, Maria Shriver won a Peabody Award in 1998. She also helped anchor NBC's Emmy-winning coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics. As a producer for The Alzheimer's Project, she won two Emmy Awards. She also received an award for creating a "television show with a conscience."
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Early Life and Family
Maria Shriver was born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 6, 1955. She is the second child of politician Sargent Shriver and activist Eunice Kennedy. Her mother, Eunice, was the sister of former U.S. president John F. Kennedy. This makes Maria Shriver a niece of President Kennedy. She is also a niece of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy and U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy.
Maria Shriver is a Roman Catholic. Her family background is mostly Irish and German. She spent some of her middle school years living in Paris, France. In 1968, her family briefly moved to Chicago for her mother's work with the Special Olympics.
In 1970, Shriver moved back to Bethesda, Maryland. She went to high school there and graduated in 1973. She then attended Manhattanville College for two years. Later, she transferred to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies in June 1977.
Career in Media and Advocacy
Maria Shriver became interested in journalism while helping her father's political campaign in 1972. She said being sent to the back of the campaign plane with reporters was "the best thing that ever happened to me."
Her journalism career began at KYW-TV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From 1985 to 1986, she co-anchored The CBS Morning News. She then joined NBC News and co-anchored Sunday Today from 1987 to 1990. She also worked as an anchor for NBC Nightly News on weekends. From 1992 to 2004, she was a reporter for Dateline NBC.
In August 2003, Shriver took a break from NBC News. This was because her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was running for governor of California. After he became governor in November 2003, she became the First Lady of California. She made a few more appearances for Dateline NBC.
In February 2004, Shriver officially left NBC News. She explained that there was a conflict of interest. Her role as a journalist clashed with her new role as First Lady and supporter of her husband's government.
Maria Shriver also appeared as herself in the movie Last Action Hero (1993). She had a small role in a 2006 episode of That's So Raven. In 2007, she was a guest host on the talk show Larry King Live on CNN.
Advocacy Work
In 2003, Maria Shriver's father, Sargent Shriver, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This led her to become a strong supporter and fundraiser for Alzheimer's patient care and research. She was the executive producer of The Alzheimer's Project. This was a four-part documentary series that showed on HBO in May 2009. The series won two Emmy Awards. It looked closely at new research and how the disease affects families. One of the Emmy-winning films, Grandpa, Do you Know Who I Am?, was based on her children's book about Alzheimer's.
In 2016, Shriver released a coloring book called Color Your Mind. It was made for people with Alzheimer's.
Maria Shriver has always supported people with intellectual disabilities. She is on the board of Special Olympics, which her mother started in 1968. She also advises Best Buddies, a program that helps people with intellectual disabilities make friends and find jobs. Shriver helps organize a bike ride that raises money for these programs. As First Lady, she helped hire people with intellectual disabilities in state offices.
In 2008, Shriver and her brother, Tim Shriver, launched an ice cream company called Lovin' Scoopful. Twenty-five percent of the money from Lovin' Scoopful goes to the Special Olympics.
Shriver also produced a documentary about her father, American Idealist: The Story of Sargent Shriver. It aired on PBS in 2008. The film told the story of her father's life and his work. She also serves on the board of the Sargent Shriver Peace Institute. This group teaches about her father's work as a peacebuilder. He created programs like the Peace Corps and Head Start.
In 2018, she published I've Been Thinking...: Reflections Prayers and Meditations for a Meaningful Life. This book quickly became a No. 1 bestseller. She released a companion journal in 2019.
Shriver and her daughter, Christina Schwarzenegger, produced Take Your Pills (2018). This documentary was about certain medications.
The Shriver Report
In 2009, Maria Shriver started "The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Changes Everything." This was a big study about women in the United States. It showed that for the first time, women made up half of the U.S. workforce. The report looked at how this change affected families, businesses, and other parts of society. It was updated in 2013.
In 2010, The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Takes on Alzheimer's was published. This study was by Maria Shriver and the Alzheimer's Association. It included writings from many public figures.
In 2014, The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Pushes Back from the Brink was released. This report focused on women and children living in poverty. It featured writings from people like Beyoncé and Hillary Clinton.
First Lady of California
When her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, became governor in 2003, Maria Shriver took on several important roles as First Lady. She worked to highlight the contributions of women in California. She also focused on finding ways to end poverty and encouraged Californians to help their communities. Because of her new role, she reduced her news reporting to avoid conflicts of interest.
Shriver led the California Governor & First Lady's Conference on Women. Under her leadership, this event grew into a major forum for women. In 2010, over 30,000 people attended the conference. Many world leaders and famous people spoke there, including Oprah Winfrey and the Dalai Lama.
In 2004, Shriver created The Minerva Awards. These awards honored "remarkable California women" who made a difference in their communities and the world. The awards are named after Minerva, a Roman goddess who represents women as both warriors and peacemakers. The Minerva Awards are given out each year at The Women's Conference. Winners also receive money to continue their work. Past winners include former first lady Betty Ford and Maria's mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. The achievements of these women are shown in an exhibit at The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts.
In 2005, Shriver started her WE Connect Program. This program helped working families in need find money-saving programs and support. It brought together community groups, businesses, and government agencies. Through a partnership with a Spanish-language newspaper, WE Connect reached millions of Californians. In 2009, The Women's Conference, with WE Connect, donated to provide over one million meals to families in need. In 2010, Shriver held Community Resources Fairs. These fairs offered free services like tax help, housing assistance, and job support.
As First Lady, Shriver also promoted volunteering. She helped launch a statewide volunteer network called CaliforniaVolunteers.org. She also helped create a disaster preparedness program called WE Prepare. This program taught Californians how to get ready for emergencies. Shriver also started WE Build and WE Garden. This program built children's playgrounds and community gardens. Through CaliforniaVolunteers, she built 31 playgrounds with gardens in lower-income areas.
In 2008, Shriver launched her WE Invest Program. This program helped women start or grow their businesses. It offered training, mentoring, and small loans. In 2009, she expanded WE Invest across the U.S. by partnering with Kiva. This created the first online peer-to-peer micro-lending program in the country.
Shriver was also co-chair of The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts. She helped make the state museum more lively. In 2006, Shriver created the California Hall of Fame at the Museum. It honors famous Californians like Cesar Chavez, Walt Disney, and Ronald Reagan. In 2008, she launched California Legacy Trails. This online tool helps students learn California history.
In February 2008, Shriver supported Senator Barack Obama for president. Her husband, Governor Schwarzenegger, supported Senator John McCain. Later that year, Shriver attended the 2008 Democratic National Convention when her uncle Ted Kennedy spoke.
In May 2009, Shriver planted the first edible garden at a state capitol. The food grown in this garden is given to local food banks. Shriver has supported edible gardens and helped double the number of gardens in California schools.
Return to NBC News
On April 30, 2013, NBC announced that Maria Shriver would return to the network. She became a special anchor, focusing on the changing roles of women in American life.
On October 18, 2013, Shriver returned to the anchor desk on Today. She filled in as co-anchor for the first time since 1998.
Personal Life
In 1977, Maria Shriver met Arnold Schwarzenegger at a charity tennis tournament. They were introduced by Tom Brokaw. She married Schwarzenegger on April 26, 1986, in Hyannis, Massachusetts. They have four children, two boys and two girls, including Katherine and Patrick.
On May 9, 2011, Schwarzenegger and Shriver announced their separation. Shriver moved out of their home. She filed for divorce on July 1, 2011, and it was finalized in December 2021.
In 2018, Shriver shared that she had changed her political registration. She became an independent instead of a Democrat. She said there are good and bad people in all political parties.
Honors and Awards
Maria Shriver has received many awards for her work. As the executive producer of The Alzheimer's Project, she won two Emmy Awards. She also received an Academy of Television Arts & Sciences award for creating a "television show with a conscience." She has also won Peabody Awards for her journalism.
In 2009, Shriver received the Shinnyo-en Foundation's Pathfinders to Peace Award. This award honors people who show compassion, harmony, and peace. The foundation praised her for inspiring others and for her kindness.
The Saint John's Health Center has a nursery named after Maria Shriver. In October 2004, a new type of rose was named after her. The Maria Shriver rose has white flowers and a strong citrus smell.
In 2017, the Alzheimer's Association gave Shriver its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award.
Books by Maria Shriver
- Maria Shriver (April 1, 2025). I Am Maria: My Reflections and Poems on Heartbreak, Healing, and Finding Your Way Home. Penguin Publishing Group. ISBN: 978-0-593-65339-5.
See also
In Spanish: Maria Shriver para niños
- Shriver family
- Kennedy family
