Archive for October 14th, 2015

Help further research by participating in a study overseen by Dr. Huntington Potter and the Rocky Mountain Alzheimer’s Disease Center

Dr. Huntington Potter and the Rocky Mountain Alzheimer’s Disease Center (RMADC) are preparing to initiate a longitudinal (yearly) observational study of people with Down syndrome and their parents. The study will help the RMADC’s scientists learn more about the developing risk of Alzheimer’s disease in people with Down syndrome, with the goal of predicting who is at risk for contracting Alzheimer’s disease and ultimately how to prevent or treat the disease.

Participants will be examined by a neurologist, given a set of tests to measure memory and other brain function and be asked to donate a sample of blood.

People interested in obtaining more information should call Joseph Daniels at (313) 724-2997.

About the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome

The Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome is the first medical and research institute with the mission to provide the best clinical care to people with Down syndrome, and to eradicate the medical and cognitive ill effects associated with the condition. Established in 2008, the Crnic Institute is a partnership between the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the University of Colorado Boulder, and Children’s Hospital Colorado. Headquartered on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, the Crnic Institute includes the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children’s Hospital Colorado. It partners both locally and globally to provide life-changing research and medical care for individuals with Down syndrome. The Crnic Institute is made possible by the generous support of the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation, and relies on the Global Down Syndrome Foundation for fundraising, education, awareness and government advocacy. It is a research and medical-based organization without political or religious affiliation or intention.

Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson is scheduled to escort Global’s models with Down syndrome at the October 24 Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show

She responded to criticism and praise after advocating for nurses during her monologue for the talent portion of the Miss America Pageant. Watch her TV appearances and viral monologue below.

Miss Colorado has been busy on the media circuit since she performed her monologue at the Miss America Pageant. Her monologue has more than 5 million views on YouTube. Dr. Oz dedicated an entire episode to her, and filled his studio audience with nurses in uniform. The crowd went wild when she came out.

Watch Dr. Oz clip:

“I really do care a lot and it was just so much fun to perform that and see it trend on Twitter and Facebook, especially being able to bring all those nurses together and have everybody standing up for our profession and giving them the voice that they deserve,” shared Johnson. “They work so hard and they are lifesavers and that was all the message I wanted to give. It’s about them, not about me.”

Johnson’s next stop is on the runway at the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show on October 24. Join her in supporting life-changing research at the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome and lifesaving medical care at the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome

Watch her Monologue: Miss Colorado describes passion for nursing for the talent portion of the Miss America Pageant.

“Every nurse has a patient that reminds them why they became a nurse in the first place,” Johnson began. “Mine was Joe.”

Watch her on Ellen: Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson stopped by The Ellen DeGeneres Show to discuss her Miss America monologue about being a nurse, which went viral.

“A lot of people told me not to do a monologue for talent, it’s very unique. But, I am a nurse and that’s my talent is taking care of people and caring about other people,” Johnson told Ellen. “I wanted to give the nurses that don’t have that voice, that voice and recognition of somebody going up there and just being a little bit different and unique.”

Global celebrates Down Syndrome Awareness Month by announcing a new
grant program that aims to increase jobs for self-advocates

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation Self Advocate Employment Initiative Grants will provide up to $2,000 per grant to local Down syndrome organizations around the United States to fund employment initiative programs. The grants will empower local Down syndrome organizations to hire a person with Down syndrome.

The first year will be a litmus test for the program with ten grants being provided. The plan is to expand the program over the next five years. In addition, the grants will provide parameters to help ensure that such efforts are successful and sustainable.

Global will begin accepting requests for action (RFA) in December 2015. The recipients will be announced at the DSAIA 2016 Leadership Conference in Charlotte, March 3-6, 2016.

To be eligible for a grant, a local Down syndrome organization must be a member of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. (To become a member or to learn more about Global’s memberships please go to www.downsyndromeworld.org.)

To help fund initiatives like these DONATE TODAY!

Together, we are creating a brighter future
for people with Down syndrome!

Rockies star player will strut his stuff on the runway to support Down syndrome research and medical care at Global’s Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show on Saturday, October 24, 2015

Carlos Eduardo González (“CarGo”) is a Venezuelan-born professional baseball player who plays for the Colorado Rockies. A two-time All-Star, González is a former National League batting champion. In his eight years in the Majors, González has nearly 1,000 hits (978), a batting average of 290, and is a three- time Golden Glove winner as an outfielder.

This season he had nearly 100 RBIs (97) and a career-high of 40 home runs. González is known for his power, speed and arm-strength while playing the game. ‎He is now adding to his athletic reputation by giving back to the community. Specifically, he has started a namesake foundation in 2014 called The Carlos González Foundation that benefits at-risk youth.

González is excited to be part of Global’s Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest single fundraiser for people with Down syndrome in the United States. Proceeds benefit Global’s affiliates – the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome on the Anschutz Medical Campus and the Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Stay tuned to learn about who González
will be escorting down the runway!