REALLY? Insulting people who are victims of sexual abuse and people who were incensed by crass racist comments wasn’t enough? ANOTHER NETFLIX comedian has to take a swing at people with Down syndrome?

And while the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon did the right thing and CANCELLED Norm Macdonald’s scheduled appearance on it show, NETFLIX is once again supporting the “R” word, disparaging comments about people with Down syndrome, and even social media promoting violence against advocates for people who are differently-abled.

The WILL of the people defending against sexual and abuse and racism was heard. I am counting on those same people to come together for those who are differently-abled and make sure this population also has a STRONG a VOICE. PLEASE. Let us come together and send Netflix a message to CANCEL THIS SHOW! And if they don’t cancel the show, consider cancelling your NETFLIX subscription. For a day, a month, anything that shows power in numbers WHO CARE.

For Norm, glad you apologized. But REALLY? You needed a word for “stupid” and you came up with “Down syndrome”? I call on you to spend a day with a person with Down syndrome and then see if you can’t come up with a better word.

To be clear, at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, we are grateful for the freedoms we have in the US – including freedom of speech. AND YET, we also believe there are words that we are free to use, but as a society choose not to use because they are so directly tied to discrimination against a vulnerable population. What we are asking for is not too much or too difficult. There are lots of depraved topics that are funny (disclosure – I’m half NJ Italian) that don’t lend themselves to discrimination or oppression. So, you can still get that cheap laugh and feel good about yourself.

It’s time to call NETFLIX out. Seriously, AGAIN, we have nothing to lose.

Michelle Sie Whitten, President and CEO, Global Down Syndrome Foundation

Farrell & Gottsagen to be honored with Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award at the 10th Anniversary Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show celebrating a decade of beauty and achievement

Press Contacts:
Trisha Davis | trisha@ballantinespr.com | O: (310) 454-3080
Anca Call | acall@globaldownsyndrome.org | C: (720) 320-3832

DENVER, CO. – Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 – Today the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (Global) announced film stars Colin Farrell and Zack Gottsagen will receive Global’s Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award (Q Award), as well as its initial celebrity lineup for the 10th Anniversary of the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show. The marquee event is the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world and will be held during Down Syndrome Awareness Month on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, 1550 Court Place in Denver.

Farrell is an award-winning Irish actor, UN Spokesperson and philanthropist. He has a son with Angelman syndrome and has served as the official games spokesman for the Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China. Gottsagen is an accomplished film actor who happens to have Down syndrome. He is an ardent advocate for inclusion and shines in the new adventure film, The Peanut Butter Falcon, co-starring with two of his biggest fans: Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson.

“I love the Sies, let me start there,” said Music Icon Quincy Jones. “When I met their granddaughter, Sophia, I told them ‘these children are not broken, they don’t need to be fixed, they just need to be allowed to reach their God-given potential.’ Ever since then, I have been proud to encourage and support their amazing work. I want to congratulate Global on 10 years of saving lives and recognize Colin and Zack for their dedication and advocacy.”

Other confirmed celebrities for the 10th Anniversary Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show include: award-winning actor and Global board member John C. McGinley; supermodel and actress Amanda Booth; Miss Colorado Ellery Jones; Major League Soccer player Sam Cronin; and past Q Award winner DeOndra Dixon. A full roster of celebrities will be announced in the coming weeks.

During the fashion show, Global will also honor the 2018 Be Beautiful Be Yourself Ambassador Sam Levin while celebrating the return of past Ambassadors: Chase Turner Perry, Sophia Kay Whitten, Katherine Vollbracht Winfiled, Clarissa Capuano, Louis Rotella IV and Marcus Sikora.

Entering its 10th year, Global is thriving. Since the establishment of the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the event has raised over $16 million which underwrites life-changing research and life-saving medical care. Global’s recent lobbying efforts to Congress and outreach to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) resulted in the first significant increase of NIH Down syndrome research funding in nearly 20 years, from $37 million in 2017 to $58 million in 2018. Additionally, Global just opened its new Cherry Creek headquarters, which includes top-notch office facilities and a future education center of excellence supported by a generous grant from The Salah Foundation. The building will be home for people with Down syndrome and their families, as well as a destination for inclusion, inspiration and achievement for everyone.

“We work very hard,” said Global Down Syndrome Foundation President, CEO and Co-Founder, Michelle Sie Whitten. “Global provides excellent medical care to over 1,500 patients from 28 states and 10 countries, has made groundbreaking research discoveries that will improve health outcomes and has successfully lobbied Congress to get our fair share of funding. On our 10th Anniversary, we are filled with gratitude for the outstanding medical professionals, scientists, Down syndrome partner organizations, celebrities and wonderful self-advocates and families who empower us to save and transform lives every day.”

Various levels of 10th Anniversary Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show tickets, table sponsorships and model sponsorships are available, including VIP levels at www.bebeautifulbeyourself.org. For more information on the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, please visit www.globaldownsyndrome.org.

For celebrity interviews, additional information, imagery or to cover the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, please contact trisha@ballantinespr.com.

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About the Global Down Syndrome Foundation

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation is at the forefront of research, medical care, education and advocacy dedicated to significantly improving the lives of people with Down syndrome. Global supports the research of hundreds of scientists around the world through their advocates, partners and affiliates, including the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome and the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome. Global invites its supporters to celebrate a decade of milestones in helping people with Down syndrome at their 10th Anniversary Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show. To learn more, please visit www.globaldownsyndrome.org and www.bebeautifulbeyourself.org.

Michelle Sie Whitten receives Newsed CDC’s prestigious Civil Rights Award, along with Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), and other human rights activists

As Michelle Sie Whitten, the President & CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (Global), fights for the rights of people who are differently-abled, the community takes notice. Global is at the forefront of groundbreaking research, medical care, education, and advocacy efforts dedicated to significantly improving the lives of individuals with Down syndrome. This year, a decade of Global’s work with Congress and the National Institutes of Health resulted in the first real increase in federally-funded Down syndrome research and medical care – a $23M increase for 2018 and an additional $40M for 2019. Recognized as a true champion for the Down syndrome community, Whitten and Global receive prestigious awards for leadership and advocacy.

NEWSED Community Development Corporation Civil Rights Award

For more photos & videos from this event, visit Latin Life Denver

NEWSED Community Development Corporation (CDC) is a nonprofit, started 47 years ago, that strives to improve economic issues in disadvantaged and underrepresented communities. At NEWSED CDC’s 27th Civil Rights Awards ceremony, inspiring people and organizations were honored and recognized for their hard work in human and civil rights. The event honored six community leaders with the prestigious award, including Global President & CEO, Michelle Sie Whitten. Upon receiving her award, Whitten thanked NEWSED, other awardees and co-honoree Congresswoman Diana DeGette for helping advocate for research and medical care funding for those with Down syndrome. She also referenced the wisdom of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, that you cannot believe in the rights of one population without believing in the rights of them all. “Global is part of a bigger movement,” says Whitten, “showing that differently-abled are important.”

2018 NEWSED CDC Civil Rights Awardees (in order of appearance):
1.Dr. Lorenzo Trujillo, Attorney and Music Professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver
2. Dr. Martha Urioste, Legendary educator and community leader in the Denver Public School System
3. Diana DeGette, U.S. Representative for Colorado
4. Michelle Sie Whitten, President & CEO of Global Down Syndrome Foundation
5. The Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance, an organization advocating for freedom and equality and holding public officials accountable for their decisions
6. La Academia, a school of learning that has sense closed its doors, was honored for their commitment to helping students and the community.

Michelle Sie Whitten Honored at ARC Thrift’s 50th Anniversary with Distinguished Disability Leadership Award for her life-saving and life-changing work at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation

At ARC Thrift’s 50th anniversary “Born to Be Me” Gala, Global President & CEO Michelle Sie Whitten received ARC’s Distinguished Disability Leadership Award. The award recognizes leaders in Colorado who give their hearts, souls, time, and passion to advocating for people with disabilities. The annual event was held at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center, welcoming approximately 800 guests. ARC’s CEO, Lloyd Lewis, and his son Kennedy, presented the award to Michelle and her daughter, Sophia.

ARC Thrift Stores is one of Colorado’s largest nonprofits with funding over $100 million and one of the state’s biggest employers of people with intellectual disabilities. Global is honored to work with the incredible people at ARC in our joint mission of improving the lives of those who are differently-abled.

Academy Award & Grammy-winning actor/singer, Jamie Foxx, and his little sister & Global’s Ambassador, DeOndra Dixon – took the spotlight on TODAY and Dateline NBC. In this heartwarming feature about their incredible bond, Jamie and DeOndra highlight love of family and the importance of Global’s work. Millions of viewers watched Jamie explain how his sister has “showed me how to live.” DeOndra banters back saying she loves Global’s annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show so she can show Jamie “what she’s made of.” Jamie responds, “…you show the world what you’re made of.” Make sure you don’t miss the epic brother-sister dance-off at the end!

TODAY | WATCH NOW

DATELINE | WATCH NOW

The family celebrates DeOndra Dixon's 30th birthday! Her father George, her brother Jamie Foxx, her sister Dierdra, and her mother Annette

Our Global Family: Global self-advocate & model Madeline Stuart, Jamie Foxx, Michelle Sie Whitten, and DeOndra Dixon

A dynamite brother & sister team: Jamie Foxx and Global's Ambassador DeOndra Dixon

Jamie embraces his baby sister DeOndra

DeOndra Dixon rocks the runway with award-winning actor Terrence Howard

Queen Latifah and Deondra take the stage at Global's Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show