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.

Global was proud to join forces with the Global Livingston Institute to bring local organizations, families and children with Down syndrome together in Uganda’s capitol city of Kampala to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day! The theme of the event was social inclusion, and over 300 people came out to celebrate and create awareness about Down syndrome. Other organizations based in Uganda that came together to make the day a success included EmbraceKulture, Children’s Clinic Naalya, The Uganda Down Syndrome Association, and Angel’s Center for Children with special needs. Way to go GLI Team on an impactful WDSD Uganda 2018!

Other related press & videos highlighting Down syndrome in Uganda and the work of local organizations involved:

NBS Interview – Rosemary Nambooze & Dr. Daniel Tumwine

NBS Interview – Daphine Murungi

NTV Article – Daphine Murungi Feature

NTV Article – Olivia / EmbraceKulture Feature

The Monitor – Rosemary Article

Global is so grateful to First Lady Valerie Sununu of New Hampshire and First Lady Robin Hickenlooper of Colorado for chairing the Light the Way Campaign, an initiative started in 2011 by First Lady Mary Pat Christie of New Jersey to shine a light on the groundbreaking advances being made to empower individuals with Down syndrome! We are honored to have partnered with First lady Sununu and First Lady Hickenlooper to highlight Global’s initiatives that are making a difference for people with Down syndrome throughout the country.

On the evening of Wednesday, March 21st as part of the Light the Way campaign, New Hampshire and Colorado lit the Governor’s Residences in blue in recognition of Down syndrome research. This date has particular significance as Down syndrome results from the presence of three copies of chromosome 21. Below are all the participating states from 2018!

Colorado
New Hampshire
New Jersey
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Virginia
Wyoming
Minnesota
New Mexico
Ohio
Tennessee
Texas
West Virginia
Arkansas
Indiana
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Kansas
Maryland
Wisconsin
Montana
Puerto Rico

Global Down Syndrome Foundation recognizes World Down Syndrome Day as a chance to reflect on the progress we have made, and on our hopes for the future.

YESTERDAY: The life expectancy of a person with Down syndrome was only 28 years in the 1980s.

TODAY: Today in the US, the life expectancy is nearly 60 years!

The discrimination against people with Down syndrome can be profound. Children and adults with the condition are still deprived of lifesaving medical care. There are also too few medical professionals who understand that patients with Down syndrome are highly predisposed to certain diseases and highly protected from others.

At Global we are working to continue this significant increase of lifespan for people with Down syndrome through improved medical care.

YESTERDAY: In the US, people with Down syndrome weren’t allowed to attend public schools until the 1970s.

TODAY: Students with special needs get a free and appropriate public education required by law.

Despite many advances since the 1970s, so many parents are still battling the education system to enforce their rights. At the same time they are trying to unlock how their children and adults with Down syndrome can learn better.

At Global we are working to help ensure improved health outcomes (including in sleep, speech, hearing and vision) that we believe will allow students with Down syndrome to reach their true potential.

YESTERDAY: In the US, the accepted terminology for people with Down syndrome used to be “mongoloid” and “mentally retarded.”

TODAY: Thanks to Rosa’s Law, “mental retardation” was replaced with “intellectual and developmental disabilities” in all federal documents.

We believe in freedom of speech. But we also believe that our community must demand respect through language, and stand up to those who would bully us with words. Through our training and our advocacy we educate medical and research professionals in “people first” language and we have stood up to bullies using the “R” word and worse.

At Global we are advocating for equality and respect in Washington, D.C. and throughout the world.

YESTERDAY: In U.S. hospitals, starving a baby to death with Down syndrome, or another intellectual disability, was allowed until the 1981 passing of the “Baby Doe Law.”

TODAY: This year we are celebrating Lucas Warren as the “healthy, happy, perfect” 2018 Gerber Spokesbaby – Lucas happens to have Down syndrome!

In Iceland, Denmark and other countries where the government boasts a “Down syndrome-free” future, the eugenics framework is marked and frightening. Standing on the shoulders of our human and civil rights predecessors of the 1960s and 1970s, we must be vigilant to ensure that our children and adults have rights, and are valued, equal citizens – in the U.S. and abroad.

Global advocates for our government to invest in people with Down syndrome and for people with the condition to be recognized throughout the world.

TODAY: The Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children’s Hospital Colorado provides life-saving and life-changing medical care to over 1,400 children with Down syndrome.

TOMORROW: Global envisions a world where we are able to establish a network of pediatric AND adult medical centers providing EXCELLENT care to millions of people with Down syndrome!

On this World Down Syndrome Day, Global is grateful for the amazing progress we have made together—we have created a pipeline of excellent science that informs our excellent medical care benefitting thousands of people with Down syndrome.

To be sustainable and to GROW so as to help ever more people with Down syndrome, we are grateful to you for your on-going support and trust in us to make a positive, tangible difference.

THANK YOU for allowing us to save and improve lives. Happy World Down Syndrome Day!!

Thursday, March 21st, 2019

Join Global Down Syndrome Foundation, the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome and the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome for a celebration at the Colorado State Capitol!

The Global team, self-advocates, and other organizations serving the differently-abled will enjoy a fun photo op followed by announcements and light refreshments.

If you have any questions please contact: events@globaldownsyndrome.org or
 call 720-548-5626.

Join the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s Dare to Ride Team for the 2019 Courage Classic bike tour today! The Courage Classic is a fundraiser for Children’s Hospital Colorado, and the Dare to Ride Team will be designating its funds to the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome at the hospital. Whether you are a recreational biker or a seasoned race pro, the Courage Classic has a course for you! Bike the 10-mile route on Saturday, the 160-mile full route over two days, or select one of the many options in between. All routes start at Copper Mountain Resort, 75 miles west of Denver in beautiful Summit County.

The details: spend July 20th & 21st in Copper Mountain!

For all race logistics, click here to visit the Courage Classic site.

Why should YOU ride with Global?

Here are some of the many perks of becoming a Global Rider:

• Support Life-Saving Medical Care. Raise $50k to benefit the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, which is the fastest growing medical care center for individuals with Down syndrome.
• Online Fundraising and Communication Tools. With Global, you’ll receive your own personal fundraising page that you can customize and share. Donors can show their support by making a gift online or by mailing a check.
• Sense of Community. Any skill level is welcome to join! Routes range from
  a 10-mile family ride to a tougher 84-mile route, but group training rides will prepare you to tackle it all!
• Supportive Staff. Our team is commited to supporting your fundraising goals, so don’t let the $500 minimum deter you. We will host meetings to check in and brainstorm ideas..
• Team Swag & Celebration Party. For a low registration fee of $100 (before May 1st),
  you will provide life-saving and life-changing medical care to children with Down syndrome.
• Get Started Changing Lives. Because there’s nothing like cool gear and a cold beer to make that last minute mile seem just a little less impossible.

Ready to sign up? It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…

1. Register on the Dare to Ride Team page to ensure that all funds raised support the Sie Center.

2. Set up your personal fundraising page. After you register, you can set up your own personal fundraising page, complete with a photo, a personal message and more!

3. Wait for an email from Global. A Global staff member will reach out to you with information about the child you are riding for, and invitation to join our private team Facebook group and a fundraising toolkit to help you get started.

If you have any questions, please contact events@globaldownsyndrome.org or 720-548-5619.

Together we can reach our Dare to Ride Team goal of raising $50,000!

In-Kind Sponsors

Special Thanks to our Amazing Sponsors

American Resort Development Association
AT&T
Comcast NBCUniversal
Erin and Ed Mullen
Genentech
National Cable & Telecommunications Association
Pfizer
PhRMA
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

BUY A GIFT, CHANGE A LIFE!

From November 2nd to December 26th, when you shop the
Neiman Marcus Love to Give Holiday Collection in Cherry Creek
10% OF THE PROCEEDS
will benefit the Global Down Syndrome Foundation!

Please join us for bubbly, hors d’oeuvres and shopping
and a special ballet performance with Global’s
Be Beautiful Be Yourself Dance Class organized by the Colorado Ballet

Wednesday ● December 6, 2017 ● 6pm – 8pm
Neiman Marcus in Cherry Creek Shopping Center

Space is limited, please reserve your spot now!
RSVP: events@globaldownsyndrome.org
Questions: Martha Cronen Keele at 303.468.6674