Archive for the ‘Press Releases’ Category

This Year’s Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show is Dedicated to the Memory of GLOBAL’s Beloved Co-Founder Anna Sie

DENVER –October 26, 2023 – Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is honored to announce a spectacular and star-studded line-up for its annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world. In its 15^th year, the award-winning event is Co-Chaired by powerhouse philanthropists Luisa Law and Amanda Precourt, and will be held on Saturday, November 18 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. Proceeds will benefit GLOBAL’s life-saving and transformative research and medical care.

Celebrity headliners include Rob Lowe, acclaimed author and film, theater and TV actor; Laura Linney, Academy Award-nominated and award-winning television and film actress;  John C. McGinley, award-winning film and TV actor; Caterina Scorsone, beloved actress from the longest primetime TV drama on ABC, Grey’s Anatomy, and her costar Kevin McKidd, Scottish-American film, television and theatre actor; Danielle Savre, American actress and singer; Terrell Davis, NFL Hall of Famer; Beverly Johnson, model, actress and entrepreneur; and Amanda Booth, model and actress.

Award-winning local NBC anchors Kim Christiansen and Mark Koebrich will emcee the event.

The 2023 Fashion Show is dedicated to the memory of beloved GLOBAL Co-Founder, Anna  , who sadly passed away on September 20^th after a long and valiant battle with cancer. Anna, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, loyal friend, and mentor is remembered as a generous philanthropist who co-founded GLOBAL, the Crnic Institute, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, the Alzheimer’s & Cognition Center, the GLOBAL Inclusive Program and so much more. Anna made it her life’s mission to ensure her granddaughter, Sophia, and all people with Down syndrome have a brighter future.

2023 GLOBAL Ambassador Grace Brennan, Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award Recipients Madison Tevlin & Bobby Farrelly

The event will also honor GLOBAL Ambassador Grace Brennan, a vivacious and active 9-year-old who lives in California with her parents, sisters, and dog. Grace loves swimming, silly-laughing with her two sisters, Audrey and Ava, jumping on the trampoline, and dancing to her favorite songs, including “Peanut Butter Jelly Time.”

Acclaimed film director, screenwriter, and producer Bobby Farrelly and model, actor, and self-advocate Madison Tevlin will receive GLOBAL’s highest honor – the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award. Past recipients include Jamie Foxx, Colin Farrell, Eva Longoria, Caterina Scorsone, John C. McGinley, Eric Dane, Kyra Phillips, and Beverly Johnson.

Bobby Farrelly and his brother, Peter, are internationally recognized for their iconic comedies, including Dumb & Dumber, There’s Something About Mary, Kingpin, Hall Pass, and many others. Their films have grossed well over $1 billion at the box office. As a solo artist, Bobby has also produced the award-winning documentary The Lost Son of Havana, and has directed many hit TV shows, including Loudermilk, The Now, and Trailer Park Boys. In March 2023, Bobby released the hit movie Champions, starring Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, and fellow Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award recipient Madison Tevlin. Champions is a heartfelt comedy that centers around a basketball coach who helms a team of players with intellectual disabilities.

Madison Tevlin began her career at the age of 12 when her cover of John Legend’s All of Me went viral. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Madison is a model, advocate, and actor. Her credits include Mr. D, Who Do You Think I Am, hosting the red carpet at the Canadian Screen Awards, and her iconic role as Cosentino in the film Champions. Madison is the first person with Down syndrome to be nominated for a Canadian Screen Award – Best Host, Talk Show or Entertainment News. Previously, she walked the runway as part of the Knix Confidence Tour and was the keynote speaker at the Dear Mom conference in Laguna Beach, 2023. She guest co-hosted the national morning show Breakfast Television, and has written for Net-a-Porter and Maclean’s.

The evening will feature exclusive silent and live auction items, a sumptuous reception and sit-down dinner, and the inspiring fashion show featuring celebrities and 21 beautiful and brilliant models with Down syndrome.

The Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show is the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world with over 1,400 attendees. Proceeds go to GLOBAL’s life-saving research and medical care through its affiliates – Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Colorado University Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center, and Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome, all on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

Various levels of Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show tickets, table sponsorships (including VIP levels), and model sponsorships are available at www.bebeautifulbeyourself.org.

For celebrity interviews, additional information, imagery, or to cover the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, please contact trishdavis0707@gmail.com, For more information on the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, please visit www.globaldownsyndrome.org.

About Global Down Syndrome Foundation 

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is the largest non-profit in the U.S. working to save lives and dramatically improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome. GLOBAL has donated more than $32 million to establish the first Down syndrome research institute supporting over 400 scientists and over 2,400 patients with Down syndrome from 33 states and 10 countries. Working closely with Congress and the National Institutes of Health, GLOBAL is the lead advocacy organization in the U.S. for Down syndrome research and care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 100 Down syndrome organizations worldwide, and is part of a network of Affiliates – the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, and the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center – all on the Anschutz Medical Campus. 

GLOBAL’s widely circulated medical publications include Global Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome, Prenatal & Newborn Down Syndrome Information, and the award-winning magazine Down Syndrome World ^TM. GLOBAL also organizes the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world. Visit globaldownsyndrome.org and follow us on social media (Facebook & Twitter: @GDSFoundation, Instagram: @globaldownsyndrome). 

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In a new study, scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus report the largest and deepest characterization of immune dysregulation in Down syndrome to date

AURORA, CO (July 23, 2023) – People with Down syndrome, the condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, or trisomy 21, display chronic dysregulation of their immune system, which can contribute to high rates of autoimmune conditions and severe complications from respiratory infections.

In a new study published in Science Advances, scientists at the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus report the largest and deepest characterization of immune dysregulation in Down syndrome to date. The findings also reveal important connections between immune hyperactivity and other aspects of Down syndrome and provide proof-of-principle evidence for a therapeutic strategy to restore immune balance in this population.

The Crnic Institute’s previous research demonstrated that this immune dysregulation is associated with hyperactivity in the interferon response, the main defense against viruses. In addition, they showed interferon hyperactivity contributes to many hallmarks of Down syndrome in a mouse model, including congenital heart defects, developmental delays, cognitive impairments and malformation of the bone structures in the skull.

The most recent study reports the analysis of hundreds of blood samples from research participants enrolled in the Crnic Institute Human Trisome Project, a large cohort study of people with Down syndrome. Using a combination of large-scale data technologies, referred to as multi-omics, they defined associations between the degree of interferon hyperactivity and multiple physiological, metabolic, and immune processes dysregulated by the extra chromosome.

“We observed that interferon hyperactivity really shapes the biology of Down syndrome across the lifespan. Those with the highest interferon activity display increased signs of autoinflammation, stronger dysregulation of important growth factors, profound metabolic changes, and a vastly different immune system,” says Dr. Matthew Galbraith, leader of the Data Sciences Program at the Crnic Institute and one of the co-leading authors of the paper.

“These results clearly demonstrate that persons with Down syndrome with the highest levels of interferon activity show drastic changes in the immune system, such as increases in a type of T cells often involved in the development of autoimmune conditions, or depletion of B cells, which are important for response to vaccines” explains Keith Smith, co-leading author of the paper.

Previous studies have indicated that interferon hyperactivity could be ameliorated with a class of drugs known as “JAK inhibitors” which are approved for the treatment of a wide range of autoinflammatory conditions in the general population. However, the effects of JAK inhibitors on the biological processes modulated by trisomy 21 have not been extensively studied.

To advance this area of research, the Crnic Institute team monitored the effects of JAK inhibition on a research participant with Down syndrome taking the JAK inhibitor known as tofacitinib, or Xeljanz™, for the treatment of alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune form of hair loss more common in people with Down syndrome. Over the course of several years and under the care of their dermatologist, the participant provided blood samples while on the medicine and during voluntary interruptions of the treatment.

“We observed a remarkable normalization of interferon hyperactivity when the participant was taking the JAK inhibitor. Consistently, her interferon metrics and other biomarkers of inflammation dropped from the abnormally high levels seen in Down syndrome down to the range observed in the general population, but not any lower. This indicates that the JAK inhibitor provided therapeutic benefit in terms of hair regrowth without suppressing the immune system below the normal range,” explains Dr. Angela Rachubinski, leader of the Clinical and Translational Sciences Program at the Crnic Institute and co-lead author of the study.

According to Dr. Joaquin Espinosa, executive director of the Crnic Institute and senior author of the paper, this study provided the rationale for two additional clinical trials for JAK inhibition in Down syndrome led by the Crnic Institute. “One study is focused on autoimmune skin conditions and another one is focused on Down Syndrome Regression Disorder, a rare but devastating condition characterized by sudden loss of  daily living skills and cognitive abilities.”

“This study is an example of the transformative scientific research taking place today that is enabled by increased funding from the National Institutes of Health through the INCLUDE Project, which in turn is the fruit of many years of advocacy and strong support from members of Congress. Naturally, none of these discoveries would be possible without the enthusiastic participation of our self-advocates and their families in research projects like the Human Trisome Project,” says Michelle Sie Whitten, president and CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, which supported the project with funding and outreach.

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About the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is a world-class medical destination at the forefront of transformative science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus encompasses the University of Colorado health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes and two nationally ranked independent hospitals – UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital Colorado – that treat more than two million adult and pediatric patients each year. Innovative, interconnected and highly collaborative, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus delivers life-changing treatments, patient care and professional training and conducts world-renowned research fueled by over $690 million in research grants. For more information, visit www.cuanschutz.edu.

About the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome

The Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome is one of the only academic research centers fully devoted to improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through advanced biomedical research, spanning from basic science to translational and clinical investigations. Founded through the generous support and partnership of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation, and the University of Colorado, the Crnic Institute supports a thriving Down syndrome research program involving over 50 research teams across four campuses on the Colorado Front Range. To learn more, visit www.crnicinstitute.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @CrnicInstitute.

About Global Down Syndrome Foundation

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is the largest non-profit in the U.S. working to save lives and dramatically improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome. GLOBAL has donated more than $32 million to establish the first Down syndrome research institute supporting over 400 scientists and over 2,200 patients with Down syndrome from 33 states and 10 countries. Working closely with Congress and the National Institutes of Health, GLOBAL is the lead advocacy organization in the U.S. for Down syndrome research and care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 120 Down syndrome organizations worldwide, and is part of a network of Affiliates – the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, and the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center – all on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

GLOBAL’s widely circulated medical publications include Global Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome, Prenatal Testing and Information about Down Syndrome, and the award-winning magazine Down Syndrome World ^TM . GLOBAL also organizes the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world.

Visit globaldownsyndrome.org and follow us on social media (Facebook & Twitter: @GDSFoundation, Instagram: @globaldownsyndrome).

This year, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation Awards Program hit $1.1 million in supporting people with Down syndrome and their families.

DENVER (August 31, 2023) – This year, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) Awards Program hit the $1.1 million mark providing over 300 awards to local Down syndrome member organizations in 46 states and 6 countries since the program started in 2011.

The 2023 GLOBAL Education Awards will go to 13 organizations in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. A total of $76,000 will be invested in research and/or medical outreach programs that can quantitatively improve health outcomes. The awards will support over 8,000 individuals with Down syndrome, family members, and professionals. Over the years, a total of 20,000 individuals have been supported by the GLOBAL Awards Program.

Global Down Syndrome Foundation President & CEO Michelle Sie Whitten Brings Large Team on Stage, Describes Their Work as a ‘Team Sport’

DENVER – July 25, 2023—Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) co-founder, president & CEO, Michelle Sie Whitten, received the Exceptional Meritorious Service Award from the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) at their annual convention in Orlando, Florida this past weekend.  Michelle received the award, the highest NDSC honor, for establishing the first Down syndrome research and medical care institute in the U.S. fifteen years ago and for the transformative results her organization has created for children and adults with Down syndrome.

GLOBAL is the leading government advocacy organization for research and medical care specifically for children and adults with Down syndrome. Their work with the Congress, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), scientists and medical professionals and the Down syndrome community has led to the creation of a trans-NIH Down syndrome funding program (INCLUDE) that has provided over $250 million in Down syndrome research funding from 17 different institutes over the last five years alone. Most importantly, the funding has led to game-changing discoveries including four NIH-funded clinical trials (two in Alzheimer’s, one in autoimmune disorders and one in regression) at GLOBAL’s Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome.

NDSC executive director, Jordan Kough, and NDSC chair of the board, Kate Dougherty presented the award to Michelle who received a standing ovation. Michelle brought her team at the convention up on stage and explained that their work is a ‘team sport.’ She thanked the advocates that came before them, the amazing people with Down syndrome GLOBAL serves, Congressional and NIH champions, GLOBAL members and supporters, and the incredible staff at GLOBAL and GLOBAL’s affiliates – Dr. Joaquín Espinosa and the Crnic Institute, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children’s Hospital Colorado, the Adult Medical Center at Denver Health, and the Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center all on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

“We are so thrilled to honor Michelle Sie Whitten as our 2023 Exceptional Meritorious Service Award recipient. We are fortunate that her daughter, Sophia, inspired Michelle to create GLOBAL and to dedicate her life to elongating lifespan and improving health outcomes for children and adults with Down syndrome,” said Jordan Kough. “Michelle and GLOBAL fill a much-needed void in medical research and care. We have supported her tireless fight in Washington DC to increase the NIH Down syndrome annual research funding from $16 million in 2004 to $130 million in 2023. The results of that advocacy can be positively felt in our medical community throughout the U.S. and even across the world.”

Each year since 1977, NDSC has presented this award at their annual convention to community leaders who significantly improve the lives of people with Down syndrome and their families. Their convention, the largest Down syndrome conference in the world, attracts well over 3,000 registrants and is in a different city each year. Past Exceptional Meritorious Service Award recipients include Siegfried Pueschel, Jerome LeJeune, Emily Perl Kingsley, Eunice Scriver, Allen Crocker, Sally R. Shott, Anna & John J. Sie, Joan Guthrie Medlen, Maria Dellapina, Dr. Jesus Florez, Dr. Libby Kumin, Dr. Dennis McGuire, Terri Couwenhoven, and Nancy Gianni.

At the award ceremony, with GLOBAL executives and representatives Frank Stephens, Bryn Gelaro, Dr. Espinosa, David Tolleson, Brad Hennefer, Taylor Murphy and others by her side, Michelle thanked the NDSC, “NDSC welcomed me and my new ideas from the very beginning and through this powerful magnet of a convention they allowed GLOBAL, and so many other Down syndrome organizations, to connect, learn and grow with our community. They see us, value us, and know that we are future collaborators not competitors and that openness and leadership truly allow 1,000 flowers to bloom.”

Every year GLOBAL hosts the GLOBAL Research & Medical Care Roundtable at the NDSC Annual Convention as a free benefit to convention attendees. This year over 400 people attended to learn about the latest developments and treatments associated with eye and vision care, feeding and swallowing issues, adult care, important research at the NIH and Crnic Institutes and more. In addition to the roundtable, GLOBAL and NDSC publish a free prenatal and newborn pamphlet that has recently been joined by NDSS as a supporter. GLOBAL and NDSC also support each other’s key initiatives such as the GLOBAL Adult Medical Guideline and the NDSC Sibling and Educational toolkits and conferences.

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About Global Down Syndrome Foundation

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is the largest non-profit in the U.S. working to save lives and dramatically improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome. GLOBAL has donated more than $32 million to establish the first Down syndrome research institute supporting over 400 scientists and over 2,200 patients with Down syndrome from 33 states and 10 countries. Working closely with Congress and the National Institutes of Health, GLOBAL is the lead advocacy organization in the U.S. for Down syndrome research and care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 100 Down syndrome organizations worldwide, and is part of a network of Affiliates – the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, and the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center – all on the Anschutz Medical Campus. 

GLOBAL’s widely circulated medical publications include Global Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome, Prenatal & Newborn Down Syndrome Information and the award-winning magazine Down Syndrome World^TM . GLOBAL also organizes the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world. Visit globaldownsyndrome.org and follow us on social media (Facebook & Twitter: @GDSFoundation, Instagram: @globaldownsyndrome). 

Over 300 Inspired Attendees Raise Over $400,000, Celebrate GLOBAL Honorees, and Experience an Intimate Heartfelt Performance by GRAMMY Award-Nominated Multiplatinum Singer-Songwriter Gavin DeGraw

The GLOBAL Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is proud to endorse the Words Matter Act that is being reintroduced by U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) and Cathy McMorris Rogers (WA-05). The bipartisan legislation will remove more than two dozen instances of “mentally retarded” from federal law, replacing the outdated language with terminology that is appropriate for people with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. Removing these harmful words from the U.S. Code will modernize our laws and encourage more respectful conversations surrounding individuals with Down syndrome.

This important legislation builds upon the 2011 “Rosa’s Law” (P.L. 111-256) which struck “mental retardation” from federal law. GLOBAL was proud to be among the first to endorse that bill and is honored to be a lead supporter of the Words Matter Act.

We applaud and are grateful to Reps. Mark Pocan (WI-02), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), and Cathy McMorris Rogers (WA-05). As GLOBAL Congressional champions they are supporting GLOBAL’s work to increase NIH funding that is resulting in elongated life and improved health outcomes for people with Down syndrome.

Other resources:

Words Can Hurt

John C. McGinley’s Essay on the R-Word

GLOBAL CALLS OUT NETFLIX for anti-disability, anti-Down syndrome rhetoric

GLOBAL’s Response to Kanye West Using the ‘R’ Word

New Research Capability Will Accelerate Breakthrough Immune System Dysregulation Research in People with Down Syndrome

DENVER – Thursday, April 27 – Today, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) announced its affiliate, the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (Crnic Institute), has acquired a $950,000 state-of-the-art Immune Monitoring Station thanks to Community Project Funding that Congressman Jason Crow (CO 6^th District) secured as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations legislation.

The Immune Monitoring Station will significantly accelerate the pace of research discoveries at the Crnic Institute as well as treatments that lead to improved health outcomes for people with Down syndrome.

“This equipment will be used to better understand how the chronic inflammatory state in people with Down syndrome predisposes them to multiple co-occurring diseases,” said Dr. Joaquín Espinosa, executive director at the Crnic Institute. “Thanks to Rep. Crow’s work, and the government advocacy of Michelle Sie Whitten and the GLOBAL team, Down syndrome research at the Crnic Institute can be completed a lot faster.”

Specific co-occurring diseases to be analyzed with the Immune Monitoring Station include transient myeloproliferative disorder, lymphocytic and myeloid leukemias, autoimmune thyroid disease, autoimmune skin diseases, celiac disease, seizure disorders, developmental regression, autism spectrum disorder, pulmonary hypertension, dysphagia/aspiration and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Huntington Potter, professor of neurology and director of Alzheimer’s disease research at the Crnic Institute with GLOBAL self-advocates

“We are deeply grateful for Congressman Crow’s commitment and support for GLOBAL’s work to advance research that is transforming the lives of the amazing people with Down syndrome we serve,” said GLOBAL President & CEO, Michelle Sie Whitten. “We are proud to have the Crnic Institute, the epicenter of national and international Down syndrome research and medical care, right here in Colorado.”

The Crnic Institute Community Project Funding request made by Rep. Crow was also championed through letters of support from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association, Colorado Springs Down Syndrome Association, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Rise School, Easter Seals Colorado, Colorado Cross Disability Center and ArcThrift.

“The Crnic Institute and GLOBAL are advancing life-changing science that is elongating life and improving health outcomes for those with Down syndrome,” said Rep. Crow. “I’m thrilled we are able to help them make important investments in their research infrastructure that will boost their efforts to better understand diseases like Alzheimer’s and solid tumor cancers and find new and better treatments.”

The Crnic Institute is the largest center for Down syndrome research in the world, with more than 50 research teams and 200+ scientists involved. In 2016, with support from GLOBAL, Dr. Joaquín Espinosa and his scientific team made the groundbreaking discovery that people with Down syndrome experience chronic immune system dysregulation. Due to this discovery, the Crnic Institute was granted an unprecedented NIH-funded clinical trial using FDA drugs that normalize the immune system in people with Down syndrome

People with Down syndrome have three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two. Because of one extra chromosome, people with Down syndrome have a very different disease spectrum than others. People with Down syndrome are highly predisposed to certain diseases (such as Alzheimer’s and autoimmune disorders) and highly protected from others (such as solid tumors and certain types of heart attack or stroke).

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About Global Down Syndrome Foundation

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is the largest non-profit in the U.S. working to save lives and dramatically improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome. GLOBAL has donated more than $32 million to establish the first Down syndrome research institute supporting over 400 scientists and over 2,200 patients with Down syndrome from 33 states and 10 countries. Working closely with Congress and the National Institutes of Health, GLOBAL is the lead advocacy organization in the U.S. for Down syndrome research and care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 100 Down syndrome organizations worldwide, and is part of a network of Affiliates – the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, and the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center – all on the Anschutz Medical Campus. 

GLOBAL’s widely circulated medical publications include Global Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome, Prenatal & Newborn Down Syndrome Information and the award-winning magazine Down Syndrome World^TM . GLOBAL also organizes the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world. Visit globaldownsyndrome.org and follow us on social media (Facebook & Twitter: @GDSFoundation, Instagram: @globaldownsyndrome). 

GRAMMY-Nominated Multiplatinum Singer-Songwriter Gavin DeGraw to Perform & Award-Winning ABC & Fox News Anchors to Emcee

DENVER– Thursday, March 30 –   The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) announced its annual AcceptAbility Gala (“Gala”) will take place on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. beginning at 6:00 PM ET. GLOBAL will present its prestigious Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award to Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-MA) and Congressman Pete Stauber (R-MN) for their unwavering support for GLOBAL and the people with Down syndrome we serve. Self-advocate Abby Ashbrook will be recognized as GLOBAL’s 2023 Ambassador.

The event will raise critical funds and awareness for GLOBAL’s life-changing research, medical care and government advocacy for people with Down syndrome. Proceeds will help underwrite over 2,400 patients with Down syndrome from 33 states and 10 countries, over 200 scientists working on co-occurring conditions such as Alzheimer’s and immune system disorders, and will help fulfill GLOBAL’s mission to elongate life and improve healthcare outcomes for children and adults with Down syndrome.

The AcceptAbility Gala will also feature dancing and a live performance by GRAMMY® Award-nominated multiplatinum singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw, whose set will include some of his top hits throughout his expansive career.  Inclusive dance troupe RhythmXpress and Robert Wallop, a professional dancer with Down syndrome, are part of the night’s inspirational entertainment.

GRAMMY-Nominated Multiplatinum Singer-Songwriter & 2023 AcceptAbility Gala Performer Gavin DeGraw

Kyra Phillips, award-winning ABC journalist and a GLOBAL Quincy Jones Award recipient, and John Roberts, co-anchor of “America Reports” on Fox News, will emcee the event.

Key speakers will include Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and GLOBAL President and CEO Michelle Sie Whitten. See the full list of this year’s Congressional Hosts and Gala Congressional Committee on the AcceptAbility Gala website.

The AcceptAbility Gala brings together congressional champions from both sides of the aisle, key directors and scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Down syndrome community for a night of celebration and inspiration. Support for this event allows GLOBAL to deliver on significantly improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through Research, Medical Care, Education and Advocacy. With support from its champions, GLOBAL’s advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill have resulted in $200 million increase in NIH funding in five years, as well as outreach to over 14,000 families.

Down syndrome is the leading cause of developmental delay in the U.S., yet it is often overlooked by the federal government. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation is the lead advocacy non-profit working with self-advocates, congressional champions, and the NIH to advance Down syndrome research and medical care that will lead to the elongation and improved quality of countless lives.

For more information, please visit the AcceptAbility website.

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About Global Down Syndrome Foundation

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is the largest non-profit in the U.S. working to save lives and dramatically improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome. GLOBAL has donated more than $32 million to establish the first Down syndrome research institute supporting over 400 scientists and over 2,200 patients with Down syndrome from 33 states and 10 countries. Working closely with Congress and the National Institutes of Health, GLOBAL is the lead advocacy organization in the U.S. for Down syndrome research and care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 100 Down syndrome organizations worldwide, and is part of a network of Affiliates – the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, and the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center – all on the Anschutz Medical Campus. 

GLOBAL’s widely circulated medical publications include Global Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome, Prenatal & Newborn Down Syndrome Information and the award-winning magazine Down Syndrome World^TM . GLOBAL also organizes the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world. Visit globaldownsyndrome.org and follow us on social media (Facebook & Twitter: @GDSFoundation, Instagram: @globaldownsyndrome). 

Press Contacts: 

Ali Rubin, alirubin@gmail.com, C: (917) 242-6955

Anca Elena Call, acall@globaldownsyndrome.org, C: (720) 320-3832

For Immediate Release: 

Dominique McKay, dmckay@narrativedc.com, (202) 730-0133

Sheryl Tirol, stirol@regis.edu, (303) 458-4218

Anca Elena Call, acall@globaldownsyndrome.org, (720) 320-3832

REGIS UNIVERSITY EXPANDS ACCESS TO NEW POST-SECONDARY PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES

Innovative Program Receives $365,000 in Scholarship Funding to Cover Tuition, Housing

Denver, Colo.— Today, Regis University (“Regis”) announced more than $365,000 in new scholarship funding for Denver County and prospective residential students from across the U.S. enrolling in the university’s groundbreaking GLOBAL Inclusive Program. This innovative program is one of only two post-secondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities offered at a Jesuit university and it is a collaboration effort between Global Down Syndrome Foundation (“GLOBAL”), Regis University and the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation.

A combination of this new scholarship funding and a grant provided by the Anna & John J. Sie Foundation will help ensure in-state and out-of-state students have access to the GLOBAL Inclusive Program. Scholarship funding will help cover costs related to tuition, books and supplies, extracurricular activities, transportation, and room and board. Since its launch, the GLOBAL Inclusive Program continues to receive the support of Regis University at the highest level.

“Establishing the GLOBAL Inclusive Program is perfectly aligned with our Jesuit values and we are excited to bring together the entire university community in support of our students who are differently-abled,” Regis University President Salvador D. Aceves, Ed.D. said. “We believe that our students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities benefit from diverse learning styles and mutual understanding. Consistent with our Ignatian educational tradition, our faculty and staff are eager to educate the whole student and ensure we set them up for success.” 

“To be able to offer students a safe, welcoming college experience in Denver is a dream come true,” GLOBAL President & CEO Michelle Sie Whitten said. “When I see the independence my own daughter is showing in the program as compared to high school, I feel pride and excitement for her future. Our hope is that we can work with other Jesuit universities and colleges across the nation and create educational research leveraging a larger population base and outcomes.”

The GLOBAL Inclusive Program was initiated under Regis University Provost Karen Riley, Ph.D. Riley is an internationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders and focuses on improving the lives of children and families impacted by Down syndrome.

Jeanine Coleman, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Division of Education at Regis University and serves as director of the GLOBAL Inclusive Program, utilizing her expertise in Early Childhood Special Education and research on children with neurodevelopmental and intellectual disabilities. Coleman has more than 30 years of experience working at the local and state levels conducting research and policy analyses for children with disabilities.

The GLOBAL Inclusive Program has three levels:

1. Basic Level: Includes 12-18 credit hours of academic coursework and extracurricular support for independent living and basic job skills over one year.
2. Intermediate Level: Includes the Basic Level offerings plus 12 additional credits of employment-specific courses over two years.
3. Advanced Level: Includes the Intermediate Level offerings plus supported residential living over two years.

The program culminates in a college certificate and includes modified curriculum for classes with typical peers, peer mentors and professors to assist with homework, class projects, internships, social activities, sports and exercise.

“My first year has been great,” said Grace Grubb, a 22-year-old currently enrolled in the GLOBAL Inclusive Program. “I like to study, and to hang out with my friends and my peer mentors. My favorite classes are philosophy, religion, and public speaking. I want to live in the dorm. I want to finish college and get a job!”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 6.5 million people in the U.S. have an intellectual disability. An estimated 68% graduate from high school, but many of those graduates do not go on to seek a higher education. In 2022, 21% of people with a disability were employed, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

Initiatives like the GLOBAL Inclusive Program will help ensure those living with intellectual disabilities are prepared to thrive in adulthood. Learn more about the GLOBAL Inclusive Program, including how to apply for scholarship funding, here.

GLOBAL Inclusive Program Background:

• Enrolled students complete 12 to 30 credit hours using a combination of modifications and accommodations.
• Classes include a variety of subjects — including writing, philosophy, communications, psychology, and health and exercise.
• Students receive support from an Educational Support Specialist (ESS) during classes, tutoring sessions, and class preparation, as well as an Academic Success Coach.
• The ESS also provides support to faculty that enables the program to make real-time accommodations and modifications in and outside of the classroom.
• Peer mentors help with practical tasks such as navigating the campus and sharing their social knowledge.
• Two days a week the students participate in a physical fitness class using the Mann Method of Physical Therapy and Fitness.

ABOUT REGIS UNIVERSITY

Established in 1877, Regis University is a premier, globally engaged institution of higher learning in the Jesuit Catholic tradition that prepares leaders to live productive lives of faith, meaning and service. Regis University, one of 27 Jesuit universities in the nation, has three campus locations in the Denver metro area and extensive online program offerings with more than 6,000 enrolled students. For more information, visit www.regis.edu.

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