Archive for the ‘Press Releases’ Category

GLOBAL’s Award-winning Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show will honor GLOBAL Ambassador Zaya Biel and Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awardee Sofia Sanchez

DENVER –July 17, 2024 – Today, Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) announced a fantastic celebrity lineup for its annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world: “Hunger Games” actress Sofia Sanchez; award-winning film and TV actor John C. McGinley; beloved actress from the longest primetime TV drama on ABC, “Grey’s Anatomy” Caterina Scorsone, and her co-stars Alexis Floyd, Anthony Hill and Niko Terho; model and actress Amanda Booth; actress and model Shelley Hennig; and award-winning local NBC anchor Kim Christiansen, will emcee the event. In its 16^th year, the award-winning event will be held on Saturday, November 16 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. Proceeds will benefit GLOBAL’s life-saving and transformative research and medical care.

The event will honor Zaya Biel, the incoming GLOBAL Ambassador, and Sofia Sanchez will receive GLOBAL’s Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award.  Zaya a fiery five-year-old who lives in Cabo, Mexico with her mom, dad, and three-year-old brother Ziggy. Having overcome serious health challenges as an infant, Ambassador Zaya has blossomed into a vivacious young girl with a passion for dancing and zest for life. She loves spending time with her family, especially her little brother, and together they enjoy sunset walks, horseback riding, and yoga. Ambassador Zaya and her family will work closely with GLOBAL to make sure it raises both funds and awareness towards elongating life and improving health outcomes for children and adults with Down syndrome.

Ukrainian American actress, model, author, and self-advocate Sofia Sanchez will receive GLOBAL’s highest merit honor—the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award. Past recipients include Jamie Foxx, DeOndra Dixon, Madison Tevlin, Bobby Farrelly, Caterina Scorsone, Eric Dane, Jamie Brewer, Colin Farrell, Tim Harris, John Lynch, Zack Gottsagen, John C. McGinley, Karen Gaffney, Eva Longoria, Frank Stephens, Kyra Phillips, Marián Ávila and Beverly Johnson. 

Sofia Sanchez got her start seven years ago with her viral video “Down Syndrome is Not Scary,” followed by her acting debut in the 2015 television series “Switched at Birth.” In the summer of 2023, Sofia appeared at the “Barbie” movie premiere dressed as the first-ever Barbie with Down syndrome, which earned her a place on the best-dressed lists across major reporting channels. In November 2023, Sofia earned her first major motion picture role: Wovey in “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” Also in April of this year, she was the youngest person with Down syndrome to take the stage and present a TEDx Talk on “The Power of Bravery.” 

“We are thrilled to have Ambassador Zaya and Quincy Jones Awardee Sofia Sanchez officially join the GLOBAL family,” says GLOBAL President & CEO, Michelle Sie Whitten. “Both these young women are brilliant and beautiful role models who are helping us break stereotypes and showing the world that if society gives us a chance, people with Down syndrome can reach their goals and live their dreams. But we have to have good health and a long life to succeed. With help from our celebrity friends and the community’s generous support, we’re so pleased that GLOBAL is able to deliver on that through our groundbreaking research and medical care.”

GLOBAL’s advocacy and lobbying efforts with Congress and outreach to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have resulted in an unprecedented increase of the national Down syndrome research budget, from $27 million in 2016 to over $140 million in 2024.

Proceeds from the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show support the important work of GLOBAL and GLOBAL’s affiliates, including a team of over 400 scientists working on breakthrough life-saving research at the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome and the CU Alzheimer’s & Cognition Center, and a dream team of medical professionals providing excellent medical care to over 2,500 patients from 33 states and 10 countries at the Anna and John J. Sie Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

To learn more, visit: https://bebeautifulbeyourself.org/

To buy tickets, visit: https://bebeautifulbeyourself.org/be-beautiful-be-yourself-fashion-show-tickets/

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.

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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 2,500 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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A Fitting Legacy for the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Dance Class at Colorado Ballet

DENVER (June 18, 2024) – Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) announced today that it has received a transformative gift from their long-time benefactor and generous philanthropist, Sandy Wolf, and The Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation.

The gift is a fitting legacy for the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Dance Program (Program) which is a collaboration between GLOBAL and Colorado Ballet. The Program was established in 2010 with one class of six students with Down syndrome. Today the Program has three classes serving students with Down syndrome ages 5-17.

“We are beyond grateful to Sandy Wolf and her two daughters Kelly Ann Hodges and Ashly Wolf who supported us when this dance program was barely an idea,” says Michelle Sie Whitten, GLOBAL President & CEO. “The authentic and sincere love that Sandy has for our students and this program is extremely moving and appreciated. This gift is truly transformative and ensures we can continue to provide this important program to the awesome students with Down syndrome we serve.”

“It’s been an honor and joy to support such an amazing program over the years! I’ve had the pleasure of watching these dancers grow up right before my eyes. Continuing to support GLOBAL and this program is something I am happy to be able to do,” says Sandy Wolf.

“This program has been so important to my daughter, Shelby and our family,” says Sophia, Shelby’s mom. “When Shelby first started the GLOBAL dance program she wouldn’t wear the costume, get on stage, and she would run. But the Colorado Ballet teachers were not phased, and they just kept supporting her until she had the confidence to do all the moves and dances. I cried when I saw her in the official production of the Nutcracker.”

“Colorado Ballet is proud to offer the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Dance Program as part of our Mission. As a non-profit organization we depend on funding to sustain our ability to provide this critical program to our community,” says Gil Boggs, Artistic Director. “Colorado Ballet extends our heartfelt gratitude to Global Down Syndrome Foundation and to Sandy Wolf along with her daughters Kelly Ann Hodges and Ashly Wolf for their many years of generosity in support of this important program.”

The Dance Program is taught by instructors and professional dancers from the Colorado Ballet. Students learn the fundamentals of ballet and build upon their knowledge year after year. The Dance Program offers two 16-week semesters, each with three classes of 8-10 students grouped by age and skill level. Each semester culminates in a recital for family and friends at Denver’s Colorado Ballet. The Dance Program is nationally renowned for selecting two students each year to perform in Colorado Ballet’s official production of “The Nutcracker.”

The Melvin & Elaine Wolf Foundation was founded in Colorado by Melvin and Elaine Wolf in 1979. The organization provides funds to non-profit organizations whose programs address children’s health and education access as well as programs that improve adult health and reduce suffering through education and technology.

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About the 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 2,500 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 medical care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 110 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 Down Syndrome World™ magazine. GLOBAL also organizes the annual AcceptAbility Gala in Washington DC, and the annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world.

Free GLOBAL Memberships Will Be Offered to All New Parents

DENVER and ARDEN HILLS, Minn. (June 4, 2024) –  Today the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) and Jack’s Basket announced a collaboration that will provide more resources to new parents who receive a prenatal or postnatal Down syndrome diagnosis. Free one-year GLOBAL Memberships will be offered through Jack’s Basket’s extensive distribution network in the U.S. and around the world.

With GLOBAL memberships, new parents will have access to complementary quarterly research and medical care GLOBAL Webinars that attract up to 600 participants, and the award-winning Down Syndrome World™ magazine.

“We are grateful for the generous gift of a one-year GLOBAL membership to our basket recipients,” says Jack’s Basket Founder & CEO Carissa Carroll, M.Ed., “We hope our new and expecting families will get connected and experience the incredible education, research, and resources GLOBAL provides.  We are thankful for GLOBAL’s support of our mission and believe our partnership aligns with our shared goals of ensuring that individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and providers have access to resources from the timing of diagnosis.”

Since its inception in 2014, Jack’s Basket has sent free celebratory gift baskets to over 9000 babies born with Down syndrome across all 50 states and 47 countries. Each Jack’s Basket contains baby gifts, a connection to a parent raising a child with Down syndrome, and a collection of books and resources. Among these resources is the Prenatal & Newborn Down Syndrome Information Pamphlet created by GLOBAL in collaboration with The National Down Syndrome Congress and National Down Syndrome Society, which has been included in all Jack’s Baskets since 2023.

“Jack’s Basket is changing the diagnosis experience for parents around the country and the world, by providing a warm welcome – and vital information – to new parents,” says GLOBAL Vice President of Strategic Alliances David Tolleson, “We are very grateful to our friends at Jack’s Basket for providing our Prenatal & Newborn Information Pamphlet, as well as the opportunity to accept a one-year complimentary GLOBAL Membership, in their baskets!”

GLOBAL’s quarterly hour-long webinars cover important topics in Down syndrome research and medical care such as “How to Manage Swallowing Issues in Children with Down Syndrome” and “Sleep Apnea Across the Lifespan.” In addition to presenting on their area of focus, experts answer every question posed by webinar viewers in real time and/or in the weeks following. While presentation slides are available to the public, videos of new and archived webinars are a benefit for GLOBAL Members.

Down Syndrome World™ magazine has received 17 prestigious national awards for excellence in healthcare reporting, including gold, silver and bronze Aster and Healthcare Advertising Awards. The magazine features human interest stories, and features on research, medical care, and movers and shakers from politics to entertainment to non-profits. Celebrities who have graced the Down Syndrome World cover alongside self-advocates include Jamie Foxx, DeOndra Dixon, Miley Cyrus, Jamie Brewer, Dakota Johnson, Zack Gottsagen, Colin Farrell, John C. McGinley, Beverly Johnson, Caterina Scorsone, Von Miller, and Jeremy Renner.

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About the 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 2,500 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 medical care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 110 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 Down Syndrome World™ magazine. GLOBAL also organizes the annual AcceptAbility Gala in Washington DC, and the annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world.

About Jack’s Basket

Jack’s Basket is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to celebrate babies with Down syndrome. We strive to ensure that every new and expectant parent is provided resources and avenues of support within the community. We aim to equip medical providers with tools to discuss the diagnosis in an unbiased way in hopes that having a baby with Down syndrome is celebrated like any other.

Jack’s Basket exists to eliminate bias and celebrate babies with Down syndrome by equipping providers with tools to deliver the diagnosis accurately without bias, connecting new parents to resources through our basket delivery program, and sharing powerful stories to change the narrative around Down syndrome. To request a Jack’s Basket click here.

Global Down Syndrome Foundation Honored Reps. Hudson and Frankel at Event that Featured Grammy-Nominated Singer and Actress Jordin Sparks and an Inclusive Dance Troupe

Denver, CO, May 10, 2024 –Last night the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) held its sixth annual AcceptAbility Gala, DC’s largest fundraiser for people with Down syndrome, that raised $400,000 to support important research and medical care to improve the lives of those who happen to have Down syndrome. Representatives Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Lois Frankel (D-FL) received GLOBAL’s highest honor, the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award, and pledged their continued strong advocacy in Congress that makes an impact on the lives of people with Down syndrome and their families.

“At GLOBAL, we are working hard every day to elongate life and improve health outcomes for our loved ones with Down syndrome,” says GLOBAL Co-Founder, President, and CEO, Michelle Sie Whitten. “Last night we brought together a room full of bi-partisan support  from Congress, NIH leadership, self-advocates with Down syndrome, and corporate leaders, all celebrating the impact of GLOBAL’s work. The joy and excitement at our event and the tangible outcome of our work together is truly rewarding!”

Held at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC, the event was attended by GLOBAL awardee alum, Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and her son, GLOBAL Ambassador Cole Rodgers. Representative Rodgers’ keynote speech deeply moved the audience. Her determination to pass a game-changing legacy bill, the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act, before her poignant retirement from Congress was an important feature of the evening. The bill will help ensure funding for Down syndrome research and medical care from the NIH for years to come.

Celebrities passionate about the cause included Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum singer/songwriter and actress Jordin Sparks; actor, author and public speaker Frank Stephens; author and public speaker David Egan; and award-winning correspondent for ABC News and anchor for ABC News LIVE Kyra Phillips and her daughter Sage Roberts.

To recognize the transformative leadership of Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the GLOBAL Rosa DeLauro Advancement Award, with a post-secondary scholarship, was provided to Damani Tichawonna from Washington, DC as was the GLOBAL Tom Cole Advancement Award to Julia Greene. Representative Rosa DeLauro was on-hand to personally present both Advancement Awards to the deserving recipients, leaving the audience inspired to do even more for people with Down syndrome and their families.

With the help of GLOBAL Ambassador Isla Eager and her family, Erin Book Mullen, and co-chairs Julie Riccio and Amy Best Weiss, the inspirational gala attracted 300 attendees and raised $400,000 for GLOBAL’s life-saving research and medical care. GLOBAL supports over 200 researchers on the Anschutz Medical Campus at the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome and at the Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center, as well as  2,500 patients from 33 states and 10 countries at the Sie Center for Down Syndrome. For nearly two decades, Down syndrome was one of the least federally funded genetic conditions in the United States.

“People with Down syndrome enrich our world in unique ways,” says Representative Hudson. “GLOBAL is paving the way for people who are differently-abled so they can live their lives to their full potential with no barriers or bias or obstacles standing in their way. I am honored to support their efforts and to receive this award, and will continue advocating for policies that improve the lives of people with Down syndrome.”

“It was an honor to be with so many great advocates for Down syndrome and to receive such a generous recognition,” says Representative Frankel. “I am proud to support GLOBAL’s mission of elongating life and improving health outcomes for people with Down syndrome. Their AcceptAbility Gala was an inspiring evening that reminds all of us that we must continue to make critical investments in Down syndrome research to uphold the health and dignity of every person.”

At the end of the evening, Jordin Sparks wowed the audience not only with her beautiful voice but by connecting with fans and bringing self-advocates with Down syndrome on stage while performing an intimate, heartfelt performance of some of her biggest hits including “No Air” and “One Step at a Time,” and  solo dancer Robert Wallop and inclusive dance troupe RhythmXpress delighted attendees with dance performances set to “Bones” by Imagine Dragons, “Firework” by Katy Perry and “Fireball” by Mini Pop Kids.

Additional notables in attendance included Kim Owens from the National Down Syndrome Congress and Dria Law from the Down Syndrome Association of Southern New Jersey .

To learn more about GLOBAL, visit www.globaldownsyndrome.org.

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About the 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 medical care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 110 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 Down Syndrome World™ magazine. GLOBAL also organizes the annual AcceptAbility Gala in Washington DC, and the annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world.

Self-advocates to Receive the Rosa DeLauro & Tom Cole Advancement Awards & Local Dancers with Down Syndrome Showcase Talents

Denver, CO, April 17, 2024 —

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is honoring Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL) and Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC), who will receive the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awards for their work in  support for those with Down syndrome, during its annual AcceptAbility Gala. The gala is an inspiring fundraiser event taking place at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC on May 9^th that features DC-area dancers who happen to have Down syndrome and other disabilities and a performance by Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum singer/songwriter and actress, Jordin Sparks.

“We are excited to highlight the extraordinary talents and gifts of people with Down syndrome at our AcceptAbility Gala.  It’s also a chance to honor those Members of Congress who have worked hard to ensure our community benefits from federally funded research that is improving their lives,” says Michelle Sie Whitten, President & CEO, Global Down Syndrome Foundation. “This year, we are thrilled to honor Rep. Hudson and Rep. Frankel for their unwavering support for people with Down syndrome and their families, and to thank Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Rosa DeLauro, both of whom will be in attendance, for their life-changing leadership.”

GLOBAL’s annual AcceptAbility Gala brings together policymakers from both sides of the aisle, key scientists from NIH, and the Down syndrome community. With GLOBAL’s leadership bringing together multiple stakeholders, the NIH Down syndrome research and medical care budget has increased by $338 million over the last six years. The AcceptAbility Gala is an opportunity to celebrate major new federal research funding increases after years of being one of the least funded genetic conditions and to educate Congress and the community about the transformative DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024 that will elongate life and improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome.

During the gala, GLOBAL will honor 2024 GLOBAL Ambassador Isla Eager and her family from Arlington, Virginia and present the Rosa DeLauro & Tom Cole GLOBAL Advancement Awards to two self-advocates with Down syndrome. The awards come with a $1,000 each scholarship for post-secondary education. The 2024 Gala Chairs are Julie Riccio, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy, PwC, and Amy Best Weiss, Executive VP, Global Government Affairs, American Express. Congressional Hosts include Sen. Bob Casey, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Sen. Jerry Moran, Cong. Robert Aderholt, Cong. Katherine Clark, Cong. Tom Cole, Cong. Rosa DeLauro, Cong. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Cong. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Cong. Pete Sessions, and Cong. Pete Stauber. This year’s event has 89 Members of Congress supporting it as well as the Honorary Congressional Committee. The AcceptAbility Gala is co-emceed by husband and wife team—Fox News’ John Roberts and ABC’s Kyra Phillips.

Other leaders who are participating include Frank Stephens, GLOBAL board member, GLOBAL Ambassador, self-advocate and actor, from Fairfax, VA; David Egan, Quincy Jones Awardee, gala event committee, self-advocate and author, from Vienna, VA; Robert Wallop, soloist dancer and self-advocate, from Annapolis, MD; Jan Adams, Founder & CEO JMA Solutions; Cory Alexander, Strategic Advisor, UnitedHealth Group; John Ashbrook, Founding Partner, Cavalry LLC; Kevin Brennan, Principal, Bluebird Strategies; Natalie Farr Harrison, SVP Government Relations, Avoq; Erin Book Mullen, Principal, Williams & Jensen, PLLC, Ed Mullen, Partner, Narrative Strategies; Matthew Perin, Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Kroger; Cliff Riccio, Senior Vice President & Chief, Government Relations, NCTA; and Salo Zelermyer, Vice President for Federal Affairs and Counsel, Valero; and Dr. Joaquín Espinosa, Executive Director, Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome.

The AcceptAbility Gala supports the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, funding life-changing research and lifesaving medical care for children and adults with Down syndrome. Down syndrome is the most frequent chromosomal condition, affecting an estimated 400,000 Americans, but it has been one of the least-funded genetic condition by NIH. GLOBAL is focused on raising funds to support research, educating the public about the discrepancy in research funding, and showcasing the abilities of those with Down syndrome. It is the largest US non-profit working to save lives and dramatically improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome.

The AcceptAbility Gala starts at 6:00 p.m. with a reception and red carpet followed by dinner, a live auction, and performances by local individuals with Down syndrome and Jordin Sparks. Tickets start at $500 and can be purchased online at www.globaldownsyndrome.org. To cover the event or receive photos or b-roll, contact Shawn Flaherty at 703-554-3609. For more information, visit www.globaldownsyndrome.org.

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About the 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 medical care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 110 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 Down Syndrome World™ magazine. GLOBAL also organizes the annual AcceptAbility Gala in Washington DC, and the annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world.

GLOBAL Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awardee and “Champions” Actress, Madison Tevlin, Delivers Another “Must See” Performance for World Down Syndrome Day

Denver, CO, Mar 27, 2024 — The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is proud to support the international awareness campaign video, “Assume That I Can,” that is taking the internet by storm! GLOBAL has financially sponsored and supported this annual campaign organized by CoorDown in Italy. This year’s campaign was created in collaboration with the New York-based agency SMALL.

The breakout star of the campaign video is “Champions” actress Madison Tevlin who received GLOBAL’s highest honor, the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award in 2023. Madison and iconic film director Bobby Farrelly received their Quincy Jones Awards at the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest fundraiser for people with Down syndrome in the world.

“We are so proud to be part of CoorDown’s annual awareness campaign video and to have Madison be the star of the film was just beyond perfect,” says Michelle Sie Whitten, GLOBAL President and CEO. “At GLOBAL we are working so hard to elongate life and improve health outcomes so we embrace this parallel theme of limiting perceptions. The video is exceptional, fantastic, wonderful – we hope it gets MILLIONS of views!”

World Down Syndrome Day falls on March 21^st or “3-21” signifying the fact that people with Down syndrome are born with 3 (three) copies of chromosome 21 instead of 2 (two). World Down Syndrome Day was promulgated by the United Nations in 2012 and is celebrated in 190 countries.

To learn more about the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and World Down Syndrome Day, visit www.globaldownsyndrome.org/world-down-syndrome-day-month.

Hashtags: #AssumeThatICan #WDSD24 #WorldDownSyndromeDay #Endthestereotypes

#downsyndromerocks #dsrocks #downsyndromelove #downsyndromeawareness #t21 #globalrocks #downsyndromeworld #downsyndrome #nonprofit #denvernonprofit

About the 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 medical care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 110 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 Down Syndrome World™ magazine. GLOBAL also organizes the annual AcceptAbility Gala in Washington DC, and the annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world.

Self-Advocates with Down Syndrome Share Their Stories & Inspire the World

The Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Favorably Reported the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024 with Unanimous Support

DENVER – March 12, 2024—The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) praised the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for approving the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024 (H.R. 7406), which would authorize the INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE (INCLUDE) Project at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

The legislation will formally authorize a trans-NIH structure to ensure that major crosscutting issues and opportunities within Down syndrome research are identified and allow for multiple institutes to collaborate on a research plan. This will enable institute coordination to plan, fund, and share and disseminate research results that aim to improve health outcomes for those with Down syndrome.

GLOBAL is deeply grateful to their congressional champions who are co-sponsoring this important legislation: Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) who formally introduced the game-changing DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024 with her colleagues Diana DeGette (D-CO), Tom Cole (R-OK), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Pete Stauber (R-MN) and Delegate Eleanor Norton Homes (D-DC) as original cosponsors.

2024 House Committee on Energy & Commerce Health Hearing: “Legislative Proposals To Support Patients And Caregivers

GLOBAL will be launching a digital campaign  this week to encourage supporters to contact their Representatives, tell their personal stories, and let them know that passing  this bill this year is imperative and important Visit www.globaldownsyndrome.org/advocacy for more information.

“Working with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” says Michelle Sie Whitten, GLOBAL President & CEO. “With this bill, named in memory of our beloved Ambassador DeOndra Dixon, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers is helping to create a powerful future for a population that has been largely ignored and neglected. With her unwavering commitment and leadership, and with wonderful bipartisan support, our champions are ensuring the INCLUDE Project and Down syndrome research funding remains a national priority and that we will see increased lifespan and improved health as a result.”

Having advocated for the establishment of INCLUDE, GLOBAL continues to advocate for additional funding and programs that would help some of the most vulnerable populations within the Down syndrome community: including those living in rural America, Black or African Americans with Down syndrome and other minorities. There is some research that points to a significant disparity in lifespan for Black or African Americans with Down syndrome as compared to a Caucasian with Down syndrome.

The INCLUDE Project was established via congressional directive in 2018 after a seminal first-in-kind House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee hearing led by then-Chairman Cole Tom Cole and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro. Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers was a key supporter at the hearing and testified along with Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome Executive Director, Dr. Joaquín Espinosa, and GLOBAL Board Member and self-advocate, Frank Stephens. Frank’s testimony that day, which included the famous phrase, “I am a man with Down syndrome and my life’s worth living,” went viral to 1 million views that day and today stands at well over 200 million.

Dr. Espinosa’s testimony focused on the fact that people with Down syndrome have a very different disease profile whereby they are highly predisposed to certain diseases (for example Alzheimer’s and certain autoimmune diseases) and highly protected from others (for example solid tumors). He also presented his groundbreaking study that categorizes Down syndrome as an immune system disorder and how by studying people with Down syndrome we can not only improve their lives but the lives of millions of others who suffer from diseases.

Before Congress began funding the NIH INCLUDE Project, Down syndrome was one of the least funded genetic conditions by the NIH despite being the leading cause of developmental delay in the U.S. and around the world. For nearly two decades the funding had languished between $16 million and $20 million even during years when there was a double-digit growth of the NIH budget. In 2023, the estimated INCLUDE budget is $144 million. GLOBAL’s advocacy goal is to increase funding to over $250 million a year.

GLOBAL Affiliate, the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, has five clinical trials specifically for patients with Down syndrome: Two in Alzheimer’s and Down Syndrome, one in Down Syndrome Regression Disorder, and two in autoimmunity and inflammation.

To read about the impactful research that the INCLUDE Project has funded visit the NIH Down Syndrome Coordinating Center Website at: https://includedcc.org/.

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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 annual AcceptAbility Gala in Washington DC, and the annual 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). 

The DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024, named after GLOBAL Ambassador and Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awardee DeOndra Dixon, is co-sponsored by Representatives Diana DeGette, Tom Cole, and Eleanor Holmes Norton 

Denver, CO, Feb. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is thrilled to share the news that long-time GLOBAL champion Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) formally introduced the game-changing DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act of 2024 with Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO), Tom Cole (R-OK) and Delegate Eleanor Norton Homes (D-DC) as original cosponsors.

The legislation to formally establish the INCLUDE (Investigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndrome) Project at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the culmination of years of tireless advocacy led by GLOBAL and including self-advocates with Down syndrome and their families, scientists and medical care professionals, and champions in Congress and at NIH.

“Working with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” says Michelle Sie Whitten, GLOBAL President & CEO. “With this bill, named in memory of our beloved Ambassador DeOndra Dixon, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers is helping to create a powerful future for a population that has been largely ignored and neglected. With her unwavering commitment and leadership, and with wonderful bipartisan support, our champions are ensuring the INCLUDE Project and Down syndrome research funding remains a national priority and that we will see increased lifespan and improved health as a result.”

Michelle Sie Whitten & The Dixon/Foxx Family

“We are forever grateful to GLOBAL for creating such purpose for our little sister DeOndra,” says Academy Award-winning actor and DeOndra Dixon’s brother, Jamie Foxx. “My sister Deidra and I are so proud of the big difference she made through her advocacy in DC, and now with this bill she will continue to make a difference. There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t miss her, but today I know she’s dancing up in heaven because this legislation is named after her and will help millions of people with Down syndrome.”

“DeOndra loved to help people and to advocate for people less fortunate,” says Mr. George Dixon, DeOndra’s father. “I remember DeOndra keynoting alongside Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Congressman Patrick Kennedy, and she was cracking everybody up with her jokes. Anyone who has met DeOndra knows she was a pistol – articulate, funny, smart and the most loving person I have ever known. We are so happy that this important bill is named after our little angel. People with Down syndrome deserve better, and this bill is a big step in the right direction.                                                   

Having advocated for the establishment of INCLUDE, GLOBAL continues to advocate for additional funding and programs that would help some of the most vulnerable populations within the Down syndrome community: including those living in rural America, Black or African Americans with Down syndrome and other minorities. There is some research that points to a significant disparity in lifespan for black or African Americans with Down syndrome as compared to a Caucasian with Down syndrome.

The INCLUDE Project was established via congressional directive in 2018 after a seminal first-in-kind House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee hearing led by then-Chairman Cole Tom Cole and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro. Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers was a key supporter at the hearing and testified along with Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome Executive Director, Dr. Joaquín Espinosa, and GLOBAL Board Member and self-advocate, Frank Stephens. Frank’s testimony that day which included the famous phrase “I am a man with Down syndrome and my life’s worth living,” went viral to 1 million views that day and today stands at well over 200 million.

Dr. Espinosa’s testimony focused on the fact that people with Down syndrome have a very different disease profile whereby they are highly predisposed to certain disease (for example Alzheimer’s and certain autoimmune diseases) and highly protected from others (for example solid tumors). He also presented his groundbreaking study that allows us to categorize Down syndrome as an immune system disorder and how by studying people with Down syndrome we can not only improve their lives but the lives of millions of others who suffer from diseases.

Before Congress directed NIH to create the INCLUDE Project, Down syndrome was one of the least funded genetic conditions by the NIH despite being the leading cause of developmental delay in the U.S. and around the world. For nearly two decades the funding had languished between $16 million and $20 million even during years when there was a double-digit growth of the NIH budget. In 2023 the estimated INCLUDE budget is $144 million. GLOBAL’s advocacy goal is to increase funding to over $250 million a year.

GLOBAL Affiliate, the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, has five clinical trials specifically for patients with Down syndrome: Two in Alzheimer’s and Down Syndrome, one in Down Syndrome Regression Disorder, and two in autoimmunity and inflammation.

To read about the impactful research that the INCLUDE Project has funded visit the NIH Down Syndrome Coordinating Center Website at: https://includedcc.org/.

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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 annual AcceptAbility Gala in Washington DC, and the annual 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). 

Denver, CO, Jan 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Denver Business Journal (DBJ) 40 Under 40 Awards program announced last week that Michelle Sie Whitten, the Co-Founder, President & CEO of Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL), will be inducted into the DBJ 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the Infinity Park Event Center, 4400 E. Kentucky Ave, Glendale, CO 80246.