A Message from the Global Down Syndrome Foundation

Michelle Sie WhittenThis year, 2009, marks the 50th anniversary of identifying the genetic cause of Down syndrome. To celebrate this historic discovery, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation has organized the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Jet Set Fashion Show to raise critical funds and awareness for the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome at the Anschutz Medical Campus. And do we have reason to celebrate! With the invaluable help of our 18 fabulous Co-Chairs led by Anna and John J. Sie and Ricki Perry Rest and David Rest, we are proud to be sold out at over 1,200 seats. Attendees include supporters from the UK, Canada, China, New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Diego, Kansas City, Santa Fe, Cincinnati, Miami, Memphis, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix—making the event truly international. Tonight, we are celebrating twenty-five Guest Models who are brilliant and beautiful and happen to have developmental disabilities. We are celebrating our caring, generous and talented local celebrities, some of whom will be escorting our Guest Models down the runway—Kim Christiansen, David Duval, Delvin Hughley, 2009 Miss Colorado Katie Layman, John Lynch, Ed McCaffrey, and Billy Van Heusen. We are celebrating the inaugural Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award and we are so honored and thrilled that Music Icon Qunicy Jones will be here in person to accept. We are celebrating singer-songwriter Josh Kelley’s exciting performance that will include his newly penned song for his gorgeous baby girl, Naleigh. We are also celebrating the message we are communicating to the world—It’s Time. People with Down syndrome deserve fundamental human rights and you can help. The most heartfelt thank you to our 2009 Ambassador, Chase Turner Perry, to our Co-Chairs, Honorary Chairs, Honorary Committee, Sponsors, In-Kind Sponsors, Donors, Attendees, Event Committee, and the amazing women at the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation. It truly takes a village and ours is growing by leaps and bounds. We hope that each and every one of you tonight takes something inspirational away from this event and that you will see people with Down syndrome and other development disabilities in a brilliant light.

With much gratitude and affection,

Michelle Sie Whitten
Executive Director, Global Down Syndrome Foundation