Local Down syndrome organizations celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, 2012

Global Down Syndrome Foundation honoring former Denver Bronco John Lynch with Award
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DENVER, CO –  Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome  at Children’s Hospital Colorado (“Sie Center”), Global Down Syndrome Foundation and Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome will celebrate World Down Syndrome Day, held on March 21 (3/21).

The World Down Syndrome Day celebration will feature addresses from Children Colorado’s president and CEO Jim Shmerling, the Sie Center Clinical Director Fran Hickey and former Bronco John Lynch, as well as entertainment and refreshments.

At the event, former Denver Bronco Safety John Lynch will be presented with the Global Down Syndrome Foundation Community Leadership Award. Each year, the  John Lynch Foundation, in conjunction with the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation awards four $5,000 scholarships to students with developmental disabilities to be used toward higher education of the student’s choice. The scholarships, known as The Exceptional Star of the Year Awards are given to students with Down syndrome and students with physical disabilities. Lynch has also been involved in the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show and participated in previous World Down Syndrome Day celebrations.

The ceremony will take place in the atrium of Children’s Hospital Colorado from 2:15 pm – 4:00 pm.

For more information about the event, please contact Trish Morris at 303-807-7898.

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation is hosting the Colorado celebration in conjunction with World Down Syndrome Day, sponsored by the United Nations and recognized in all 191 member countries. Executive Director Michelle Sie Whitten will appear on behalf of the Foundation at the UN in New York, where she will issue an address on how to attract and use media attention in a positive, constructive way. Dr. Edward McCabe, executive director of Denver’s LCI, will also update the international audience with news on the clinical care, treatment and research surrounding Down syndrome.

About the Global Down Syndrome Foundation
The Global Down Syndrome Foundation is a public non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to significantly improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through research, medical care, education and advocacy. Formally established in 2009, the Foundation’s primary focus is to support the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the first academic home in the US committed to research and medical care for people with the condition. Fundraising and government advocacy that corrects the alarming disparity of national funding for people with Down syndrome is a major short-term goal. The Foundation organizes the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show – the single largest annual fundraiser benefitting people with Down syndrome. Programmatically, the Foundation organizes and funds many programs and conferences including the Dare to Play Football and Cheer Camps, Global Down Syndrome Educational Series and Global Down Syndrome Multi-Language Resource Project. The Foundation is an inclusive organization without political or religious affiliation or intention.

About Children’s Hospital Colorado
Children’s Hospital Colorado has defined and delivered pediatric healthcare excellence for more than 100 years. Founded in 1908, Children’s Colorado is a leading pediatric network entirely devoted to the health and well-being of children. Continually recognized as one of the nation’s outstanding hospitals by U.S. News & World Report and ranked fifth in their Best Children’s Hospitals 2011-12 Honor Roll, Children’s Colorado is known both for its nationally and internationally recognized medical, research and education programs as well as the full spectrum of everyday care for kids throughout Colorado and surrounding states. Children’s Colorado is recognized for excellence in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Centers and has been designated a Magnet® hospital since 2005. With more than 1,000 healthcare professionals representing the full spectrum of pediatric specialties, the network for Children’s Colorado includes 15 regional locations including  its main campus on the Anschutz Medical Campus, and more than 400 outreach clinics.

For more information, visit www.childrenscolorado.org and connect with Children’s Colorado on FaceBook (www.facebook.com/childrenshospitalcolorado) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/ChildrensColo).

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