From The Executive Director
Spring 2011 Edition
A call to Action
2011 will be a year of growth at the Connection, both in membership and in new programs and services. Because of this I am asking for your help.
This year we will have one major fundraiser, the Bay Area Buddy Walk, on October 2, 2011 at Little Hills Ranch in San Ramon. For those of you among the 420+ that attended last year you know what a fabulous place it is; and for those that missed it, you will want to be a part of it in 2011.
We need everyone to get serious about fundraising for the Buddy Walk. You can do this simply by sending out an email with a link to your webpage to friends, family and coworkers and asking them to forward it on to their email lists. I’m sure you are familiar with many major charity walks around the world that raise their funds this way. Last year one family alone, the Dodge’s, raised over $12k in honor of Ainsley by sending out a mass email to everyone on their list. 30 other families raised another $50k by doing the same. Just imagine if everyone sent out a webpage this year!
Our goal is to raise $100,000 this year. 7% of the funds raised from the Buddy Walk are given to the NDSS as a donation to continue the amazing work they do for Down syndrome nationwide. We are proud to support their efforts.
We plan to hold webpage workshops you can drop-in on at the Connection to show you how to create a page to email, or we will create one for you if you need help. All you need is a brief personal story and a photo of your loved one or family. You can even throw on a YouTube video or post your page to your Facebook profile. More to come on this in the spring.
Our 2nd Annual Charity Auction Gala at the Diablo Country Club will be held on May 5, 2012 and will become a spring event going forward. This means we are asking you just two times a year to help us raise funds by either attending the Buddy Walk or purchasing a ticket to the Gala.
I look forward to seeing everyone at the Buddy Walk and don’t forget to hold May 5th for the Annual Gala in 2012. It was a magical night last year!
Thank you for your support!
Nancy LaBelle
Executive Director
Winter 2010 Edition
Hard to believe this is my third fall season at the Connection. I continue to witness the unlimited potential and amazing growth each day as babies, children, teens and adults come and go from our programs and services. We often cry in celebration around the Connection as babies say bye-bye for the first time, children read books they have created and teens and adults share, dance and laugh with the lasting friends they have made.
I’m thankful for our dedicated and compassionate staff who all work very hard each week to keep the bills paid, answer calls from all over the country and create an environment that is rich with creativity and safe for expression. Thanks also to our volunteers for being wonderful role models in our classes. This has been a year of growth and emotions as we continue to open our hearts and take the hands of many new parents and their beautiful babies assuring them they are not alone in their journey.
2010 has been a good financial year with increased support from members, local business and community and foundations who believe in our mission. Words cannot express the gratitude we have for supporters such as the J.M. Long Foundation, the Thomas J. Long Foundation, the Quest Foundation, The Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation and the Noll Foundation who together have given grants in the amount of $140,000 in 2010.
The need for Educational Advocacy is stronger than ever as we continue to stand beside families faced with adversity while asking for the education their children deserve in our local school district. A shout out to Donlon Elementary School in Pleasanton who is doing a good job providing an environment set up for success including and accepting children with Down syndrome.
This year we served more families than ever before. Our Step classes are at their all-time fullest enrollment and we now have three additional support groups serving grandparents, fathers, and parents with educational based needs. This is in line with our vision of serving the entire family unit whenever possible.
Our fundraising efforts this year were successful. Our first Charity Auction Gala was a magical night filled with over 200 generous people from our membership, the community and local business such as Chevron who invited our Chevron families to dine with them at their VIP tables. This was the largest money making fundraising event the Connection has had and self advocates Marissa, Robert, Emma, Jackson and Blair were on hand to show us how to party and remind everyone that adults with Down syndrome are great people and contributors to society.
The Bay Area Buddy Walk brought approximately 500 people to Little Hills Ranch in San Ramon where we walked together in support of acceptance for all people with Down syndrome. It was a great feeling looking back at the sea of people in blue shirts walking in unity to promote awareness for today and years to come.
Last I want to share that this organization does not run by staff alone. Our volunteer board of directors has been dedicated this year to fundraising and networking which only puts more focus on the wonderful things we do at the Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area. If you are interested in becoming a board member applications are being accepted and my door is always open should you have any suggestions regarding new programs and or services.
Enjoy this newsletter and have a wonderful holiday season with friends and family. I wish you all peace in the New Year.
Sincerely,
Nancy LaBelle
Executive Director
