GLOBAL DOWN SYNDROME FOUNDATION

The Denver Broncos Cheerleaders Dare to Cheer Camp & the Junior Denver Broncos Cheerleaders (JDBC) Dare to Cheer Program are affiliated, and run simultaneously, with the Dare to Play Football Camp. The camps and programs provide individuals (age 8+) with Down syndrome the opportunity to learn cheerleading routines, participate in drills, practice dance moves, and experience team-building activities.
Since its inception, the Dare to Cheer camps & programs have served over 300 people with Down syndrome and twice as many people from the community.
It is a partnership between Global and the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders, who serve as cheer instructors.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Global’s programs please contact us at [email protected], or visit http://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/programs-conferences-grants/programs/

The Be Beautiful Be Yourself Dance program is comprised of three levels of classes serving individuals with Down syndrome, ages 5-14.
The ballet program is a partnership between Global, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome and the Colorado Ballet.
The program runs 14 weeks at the Colorado Ballet, with spring and fall sessions. Each semester culminates with a performance with over 175 friends, family and supporters in attendance.
Instructors for the program include the Sie Center’s world-renowned physical therapist and Down syndrome expert, Patricia C. Winders, and other professional instructors and dancers from the Colorado Ballet.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Global’s programs please contact us at [email protected], or visit http://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/programs-conferences-grants/programs/

The Dare to Play Soccer Camp provides an opportunity for males and females (age 7+) to learn the basics, camaraderie and joy of soccer from college and professional soccer players. The camp is a partnership between Global, Regis University Men’s Soccer and the Colorado Rapids.
Each camper is paired with a Pal from Regis University Men’s Soccer team for one-on-one attention, assistance and fun. Camp includes three practice dates and two game performances! The performance games take place during halftime at a professional Rapids match in front of thousands of fans and at a collegiate Regis University match.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Global’s programs please contact us at [email protected], or visit http://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/programs-conferences-grants/programs/

Co-organized with the NDSC, the Global Roundtable is a free benefit and features renowned scientists and medical professionals. Topics include Down syndrome and Cancer, Autoimmune Disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Seating is limited – sign up for free with your NDSC registration!

To learn more, please visit: http://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/programs-conferences-grants/conferences/#roundtable

The GLOBAL Awards are an important benefit for GLOBAL Organization Members. They allow GLOBAL and local member organizations to collaborate on programs that have a direct, positive impact for the people with Down syndrome we serve. Education Awards applications can be for a program, conference, workshop, or webinar related to research, medical care, and/or health outcome improvements for children and/or adults Down syndrome. Target audiences may include people with Down syndrome, family members, and professionals.

The GLOBAL Awards are an important benefit for GLOBAL Organization Members. They allow GLOBAL and local member organizations to collaborate on programs that have a direct, positive impact for the people with Down syndrome we serve. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation Self-Advocate Employment Initiative Awards empower local Down syndrome organizations to hire individuals with Down syndrome. Global hopes that over time dozens if not hundreds of individuals with Down syndrome can become empowered and engaged employees.

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation recently announced that it will produce and publish Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome. The guidelines, unveiled at the 2016 Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action Conference (DSAIA) in Charlotte, NC, will be a community resource with support from Down syndrome organizations in the United States and vetted by a national clearing house for healthcare guidelines.

In Charlotte, eight local Down syndrome organizations pledged $12,000 to support Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s plan. Since then, many additional Down syndrome organizations, foundations, and individuals have joined in support. The pledges help offset the significant costs associated with creating, vetting, and publishing the guidelines.

The guidelines will be written and published over an 18 month period with the help of a professional working group including Down syndrome medical experts.

The published guidelines will be offered at no cost to self-advocates, physicians, family members, caretakers, and Down syndrome organizations locally, regionally, and nationally.

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation's annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show is the largest fundraiser for Down syndrome in the nation attracting more than 1,200 guests each year. It has raised over $12 Million for Down syndrome research, medical care, advocacy and education. Equally important, it has raised major awareness regarding the shocking disparity of funding for people with Down syndrome, while successfully emphasizing their abilities.

Celebrity also shows up in a big way for our cause. Each year at the event, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation presents the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award to people who have used their celebrity to help those with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. Recipients include Quincy Jones, DeOndra Dixon, Timothy Shriver, Karen Gaffney, John C. McGinley, Sujeet Desai, Patrick Kennedy, Jamie Foxx, Luke Zimmerman, Kyra Phillips and Tim Harris. In addition, celebrity friends and advocates such as Beverly Johnson, Tom Arnold, Jeff Probst, Chauncey Billups, John Lynch, and Ed McCaffrey make a huge difference by showing up and cheering our models on.

Every year in May or June, we hold model auditions for the fashion show. More and more models are auditioning from out of state, and we encourage this. It is important to note that not everyone is chosen to be a model, but we make sure that the audition itself is loads of fun, and that people who do not get in one year are given extra consideration the next year.

The 2017 Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show will be held on November 11, 2017 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.

To learn more about last year's event, please visit: http://bebeautifulbeyourself.org/about/

To find out how you can get involved in 2017, please contact us at (303) 321-6277.

I ♥ YOU Dance Parties for adults with Down syndrome are hosted at different venues in Denver and attract about 100 guests per party.

The I ♥ YOU Dance Parties are more than just a night of fun; they promote:
- Independence for self-advocates
- Exercise
- Social interaction between self-advocates and the typical community
- A way to encourage adults with Down syndrome to advocate for themselves

For questions about the I ♥ YOU Dance Parties, please contact Martha Cronen at [email protected] or 303-468-6674.