Global Down Syndrome

Issue 1 of 4 - 2018

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not want to attend our fashion show. When someone else suggested he attend, he actually said, "I don't feel comfortable around those people." Luckily for me, he did attend. And it changed his life. We became fast friends, and he is an ardent supporter of equality and rights for the differently-abled. The first year you started the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show could not have been a walk in the park. What are some of the challenges you faced? Well, I'm not afraid of hard work. I am the child of two immigrants, one from China and one from Italy. However, I had no idea what thick skin you have to have to be in the nonprofit world — especially if you are personally touched by the cause. In the beginning, there were definitely naysayers who felt Denver did not have the capacity for another large event. There were others who felt a fashion show highlighting models with Down syndrome could be quaint but "uncomfortable." There was even one high-end department store manager who essentially said her clothes and the mentally disabled were simply incompatible. You can imagine how well that went over with me and my Italian-born mom! The night of our event, our volunteers were new to us, and the hair and makeup folks didn't show up. We had moms and friends running around with curling irons and makeup trying to get it all together before the curtain call. But for every naysayer and no-show, there are 10 supporters who would give you the shirts off their backs. That first year, we had the mountain-moving help of our Ambassador Chase Turner Perry and his amazing extended family. We had Saks Fifth Avenue and several large donors step up and create our Leadership Circle. After the event, congratulatory emails kept coming all the way until 3 a.m.! It felt great to know people couldn't even sleep, they were on such a high. Last year, the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show grossed $2.6 million, making it the largest annual fundraiser in metro Denver. How did that happen, and how does that make you feel? Well, it takes a village. In 2017, we had an amazing Ambassador, Marcus Sikora. He and his family did so much to ensure the show was a success, including rallying a large and fun contingent from Nebraska. We were also thrilled to have the incomparable Peter Kudla as our Event Chair. As a leading real estate developer in Colorado, he brought many of his colleagues to our event. He also had our dedicated Event Committee and dozens of people with Down syndrome contribute to the live and silent auctions. To manage every detail of the fundraiser, Global now has the luxury of harnessing its 12-person staff. They are all treated as line producers responsible for certain aspects of the event. While I'm still very hands-on, the fashion show is now primarily run by our highly capable seven-year veteran, Martha Cronen Keele, Global's Director of Events and Development. For me, Martha, and all our staff, one of the biggest highlights is to know the models are thrilled, the celebrities are super happy, the audience is inspired, and our volunteers and staff are beaming with pride. It's hard to beat that. View 2017 red carpet and runway photos at bebeautifulbeyourself.org. Save the date! The 2018 fashion show is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20, in Denver. WHAT'S IN A NAME? Be Beautiful Be Yourself. Global Down Syndrome Foundation Co-founder, President, and CEO Michelle Sie Whitten has shared that her daughter, Sophia, was the inspiration behind the name. "Of course, it has great potential for universal appeal," Whitten said. "But when I think of Sophia, I immediately think of her as being beautiful inside and out, and being very much herself." CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 Global President and CEO Michelle Sie Whitten Actress Helen Hunt and athlete Brad Hennefer (from lef t) Natalie, Quincy Jones, and Sujeet Frank Stephens giving his Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award acceptance speech GLOBALDOWNSYNDROME.ORG 21

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