Welcome to the very first post of our new blog! My name is Jen and I’m a stay-at-home mom to
an energetic, lovable 14-month old named Jack.
Before Jack was born, I worked in the non-profit field for over 10
years, most recently planning fundraising events for the American Red Cross
SEPA. Philanthropy has always been a
huge part of my life, both personally and professionally. And now that I’m a mom, my goal is to teach
our son the importance of giving back to our community. We will be
volunteering at local organizations or participating in non-profit events and
sharing our experiences with you. And hopefully
we’ll inspire your family to get involved in your community too!
The month of October is National Down Syndrome Awareness
month so our family decided to participate in our local Buddy Walk presented by
the Chester County Down Syndrome Interest Group. The Buddy Walk is a one-mile walk and family
fun day that celebrates the many abilities and accomplishments of people with
Down Syndrome. The 12th annual event was held Sunday, October 14th at West Goshen Community Park in
West Chester. When we arrived on
that beautiful afternoon, we heard a talented CCDSIG member singing the national anthem to kick off the event, and I knew this was going to
be an inspirational day. We had
preregistered online so check-in was quick and easy…and we even received goodie
bags with event t-shirts, raffle tickets and all the materials we needed to
enjoy the day. Once we had our gear, it
was time to find our team for some pre-walk warm-ups. As if supporting the amazing work of the
CCDSIG wasn’t reason enough to participate, we were also there to cheer on our
son’s little buddy who is also named Jack.:)
Alana and Jason, the proud parents of this handsome, charming 16-month old, organized “The Jack Pack” to support their little man and we were honored to be a part of the team. 
Jacks and their mommies
Jack cheering on the team with his "Jack on a Stick"
Jack and Mini Cooper (from Quest Therapeutic Services where Alana works as a physical therapist) who also walked with our team
Once our team was
gathered and group photos were taken, we were off! The scenic route took us for a leisurely loop
around the park back to the festivities where a pep squad cheered us across the
finish line. Walk events, which are
usually held in the spring and fall, are the perfect way to introduce your kids
to the world of non-profit fundraisers because they usually have a lot of fun
activities for your family. From
carnival games and a magic show, to the Pocono Raceway Pace Car and gift basket
giveaways, not to mention all of the healthy and delicious food choices, this
event committee thought of everything you could possibly need to enjoy a fun day
at the park. And to bring the focus back
to the reason we were all there that afternoon, the event ended with a Showcase
of Abilities where several of the CCDSIG members showed off their talents
including singing, dancing and playing musical instruments. Reminding us that people with Down Syndrome
really are “more alike than different.”
If you missed this year’s event, save the date for the second Sunday in
October 2013! This is an inspirational,
fun-filled day that we know your family would enjoy as much as we did! To learn more about the Chester County Down
Syndrome Interest Group and how you can support their mission, visit www.ccdsig.org
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