We can't wait to celebrate 3π21!
First, let's talk about
2022 TOUR OF CHAMPIONS!!!
It is a total SUCCESS story!
a
YOU are building a strong FOUNDATION!
Together we exceeded our goal by over $90,000!!
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We could not do it without our incredible
ο»Ώ2022 Tour of Champions Corporate Sponsors
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Orlando Health has been a sponsor of the TOUR OF CHAMPIONS since its inception!
This marks the 12th year they have said,
"YES, TO INCLUSION!"
Be sure to say thank you to your providers the next time you visit an Orlando Health facility! Let them know that their support matters as we work together to STRIKE DOWN BARRIERS TO INCLUSION!
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In 2022 we exceeded all expectations!
We had more
Corporate Sponsors
We had more
Corporate Cup Teams
We had more
Virtual Teams
We also
sold out the 80 lanes faster than ever
and our
auction raised the most it ever has!
100% AMAZING!
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It is because of YOU and our amazing supporters and volunteers that the money we raised will help fulfill our mission of providing support and opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome and their families for the remainder of the year.
We can continue to grow our established programs like
iCan! Learn
iCan! Excel
iCan! Bike
College & Career Prep
and develop the new programs we added in 2021 like
iCan! Work
iCan! Surf
We are also looking to add
more innovative programs in 2022!
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Because of YOU, our sponsors, our celebrity lineup, local support from Quality One Wireless, Orlando Health, Disney, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Orlando Magic, Orlando City, Tampa Bay Rays, and the 80+ teams who bowled both in person and 15+ teams who helped virtually, we surpassed our goal! It is amazing to see so much of our community coming together for good! We SHATTERED our fundraising record which will allow us to continue to offer scholarships that not only benefit our members, but the community as a whole!
Our scholarship applications open this month for the summer! Be sure to take time to read about all that we offer and take advantage of them. The application information is below, and on our website, here.
We have awarded over $1.2M in scholarships because of supporters like YOU!
THANK YOU to all of you who participated in any way - your time, talent and treasure are making a difference in our community and state.
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Congratulations to all of our CORPORATE CUP TEAMS! |
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Once again, we have shown:
When POTENTIAL
is given OPPORTUNITY,
the outcome is SUCCESS! ππ³
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THANK YOU TO OUR $1000 CLUB MEMBERS! |
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A VERY special THANK YOU to our
2022 Bowl-a-thon Planning Committee!
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Did you hear about the amazing visit from
ο»ΏCHARLIE ROCKET AND THE DREAM TEAM?
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When we heard Charlie Rocket and the Dream Team were coming to the 2022 TOUR OF CHAMPIONS and that they wanted to help people around the world to dream again...we had an idea!
With his goal of connecting with communities, hearing their stories and giving them a chance to achieve their dreams, with our knowledge of someone who had a BIG dream - we had to ask.
Will you grant a dream at our event?
His answer was, "YES! LET'S DO IT!" and then he showed up with a $10,000 check and a promise to do even more!
Here's Charlie Rocket's story - stay tuned to see what is next!
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Are you ready for next year?
WE ARE!
It's hard not to be excited after such an amazing event!
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March
- ORDER YOUR CRAZY SOCKS FOR 3.21 CELEBRATION
- Summer Scholarship Applications OPEN
- iCan! Bike Camp Registration OPEN
- Saturday, March 19 - Lucky Little's Playdate at Fort Mellon Park - Sanford
- Monday, March 21 - WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY at Mellow Mushroom on East Colonial Drive
- Saturday, March 26 - iCan! Surf
- Sunday, March 27 - Young Explorers at Blanchard Park
- Friday, March 31- Mom's Night Out - Lake Ivanhoe
March is FULL of Magic Basketball! There are MANY opportunities to Volunteer! ALL members 18+ are welcome!
April
- Sunday, April 3 - T21 at CATS - Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center
- Saturday, April 9 - Club 321 - Victory Martial Arts in Maitland
July
- Sunday, July 24 - Friday, July 29 iCan! Bike Camp at Orange County Convention Center
FEBRUARY 2023
- Sunday, February 19, 2023 TOUR OF CHAMPIONS
Weekly Programs
- Tuesdays - Virtual Zumba with Elyse (4:00pm - 5:00pm)
- Wednesdays - Virtual Club 321 (4:00pm-5:00pm)
- Thursdays - Virtual T21 Social Network (18+) (4:00pm-5:00pm)
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Do you own your own pair of CRAZY socks? If not, you can buy them and 10% of your proceeds will benefit The FOUNDATION.
FG-DSFFL22 is the DSFF code
This is not a discount code - it's our FUN(d)raising code. You enter the code when prompted at the beginning of the checkout, not at the end of the process. We earn 10% and you will get a free gift [mystery sock] added to the cart automatically!
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Lucky Little's Play Date in the Park |
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Date: Saturday, March 19
Time: 10am - noon
Location: Fort Mellon Park - Sanford
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Join us for a gorgeous morning in the park! Fort Mellon is a favorite place to enjoy cool breezes from the lake with wide open spaces and fantastic play areas! There is a splash pad, covered picnic tables, a huge play area and a lovely walk along the lake!
If the morning of play leaves you ready for lunch, you can walk a couple of blocks to historic downtown Sanford and enjoy food from a wide variety of local eateries.
This is a wonderful way for families of little ones (birth - eight years old) to connect and make friends. Bring the little ones so the big ones (that's you mom and dad) can connect with other families and enjoy the lovely springtime outdoors!
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World Down Syndrome Day -
ο»ΏMELLOW MUSHROOM
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Date: Monday, March 21
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Location: Mellow Mushroom (East Colonial Drive location)
March 21 is the day we refer to as WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY!
Every year on 3.21, we celebrate those we love with designer genes. We are returning to one of our favorite celebration locations: Mellow Mushroom. They not only make GREAT pizzas - they give us the whole place to celebrate! There is an outside patio and indoor dining too!
Come celebrate with families like yours! The pizza and soft drinks are on us!
Wear your funky socks and put on your T21 gear! It's a great day to share with the world how amazing our loved ones are and how the LUCKY FEW celebrate in style!
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iCan! Surf Returns in March!
Date: March 26
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: Wilber-By- The-Sea - Toronita Avenue Beach
Cost: $20 per participant, t-shirt included with registration!
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No experience necessary!
This is a great way to show your true FLORIDIAN ways!
Parents will participate with members - so come expecting to get wet.
Come beach ready! This picturesque handicapped accessible park has restrooms, showers and a signalized crosswalk to the beach via the Toronita Avenue beach ramp. This is a non-driving area of the beach.
FREE Parking is at Toronita Avenue Beach Park, 4200 S. Atlantic Avenue, Wilbur-By-The- Sea, 32127
No age restrictions and all swimming abilities are welcome!
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Young Explorers - Playdate |
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YOUNG EXPLORERS @ Blanchard Park in Orlando!
Date: March 27
Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm
Location: Blanchard Park, 2451 Dean Road N, Orlando, 32817
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YOUNG EXPLORERS (first - sixth grade) can climb, swing, run and play on the sand volleyball court! There is also a beautiful walking path along the river!
Bring a snack to enjoy on a blanket in the grassy area or at a picnic table under a shade tree. It is a lovely park and will be a beautiful afternoon. The options are limitless!
But the best part of it all is making new friends and connecting with other parents who are doing life just like you! This group meet up is as much for the parents as it is for the kiddos! Swap stories, encourage one another, and know that you're not alone on this journey! Being a member of the Lucky Few Tribe means that you have people who 'get it'....and 'get you!'
This playdate is where you will learn, share and grow!
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March Madness?
ο»ΏNo, it's Mom's Night Out!
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Date: Thursday, March 31
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Location: Lake Ivanhoe Area - Orlando
(address will be sent with RSVP confirmation)
Come take a night off your home duties and get creative or just hang out with other moms. We will share tips and techniques you can do on a Cricut machine while enjoying the view of downtown Orlando from Jeanne's rooftop community room on Lake Ivanhoe.
Cricut is an American brand of cutting plotters, or computer-controlled cutting machines, designed for home crafters. The machines are used for cutting paper, felt, vinyl, fabric and other materials such as leather, matboard, and wood. How all these smart mamas make the cool shirts, tumblers, coffee cups and so many other things!
Feel free to bring your machine, your patterns, your ideas, your products and YOUR QUESTIONS! We are going to share ideas about how to get started and what works best! This is moms sharing with moms - what we do best!
What if you are not crafty? Then you can come and socialize!
Bring an appetizer or dessert to share and if you would like something other than water to drink you may bring your own bottle, cocktail, soda or whatever you prefer. We will provide the plates, napkins and cups and a GREAT evening of bonding with soul sisters.
We look forward to seeing you!!!
Thank you, Jeanne Andrew
for coming up with a great idea and hosting us this month!
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T21 Social Network - CATS! |
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There are few things as magical as live theater! It is a rite of passage and a great opportunity to experience something very grown up!
In April, we will be taking our T21 Social Network crew out for an evening at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center to see one of the longest running shows on Broadway: CATS!
Sunday, April 3
6:00 pm - 9:15 pm
Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center
Cats is composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is a musical with no speaking parts. Based on a collection by T.S. Eliot, it is a series of poems written to his godchildren about a tribe of cats. They gather in a junkyard and introduce themselves in song.
It is a classic sure to create a MEMORY that will not be forgotten.
If you have questions about the event, please contact Caroline.Sanchez@dsfflorida.org.
The seats are in the upper balcony and members will need to walk up several flights of stairs and sit through a two-hour and twenty-minute (2:20) show. If this may be challenging for your loved one, please let us know in advance.
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Club 321 - Join us for Karate! |
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Date: Saturday, April 9
Time: 1:30 pm
Location: Victory Martial Arts in Maitland
Club 321 (middle and high school aged members) join us on Saturday, April 9, for a karate lesson from Victory Martial Arts.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a drop off event, we will have volunteers to assist with members, thank you! (Sorry, parents you are on your own for the afternoon.)
Questions? You can email Robin at robin.longley@dsfflorida.org.
A confirmation email with detailed day-of information will be sent the week of the event.
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Summer Scholarships - OPEN NOW! |
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Summer scholarships are OPEN!
For our scholarships, we ask YOU to find something that your child would like to do, sign up (with that organization) and then apply for our scholarship.
Scholarship applications will be accepted for Educational, Community, Swimming, Speech, Behavioral (ABA) and Sleep Away Camp.
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*Applications will close on April 8th.
To apply or get more information about The FOUNDATION'S scholarship program, go to our website.
There are many options to choose from, so please go over the options and pick the best fit for your loved one this summer. It takes a few weeks to complete the application because you need to find the program, apply and then tell us about it - so don't put this off or you may miss the opportunity!
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iCan! Bike Camp 2022
REGISTRATION OPEN NOW!
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This will be our 11th year offering the community iCan! Bike Camp in the summer! Here is a look back at some of the memories we have made over the years. We can't wait to see our next group of riders in JULY! |
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SUCCESS is the name of the game! |
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There are several opportunities to volunteer with our iCan! Work team at the Orlando Magic in March.
This is an opportunity for our members to give back while having a GREAT time! During each game our employees and volunteers deliver meals to guests on the Club level. This is a fast paced and fun way to interact with fans and be a part of the action. The shift is four hours long, but the gift of your time! You can bring friends, family, neighbors and co-workers who are 18 or older.
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Who will be our next
Marketing / Social Media Intern?
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Virtual Zumba with Elyse! |
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When: Every Tuesday
Time: 4:00pm
Location: Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found below, on our private Facebook page, Meetup, or by emailing:
Elyse Mundelein will be teaching a virtual Zumba class! We will post the Zoom information of the event below or on our private Facebook page. No experience needed, just get ready to dance and have fun!
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March Calendar for Virtual
Club 321 & T21
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Join our Club 321 virtual meet-up for middle and high-schoolers! |
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When: Every Wednesday
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
Location: Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found below, on our private Facebook page, Meetup, or by emailing,
This is a great opportunity for our middle and high school group to socialize, engage, and connect with each other. We'll have something new and different each week!
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Virtual T21 Social Network (18+) |
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When: Every Thursday
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
Location: Virtual meeting using Zoom - below, on our private Facebook page, Meetup, or by emailing, Caroline.Sanchez@dsfflorida.org
This is a great opportunity for our adult group to socialize, engage, and connect with each other. We'll have something new and different each week!
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Dr. Dieker and Dr. Hines have been integral in our iCan! Learn and College & Career Prep programs at UCF. Their expertise and innovation are what help us stand apart with our partnerships and programs. Their podcasts are filled with interesting and relevant information.
ο»ΏBe sure to listen to Episodes 10 and 11 (Season 4) where they interview The FOUNDATION's very own Camille Gardiner on topics that we all would love to know more about: post-secondary education and driving!
They are already on Season 7! They have so much GREAT information to go back and listen to and more to come! Be sure to add them to your list of favorites!
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Let's get social!
Follow us on social media for more information and to stay up-to-date on our upcoming events.
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