{"id":61845,"date":"2024-11-20T00:03:04","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T00:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english.saigonbiz.com.vn\/2024\/11\/20\/global-down-syndrome-foundation-raises-2-5-million-at-star-studded-be-beautiful-be-yourself-fashion-show\/"},"modified":"2024-11-20T00:03:04","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T00:03:04","slug":"global-down-syndrome-foundation-raises-2-5-million-at-star-studded-be-beautiful-be-yourself-fashion-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english.saigonbiz.com\/vn\/global-down-syndrome-foundation-raises-2-5-million-at-star-studded-be-beautiful-be-yourself-fashion-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Down Syndrome Foundation Raises $2.5 Million at Star-Studded Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world attracts over 1,400 guests from 18 states and 10 countries, raising funds for life-saving and transformative research and medical care.<\/em><\/p>\n

Denver, Nov. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On Saturday, November 16,\u00a0Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL)<\/a>\u00a0raised $2.5 million at their\u00a0Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show<\/a>, held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. Now in its 16th<\/sup>\u00a0year, GLOBAL\u2019s marquee event is the\u00a0largest fundraiser for Down syndrome in the world,<\/b>\u00a0raising a cumulative $30.5 million since its inception.<\/p>\n

Red carpet appearances were made by Jessica Biel<\/b>, Emmy-nominated actor, producer, and her niece and goddaughter GLOBAL Ambassador Zaya Biel<\/b>;\u00a0Laura Linney,\u00a0<\/b>Academy Award-nominated and award-winning television and film actress;\u00a0Bobby Farrelly<\/b>, acclaimed film director, screenwriter, and producer; John C. McGinley<\/b>,\u00a0<\/i>award-winning film and TV actor;\u00a0Caterina Scorsone<\/b>, beloved actress from the longest primetime TV drama on ABC,\u00a0Grey\u2019s Anatomy,\u00a0<\/i>and her castmates\u00a0Alexis Floyd<\/b>, Adelaide Kane, <\/b>and\u00a0Niko Terho<\/b>;\u00a0Amanda Booth<\/b>, model and actress; Kellyn Acosta, <\/b>professional soccer player; beloved actors\u00a0Madison Tevlin<\/b>,\u00a0Max Carver,\u00a0Shelley Hennig, Beverley Mitchell, Matthew Von der Ahe<\/b>,\u00a0Kevin Iannucci<\/b>, and\u00a0James Day Keith<\/b>.<\/p>\n

The 2024\u00a0Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awardees,<\/i><\/b> Academy Award-nominated actor Woody Harrelson<\/b> and Ukrainian American actress, model, author, and advocate Sofia Sanchez <\/b>received a standing ovation for their heartfelt speeches.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving lost Quincy Jones so recently was difficult for us, so we dedicated this year\u2019s fashion show to him and were able to put together a tribute video in his honor,\u201d says John J. Sie<\/b>, GLOBAL Board Member and long-time friend of Quincy\u2019s. \u201cI don\u2019t think there was a dry eye in the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

Upon receiving her award following an introduction by GLOBAL President & CEO, Michelle Sie Whitten<\/b>, Sanchez ended her speech with a promise: \u201cGLOBAL, you are the bravest of us all for paving the way with your research, your medical care, and your advocacy. Thank you to my family, my teachers, and my community for always supporting me. I\u2019m so honored to accept this award and I promise to keep spreading hope, love and kindness to the world!\u201d<\/p>\n

Harrelson, an Academy Award-nominated actor, recently starred in\u00a0Champions<\/i>, a heartfelt comedy directed by Bobby Farrelly where Harrelson plays a basketball coach tasked with leading a team of players with intellectual disabilities. Harrelson\u2019s performance helped bring warmth and humor to the story, earning praise for its authenticity and heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I move forward, I am committed to using my voice to continue advocating for greater representation and inclusion of people who are differently abled in all spaces\u2014whether on screen, in workplaces, or within our communities,\u201d said Harrelson in his acceptance speech.<\/p>\n

Award-winning local NBC anchors Kim Christiansen<\/b> and Tom Green<\/b> emceed the event. Denver Broncos cheerleaders Mikayla\u00a0and\u00a0Vika<\/b>, and 2023 Miss CO for America April Hawkins<\/b> joined the celebrity line-up and rocked the runway, which also featured 18 brilliant and beautiful models who happen to have Down syndrome (in alphabetical order): Aubry Alldredge<\/b>, Zaya Biel<\/b>, Clarissa Capuano<\/b>, Ashley Davies<\/b>, Ty Dillon<\/b>, Elliot Dougherty<\/b>, Grace Gerenser<\/b>, Ethan Hagan<\/b>, Grace Harrison<\/b>, Sawyer Kennedy<\/b>, Guion Macsovits<\/b>, CC Mullen<\/b>, Abel Porter<\/b>, Lou Rotella<\/b>, Sofia Sanchez<\/b>, Mila Toffling<\/b>, Robert Wallop<\/b>, and Bria Wright<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Carol & Dominic Capuano and Gia Price<\/b> proudly served as this year\u2019s Event Chairs. Past event chairs include\u00a0Luisa Law and Amanda Precourt, Amanda Booth, Lou III and<\/b>\u00a0Jill Rotella, Tom and Michelle Whitten, Kacey Bingham\u00a0<\/b>and\u00a0Brittany Bowlen<\/b>,\u00a0Peter Kudla<\/b>,\u00a0Maureen Regan Cannon<\/b>,\u00a0Anna and John J. Sie<\/b>,\u00a0Sharon Magness Blake<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0Ernie Blake<\/b>,\u00a0Ricki Rest<\/b>, and\u00a0Nancy Sevo<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Auctioneer\u00a0Grant Snyder<\/b>\u00a0led a successful cash call and sold once-in-a-lifetime packages including friends and family tickets to Justin Timberlake\u2019s <\/b>\u2018Forget Tomorrow\u2019 World Tour; lunches with Caterina Scorsone & Amanda Booth<\/b> as well as with Max Carver &<\/b> Shelley Hennig<\/b>; a private dinner with\u00a0Denver Broncos\u2019<\/b>\u00a0Alex Singleton\u00a0<\/b>and two other players; a soccer birthday party with MLS star Kellyn Acosta<\/b>; a captivating painting, \u201cCake, Stacked,\u201d by renowned artist\u00a0Gary Komarin<\/b>; an exclusive tailored-made necklace for GLOBAL by Hyde Park | The 1916 Company<\/b> modeled by\u00a0Amanda Booth<\/b>, and the\u00a0Selkie<\/b>\u00a0dress she was wearing; a lovely Sicily holiday including multiple catered dinners donated by\u00a0Riccardo Mazzeo<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0Three Tomatoes Catering<\/b>; incredible luxury getaways \u2013 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, thanks to Lou III & Jill Rotella<\/b>, Tamarindo, Costa Rica, thanks to Mike & Michelle Belitz \u2013 IQ Luxe Resort Properties<\/b>, and Los Angeles, CA for a live taping of The Voice<\/i><\/b>.<\/p>\n

Proceeds from GLOBAL\u2019s\u00a0Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show<\/i>\u00a0help underwrite life-changing and life-saving research and medical care at GLOBAL\u2019s affiliates \u2013 the\u00a0Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome<\/a>, Alzheimer\u2019s & Cognition Center, and the\u00a0Sie Center for Down Syndrome<\/a>\u00a0at Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado all at the Anschutz Medical Campus. The fashion show would not be possible without the generosity of GLOBAL\u2019s\u00a0Leadership Circle<\/a>,\u00a0sponsors<\/a>,\u00a0Ambassadors<\/a>,\u00a0Q-Awardees<\/a>,\u00a0models<\/a>, Down syndrome partner organizations,\u00a0celebrities<\/a>, self-advocates and families.<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, view photos, or to donate, visit\u00a0<\/i>bebeautifulbeyourself.org<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

To learn more about the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, visit\u00a0<\/i>www.globaldownsyndrome.org<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n

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About Global Down Syndrome Foundation<\/b><\/p>\n

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is the largest non-profit in the U.S. working to save lives and dramatically improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome. GLOBAL has donated more than $32 million to establish the first Down syndrome research institute supporting over 400 scientists and over 2,500 patients with Down syndrome from 33 states and 10 countries. Working closely with Congress and the National Institutes of Health, GLOBAL is the lead advocacy organization in the U.S. for Down syndrome research and care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 100 Down syndrome organizations worldwide, and is part of a network of Affiliates \u2013 the\u202fCrnic Institute for Down Syndrome<\/a>, the\u202fSie Center for Down Syndrome<\/a>, and the\u202fUniversity of Colorado Alzheimer\u2019s and Cognition Center<\/a>\u202f\u2013 all on the Anschutz Medical Campus.<\/p>\n

GLOBAL\u2019s widely circulated medical publications include\u202fGlobal Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome<\/a>,<\/i>\u202f<\/i>Prenatal & Newborn Down Syndrome Information<\/a>\u00a0and the award-winning magazine\u202fDown Syndrome WorldTM<\/sup><\/a>. GLOBAL also organizes the annual\u00a0AcceptAbility Gala<\/a>\u00a0in Washington DC, and the annual\u00a0Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show<\/a>,<\/i> the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world. Visit globaldownsyndrome.org and follow us on social media (Facebook & Twitter:\u00a0@GDSFoundation<\/a>, Instagram & Youtube:\u00a0@globaldownsyndrome<\/a>, LinkedIn: @global-down-syndrome-foundation).<\/p>\n

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