The Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization, a nonprofit serving children and adults with Down syndrome, has announced that the Gross family of Wellington will be the 20th annual Buddy Walk ambassadors.
Two years ago, after Wellington residents Janessa and Will Gross learned that their baby would be born with Down syndrome, they contacted the Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization and embraced the group. Even before Kate, who will be 2 in November, was born, her parents and older brother Trey, now 3, got involved with the Buddy Walk and developed one of the top ten fundraising teams. The family has already raised more $16,000 for Gold Coast and has a $10,000 goal for their third Buddy Walk this year.
Janessa currently serves on the Gold Coast board of directors and is the co-coordinator of Meet Greet Play and Learn/Tunes for Tots, which provides weekly support and music therapy for mothers and their pre-school children with Down syndrome.
So when Gold Coast Executive Director Terri Harmon decided that this year’s Buddy Walk Ambassador Family should represent babies with Down syndrome, the Gross family was her first choice.
“Our family is honored to be the ambassadors for the very special 20th year of the Buddy Walk,” Janessa said. “The Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization has become a second home, not only for Kate, but also for the rest of my family and myself. I can’t begin to explain how much Gold Coast has impacted our lives since we became involved shortly after we received our prenatal diagnosis. GCDSO has become the second family I never knew we needed.”
The 20th annual Buddy Walk, will take place on Sunday, Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. to noon at John Prince Park Center Drive Pavilion (4759 S. Congress Ave., Lake Worth).
The event is a family fun day, which includes a one-mile walk, free breakfast, bounce houses, petting zoo, rock wall, pony rides, young children’s games, face painting, dunk tank, live entertainment, DJ and dancing and a raffle and silent auction.
The Buddy Walk raises funds for the Gold Coast Down Syndrome’s educational, social and advocacy programs serving all of Palm Beach County, and promotes awareness of the capabilities and talents of persons with Down syndrome. Visit http://ds.donordrive.com/gcdso to register online or contact Anne at ad.gcdso@bell south.net, or call (561) 752-3383 for offline registration or details.
Registration is $15 through Oct. 5 and $20 after that day. Participants may also register on the day of the walk. The fee includes breakfast, the walk, family activities and a T-shirt. Hotdogs, drinks and fun food will be available for a small donation courtesy of G4S.
Cindy Calvagne will chair the walk. “So much of what GCDSO has accomplished is because of the support of our community for the Buddy Walk,” she said. “Being able to have our own resource center and our wide array of programs for children and adults would never have happened without the funds raised from the walk.”
Major sponsors for the Buddy Walk include presenting sponsor G4S, as well as International Rail Partners, Toshiba Business Solutions Florida, Ace Environmental Services, Amtrust Bank, Florida Crystals, the GEO Group, Raymond James, Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, Wells Fargo, Beauty & Brains, City Furniture, Coconut Creek Hyundai, Estate Properties of Palm Beach, Pilates of Palm Beach, Publix, Vinny’s Pizza, FPL, Ernst & Young, Plastridge Insurance, the Sofabed Company, Tuscany 3LP, Spectrum Speech & Language Services and Walser Law Firm.
For more info., visit www.goldcoastdownsyndrome.org.
ABOVE: Kate Gross
