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4th Annual Buddy Walk

Saturday September 25, 2010 at Perkins Park in Warren, Ohio. The walk begins at 2:30pm. It's not too early to create a team & start raising pledges. Visit our Buddy Walk Page for more information.

Join us for the Kids Game Zone, Prizes, Face Painting, Balloons, DJ Mary O, Chinese Auction, Lunch, Treats, and all the extraordinary entertainment. Read more about our special guest Bernadette Resha (this page).

Our wonderful friend Rick Cesta is working very hard to organize the Fairhaven Workshops Art Gallery to be displayed at the Buddy Walk. Judges will award ribbons for the Best of the Best! Stop by the galley tent to view their creations. Rick is also preparing a mural to be painted at the Buddy Walk. We welcome all walkers to add their own special touch to the mural. Yes! Everyone is welcome to participate!
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!

>> Download Our Registration Form Here

The Buddy Walk was developed by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October and to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. The Buddy Walk has grown from 17 walks in 1995 to nearly 300 walks planned for 2010 worldwide. In 2009, more than $9.5 million was raised nationwide to benefit local programs and services, as well as the national advocacy and public awareness initiatives of NDSS that benefit all individuals with Down syndrome.

Penny Buddies
Penny Buddies is a unique way for children to contribute to the Buddy Walk. You may download a Penny Buddies label (on our "News" page, under Pennie Buddies ) to be attached to any container for collection. Your child may collect pennies, or other change, to be submitted as a contribution at the Buddy Walk. Prizes will be awarded for the top Penny Buddies winners. Please have your coins rolled and counted or converted to cash or check to be eligible for prizes. Place in an envelope with your childâs name, address, phone # and Total amount. Thank You!

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

If your business would like to sponsor our Buddy Walk and have your name and logo placed on the back of our Buddy Walk t-shirt...please call Cara Meadows at 330-507-0888. We will also add your name here, on our website. Please call today to create a brighter future for our friends with Down syndrome. THANK YOU!

DOWN SYNDROME FOOTPRINT

Introducing the new website for The Down Syndrome Footprint Foundation. Visit their site to learn more about the organization.

Visit their on-line store where 100% Authentic Down Syndrome Footprint Products are items that are guaranteed to employ people with Down Syndrome. Every item in the Down Syndrome Footprint Store is touched by an individual with Down syndrome.

Many places sell awareness products, but the Down Syndrome Footprint Store is the only awareness store that can guarantee you that they are directly and 100% raising awareness, empowering, and employing individuals with Down syndrome.

They intend to promote AWARENESS of Down syndrome with their "Footprints Across The U.S.A." project by placing a Down syndrome billboard in every state across the country.
They promote EMPOWERMENT through their "One Step at a Time Scholarship Program," that provides scholarships to individuals with Down syndrome that are pursuing a post-secondary education.
Their Down syndrome EMPLOYMENT program, "Step Towards the Future Employment Opportunities", promotes employing those with Down syndrome.

PUTTING DOWNS FIRST WELCOMES BERNADETTE RESHA
On September 25, 2010 when we hold our 4th Annual Buddy Walk, we will be hosting a very special guest. Bernadette Resha is not only an accomplished artist, but an actress, model, violinist, and magician. We are honored to have her display her award winning artwork at our Buddy Walk and look forward to her exhibit at the Trumbull Art Gallery in downtown Warren, Ohio. Read more bout this amazing young woman and find a link to her website in our "NEWS" section. Below is a sample of her artwork:

2011 "SPECIAL BLESSINGS" Calendar

If you would like your little star to become one of Our Shining Stars, contact our photographer Marilyn Lee of HeavenLEE Portraits to schedule a photo session today. She will be happy to make arrangements to meet at your convenience. Call 330-980-1196.

If you would like to purchase one of our beautiful calendars, they will be available at the Buddy Walk. The photos Marilyn has taken so far are absolutely wonderful. We have even received some lovely pictures from out of state and even the UK. Amazing! We are very excited about this years calendar.
If you have a business and would like to sponsor the calendar...$50 for 4 lines of text, (company name, address, phone number, etc.), or $100 for 4 lines and a company logo...please call Marilyn, 330-980-1196, to arrange sponsorship.

Focus Hippotherapy

Thank you to Dawn Speece, PT and her daughters Claire and Andrea for inviting us to the Speece Family Cabin where they hold their horse therapy sessions. The rainy weather didn't detract one bit from the experience. The children were thrilled to learn about feeding and grooming and especially happy to help! The "pony rides" clearly produced Smiles all around. Thank you for sharing your very special place with us!
Anyone who wishes to learn more about Focus Hippotherapy's summer schedule may contact Dawn at sas4820@aol.com

A Foundation For A Better Life: Pass It On

Watch the video inspired by the true story and read more on our "NEWS" page!

PDF will be attending Noon In The Park at beautiful Courthouse Square on Friday July 30th to promote Bernadette Resha's visit to Warren.

In the summer months, Noon-in-the-Park takes place on Friday at the noon hour. Live musical entertainment to suit every taste is provided in part by the American Federation of Musicians. So, bring your lawn chair and enjoy your lunch!
http://www.trumbullarts.org/programs/Noon.htm

Thanks to everyone at the The Downtown Warren Events and Promotions Council who arranged the third Downtown Art Walk of the season! PDF had a wonderful time making new friends , visiting with old ones, and browsing the vendors/artists tables. We look forward to the next one!

The Lana Eisenbraun Enrichment Scholarship

We would like to congratulate our first scholarship recipients:

Daniel, age 21 ..........Summer Enrichment Program
Adia, age 12...............Summer Enrichment Program
Ana, age 8..................Summer Enrichment Program
Sara, age 17...............Focus Hippotherapy

We still have scholarships available. You may download the PDF file here. Please take advantage of this opportunity! After completion of the scholarship application, please mail to:

Patrice James

2102 Foley Dr.

Arlington, Texas 76103

Some Scholarship Opportunities

LEAP, the Life Enriching Activities Program,

is a new program that was started in October of 2005 for young adults 18 and over to provide them with 2-3 monthly social activities.

These activities have included Movies, Sporting Events, Shopping, Bowling, Scrap booking, Gardening classes, and going out to dinner. Each month different parents plan the events for the whole group and list them in our monthly newsletter.

Some of our activities are limited as to how many can participate and have a nominal cost.

Visit the website at http://septrumbull.org/ to find out more.

CREST LANES

(3390 Youngstown Road Southeast, Warren, OH ) Special Needs Bowling Leagues start every September and follow the regular bowling season through May.

FOCUS HIPPOTHERAPY

4858 S. Duck Creek Rd. North Jackson, Ohio. Learn about the benefits of horse therapy for those with Down syndrome. More information available on our "News" page. Dawn Speece PT may be reached at sas4820@aol.com for further information about her program.

It's All Fine

It's All Fine is a newly opened consignment shop at 2815 Youngstown Rd. near the Central Parkway intersection. They accept quality merchandise for resale and offer the seller 65% of sale price while keeping 35% for the store. If you have items you would like to get rid of but do not want the hassle of holding a garage sale...this is the perfect alternative. You may also simply donate items for sale.
The rear of the store doubles as a Dayhab for high functioning, mentally disabled individuals. There they learn life and vocational skills as well as helping to run the store. They also make candles, jewelry, greeting cards, and pottery to sell. They fill cookie orders for special events and at Christmastime and take requests for other food items as well. The proceeds for all of this go to a non-profit entity called "Trips Ahoy", which funds outings, trips and vacations for them. If you would like to help these innovative individuals in their quest for self sufficiency, please call Megan Sweeney at LEEDA Northeast at (330) 392-6006, or stop in at the store.