In light of the recent news of the funding reduction from NIH (National Institute for Health) for Down syndrome research, WE, as parents and families, have got to STEP UP and help to support to continue Down syndrome research!  Clinical trials are under way by ROCHE based upon research by DSRTF (Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation), but without funding, scientists cannot continue their efforts, which could even result in no more clinical trials. 

If you're thinking, I can't do that, there's an organization for that.....you're misled!  Organizations out there need private funding from us!  YOU can do it, and WE can do it together!  Here are some ideas that you can use to help you help EVERYONE in the Down syndrome community!  With the money you raise, you can donate it directly to DSRTF or if want our help, you can leverage any communications/events that Upside of Down puts on to raise funds.

• In lieu of birthday or wedding gifts, request donations for DS Research
• Bake sale at your church, school, etc.
• Sporting tournament
• Poker tournament
• Facebook or Twitter challenge to have 20 people donate $10 for Down syndrome research - set your goals even higher if you have lots of friends!
• Ask friends and family to simply make a donation and spread the word for the need for private funding to continue DS research!  Click here to donate directly to DSRTF, Click here to donate via Upside of Down (both are tax deductible)

If you aren't sure if you'd even consider giving your child any medications that MAY end up proving to increase cognitivie ability (like me), THAT'S OK.  I look at this that it will provide more opportunities for people with Down syndrome that aren't currently there and could prevent the early onset of Alzheimers, which research shows people with Down syndrome are very likely to get.  I couldn't be happy just sitting back and possibly letting research fall to the way side - who knows what will be discovered!!!

Upside of Down has a goal of raising $100,000 for DS Research that will go directly to DSRTF, please feel free to join our efforts in any way or donate directly to DSRTF!!!  Every penny adds up!!!

Please let us know if you'd like to chat about other ways we might be able to make a difference!!!

Over the past three years, Upside Of Down's Charity Kickball Tournament raised enough funds to sponsor summer camp for more than 30 individuals with Down syndrome in Central Texas and across the nation! Our goal is to sponsor even more campers in 2012, so come out and show your support at the 4th Annual Charity Kickball tournament!  We have all 12 teams secured, but you can still join an existing team and put your Kickball skills to the test! 

You can also help by making a donation to help with the event and our mission to provide

more opportunities to individuals with Down syndrome

Many kids and even adults with Down syndrome may never have the opportunity to experience summer camp and create those everlasting memories, and Upside Of Down wants to make that possible, along with help from our community!

Thank YOU for choosing to be a part of our dream!

We hope you'll come out and watch us 'Kick for a Cause':

Sunday, April 1, 2012

10:30am - 4:00pm

WAYA 1st. St. Fields

1248 Cesar Chavez (Reserve Rd.)

Austin, TX  78703

Here's a clip from the spot that YNN did on the tourney last year: http://austin.ynn.com/content/277730/family-helps-others-see--upside-of-down--syndrome?ap=1&MP4 

Keep checking our website for all the things that Upside Of Down is doing to provide even more opportunities to individuals with Down syndrome!  We're not just campin' anymore!!

www.UpsideOfDown.org

Presley is the reason for Upside of Down and
unknowingly, she has already touched the lives of so many across the globe -learn more about Presley and Upside of Down at www.UpsideOfDown.org

Thank you for your continued support!

Jeffrey and Teana

Jeffrey and I have been thrilled with the success of our camp scholarship program over the past 3 years and our 4th Annual Upside Of Down Charity Kickball Tournament is coming up on April 1st!

We've attended a few presentations from Down syndrome researchers and have created a new goal for Upside of Down over the next year - to raise $100,000 for Down syndrome research to be distributed by DSRTF (Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation).  Our first insight to what research was going on was by attending a presentation by Dr. William Mobley, one of the pioneers and heroes (in my book) on Down syndrome research.  This past fall Jeffrey and I attended a presentation by Jon Pierce-Shimomura, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Section of Neurobiology at THE University of Texas at Austin.  Jon was our inspiration to raise $100,000 for research!  It is amazing at what they are onto at the UT lab and other labs across the nation!  This past week, Jeffrey and I were invited to have lunch with Dr. Michael Harpold, DSRTF Chief Scientific Officer and Chair, Jon Pierce-Shimomura and others in our community with a passion for increasing Down syndrome research - Thank you Jerry Horton for that invitation!  We hope that you'll consider contributing to our goal of 100k for Down syndrome research this year!!!  Just skip on that swanky coffee a few times each month - that's all it takes to make a difference!!!!

Our most exciting contribution is that Upside Of Down is sponsoring the employment of a few individuals at Jon Pierce-Shimomura's lab at UT.  These aren't just any employees - these paid researchers happen to have Down syndrome!  Yes!!!  I cannot believe that he's created an opportunity such as this for people with Down syndrome to be contributing to some serious science!!!  I would be more than proud to one day say that my daughter, Presley, works at UT in a research lab as a paid scientist!!!  Thank you Jon for doing what you do and for creating opportuntities for individuals with Down syndrome!  Also, thank you to our donors that help make it possible for Upside of Down to support opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome!!!