Central PA Down Syndrome Awareness Group » News & Events http://cpadsag.org Empowering the future Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:38:10 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Play Ball! http://cpadsag.org/play-ball-2/ http://cpadsag.org/play-ball-2/#comments Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:59:13 +0000 corig http://cpadsag.org/?p=618 America’s greatest past-time became CPADSAG’s awareness opportunity!

June 26, 2011 was the perfect summer day for a baseball game.   CPADSAG hosted Down Syndrome Awareness Day at The Harrisburg Senators.  Over 120 CPADSAG supporters infiltrated Metro Bank Park to show their support of people with Down syndrome in their community.

After a picnic lunch an on-field pre-game award was presented to Emily Player for her efforts to raise over $18,000 for Climb Up for Down Syndrome.  The funds Emily raised were donated to Central PA Down Syndrome Awareness Group to promote acceptance and awareness in the community.

As the Harrisburg Senators prepared to battle the Altoona Curve, Spencer Grab threw the “first pitch”.  The Senators won the game 6-0!

cpadsag-at-the-harrisburg-senators-june-26-2011-064 ]]> http://cpadsag.org/play-ball-2/feed/ 0 CRMC Family Fun & Safety Day http://cpadsag.org/crmc-family-fun-safety-day-2/ http://cpadsag.org/crmc-family-fun-safety-day-2/#comments Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:46:33 +0000 corig http://cpadsag.org/?p=571 CPADSAG enjoyed a beautiful day at the Carlisle Regional Medical
Center’s Family Fun & Safety Day on May 7, 2011!  The children who
visited our booth enjoyed creative fingerprint art!  Their parents were
provided with McGruff Safe Kids ID kits.

Hundreds of people learned a little more about acceptance and awareness of people with Down syndrome in the local community!

[[Show as slideshow]] ]]> http://cpadsag.org/crmc-family-fun-safety-day-2/feed/ 0 Spring Fling 2011! http://cpadsag.org/spring-fling-2011/ http://cpadsag.org/spring-fling-2011/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:41:40 +0000 corig http://cpadsag.org/?p=535 109 people gathered to celebrate the end of winter at the Spring Fling!

Balloon artists, face painting, music, dancing and food was enjoyed by all!

]]> http://cpadsag.org/spring-fling-2011/feed/ 0 CV Boosters Support Climb Up for Down Syndrome http://cpadsag.org/cv-boosters-support-climb-up-for-down-syndrome/ http://cpadsag.org/cv-boosters-support-climb-up-for-down-syndrome/#comments Sat, 02 Apr 2011 01:04:43 +0000 corig http://cpadsag.org/?p=516  

On Janary 14, 2011 the Cumberland Valley Girls’ Basketball team played ball to support Climb Up for Down Syndrome.  The team and the Boosters raised over $12,000! 

The money they worked diligently to raise will help promote acceptance and awareness of people with Down syndrome in our community. 

Thank you girls!

]]> http://cpadsag.org/cv-boosters-support-climb-up-for-down-syndrome/feed/ 0 Local woman to ‘Climb Up for Down Syndrome’ http://cpadsag.org/local-woman-to-climb-up-for-down-syndrome/ http://cpadsag.org/local-woman-to-climb-up-for-down-syndrome/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:25:51 +0000 corig http://cpadsag.org/?p=490 By Erica Dolson, Sentinel Reporter, January 13, 2011

emily-player As an early intervention speech pathologist, Emily Player has seen her young clients struggle with basic tasks, from making sounds to speaking.

“They struggle every day with the simplest things,” Player said. “(I) never experienced that except through the eyes of a therapist.”

That was before she began training for Climb Up for Down Syndrome, her eight-day, 19,340-foot ascent to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

On Wednesday, Player left for Africa, taking with her clothing that she could wear in both the 80-degree heat and humidity at the base of the mountain and the below-freezing temperatures at the peak, and a banner from the Central Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Awareness Group (CPADSAG), the local organization that her climb will benefit.

Player approached Brian Guillaume, CPADSAG’s president and co-founder, nearly two years ago to pitch the idea.

“My original reaction was, this could be a huge fundraiser for our group,” Guillaume said.

CPADSAG was founded about three years ago with the mission of promoting acceptance and awareness of Down syndrome and empowering individuals with Down syndrome to meet and exceed their dreams.

The organization runs solely on donations and sponsors community social events, family focus nights and a grant program for individuals with Down syndrome.

So far, Player has raised about $5,100 of her $20,000 goal, she said.

Player’s son Jared is named for one of her former clients with Down syndrome.

“He (that client) just brings a smile to my face,” she said. “Great sense of humor. He love(s) life.”

All of Player’s clients with Down syndrome have a zest for life, and often a stubborn streak, she said.

“They just embrace life. They’re game for anything,” she said. “The reason I chose this group is I’ve seen the impact they made on the children in my case load.”

Through her work in early intervention, Player has met children who attended a music class or received physical therapy equipment through CPADSAG’s grant program and families who received support and became part of a network because of the family focus nights and social events, she said.

“I can’t say I know what it feels like to walk in… (these) families’ shoes, but I hope that my efforts in getting ready for this climb will be seen as a symbolic gesture of the supreme efforts these families make each and every day,” Player said in a statement.

To train, Player has worked with a trainer for a couple of days each week and hiked the Flat Rock Trail near Newville, the highest altitude change in our area, she said.

“It’s not much compared to Kilimanjaro, but it’s what I had to work with,” she said. “I think I’ve done everything I can do prepare.”

Player will be in Africa until Jan. 28.

As an early intervention speech pathologist, Emily Player has seen her young clients struggle with basic tasks, from making sounds to speaking.

“They struggle every day with the simplest things,” Player said. “(I) never experienced that except through the eyes of a therapist.”

That was before she began training for Climb Up for Down Syndrome, her eight-day, 19,340-foot ascent to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

On Wednesday, Player left for Africa, taking with her clothing that she could wear in both the 80-degree heat and humidity at the base of the mountain and the below-freezing temperatures at the peak, and a banner from the Central Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Awareness Group (CPADSAG), the local organization that her climb will benefit.

Player approached Brian Guillaume, CPADSAG’s president and co-founder, nearly two years ago to pitch the idea.

“My original reaction was, this could be a huge fundraiser for our group,” Guillaume said.

CPADSAG was founded about three years ago with the mission of promoting acceptance and awareness of Down syndrome and empowering individuals with Down syndrome to meet and exceed their dreams.

The organization runs solely on donations and sponsors community social events, family focus nights and a grant program for individuals with Down syndrome.

So far, Player has raised about $5,100 of her $20,000 goal, she said.

Player’s son Jared is named for one of her former clients with Down syndrome.

“He (that client) just brings a smile to my face,” she said. “Great sense of humor. He love(s) life.”

All of Player’s clients with Down syndrome have a zest for life, and often a stubborn streak, she said.

“They just embrace life. They’re game for anything,” she said. “The reason I chose this group is I’ve seen the impact they made on the children in my case load.”

Through her work in early intervention, Player has met children who attended a music class or received physical therapy equipment through CPADSAG’s grant program and families who received support and became part of a network because of the family focus nights and social events, she said.

“I can’t say I know what it feels like to walk in… (these) families’ shoes, but I hope that my efforts in getting ready for this climb will be seen as a symbolic gesture of the supreme efforts these families make each and every day,” Player said in a statement.

To train, Player has worked with a trainer for a couple of days each week and hiked the Flat Rock Trail near Newville, the highest altitude change in our area, she said.

“It’s not much compared to Kilimanjaro, but it’s what I had to work with,” she said. “I think I’ve done everything I can do prepare.”

Player will be in Africa until Jan. 28.

]]> http://cpadsag.org/local-woman-to-climb-up-for-down-syndrome/feed/ 1 Halloween Party 2010 http://cpadsag.org/halloween-party-2010/ http://cpadsag.org/halloween-party-2010/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 22:04:21 +0000 corig http://cpadsag.org/?p=481 October 30, 2010 was a hauntingly good time!  Almost 150 people gathered for the CPADSAG Halloween Party.  Everyone enjoyed food, crafts, dancing and caricatures!

]]> http://cpadsag.org/halloween-party-2010/feed/ 0 3rd Annual Carlisle Area Buddy Walk http://cpadsag.org/3rd-annual-carlisle-area-buddy-walk/ http://cpadsag.org/3rd-annual-carlisle-area-buddy-walk/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 21:46:01 +0000 corig http://cpadsag.org/?p=473 On September 18, 2010, 390 people gathered at Carlisle Area High School to participate in the 3rd Annual Carlisle Area Buddy Walk®! The Buddy Walk® is a one mile walk that promotes acceptance and awareness of people with Down syndrome in our community.

Together we raised over $17,000!

]]> http://cpadsag.org/3rd-annual-carlisle-area-buddy-walk/feed/ 0 Party Down Day 2010 http://cpadsag.org/party-down-day-2010/ http://cpadsag.org/party-down-day-2010/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:39:45 +0000 corig http://cpadsag.org/?p=342 On July 24, 2010 Central PA Down Syndrome Awareness Group gathered at Camp Sertoma in Harrisburg, PA for our second Party “Down” Day.  118 people came together to celebrate people with Down syndrome.  Throughout the day we enjoyed food, swimming, music, dancing and friendship.

]]> http://cpadsag.org/party-down-day-2010/feed/ 2 CPADSAG Sends Kira to Camp http://cpadsag.org/cpadsag-sends-kira-to-camp/ http://cpadsag.org/cpadsag-sends-kira-to-camp/#comments Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:32:00 +0000 corig http://cpadsag.org/?p=327 Central PA Down Syndrome Awareness Group uses the money we raise to provide grants that promote the forward progress of people with Down syndrome.

Your generosity enabled us to help Kira attend “Lose the Training Wheels” camp (provided through Easter Seals Central PA).  Kira had a wonderful time and is almost ready to “Lose the Training Wheels”!

]]> http://cpadsag.org/cpadsag-sends-kira-to-camp/feed/ 0 Bubblers score off-field win http://cpadsag.org/bubblers-score-off-field-win/ http://cpadsag.org/bubblers-score-off-field-win/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 00:54:22 +0000 corig http://cpadsag.org/?p=289 The Boiling Springs softball team rallies around a teammate’s brother.
Friday, May 07, 2010
BY ADAM KULIKOWSKI akulikowski45@gmail.com

Boiling Springs coach Steve Darchicourt had every reason April 28 to be proud of his softball team.

Jordan Darchicourt pitched a three-inning no-hit shutout — spoiled only by a lone walk to the first batter she faced.

And the Bubblers clubbed Harrisburg 15-0.

bs-bubblers

Both certainly brought a smile to the coach’s face.

But it is what the team did after they came off the field that mattered most. They attended a fundraiser for the Central Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Awareness Group at Chili’s Restaurant.

For the Bubblers, the nonprofit holds special meaning: Sophomore third baseman Kait Fox’s younger brother, Carson, has Down syndrome.

Throughout the season, the Bubblers have made the 5-year-old Carson part of the team, visiting him in the stands after games.

But on April 28, the team did more.

After attending the event at Chili’s — which donated 10 percent of proceeds from the meals during the nonprofit’s event — Darchicourt and the team decided to hold their own fundraiser to help support the organization.

The team will host a car wash May 15 at Metro Bank at 65 Ashland Ave. in Carlisle to raise additional funds.

It says a lot about the character of the girls and how they have come together as one team in such a short period of time.

Each player has different challenges every day on the field, but participating with the organization brings the message home that there are far greater challenges for us all to take on besides those in the game of softball.

The gesture nearly made Heather Fox-Kauffman, Carson and Kait’s mother and CPADSAG co-founder, cry.

“I’m totally overwhelmed with this group of girls,” Fox-Kauffman said, “how they want to give back to their community and help where ever they can. My heart just is overwhelmed.

“And I’m amazed at their willingness to give up a Saturday to wash cars and get nothing out of it personally except the satisfaction that the proceeds will go toward helping the individuals with Down syndrome.”

Fox-Kauffman, along with Brian and Cori Guillaume and Andy Smarr, founded the nonprofit in 2008 as a way to collect donations for a fundraising walk to raise awareness for Down syndrome. Proceeds are used to provide grants to families that aid in promoting personal development of individuals with Down syndrome.

For more information on the Central Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Awareness Group, go to www.cpadsag. org

]]> http://cpadsag.org/bubblers-score-off-field-win/feed/ 1