We will continue with our weekly virtual programs - all the details are below! Please let us know if we can support you or your business in any way during this time.
In addition to our virtual programming and opportunities to get together, we would like to offer financial assistance through our Covid Relief Fund. Apply below.
We are happy to share resources or services you may be providing with our families. Please don't hesitate to reach out.
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October
- Saturday, October 10 - Learning Programs Sip and Chat
- Monday, October 12 - Moms Night In (9:00pm)
- Thursday, October 15 - (7:00pm-8:30pm) Tour of Champions - Make a Difference One Story at a Time
- Friday, October 16 - Virtual Play Date (2:15pm-3:00pm)
- Monday, October 19 - Bowling Committee Meeting (7:00pm - 8:30pm)
- Wednesday, October 21 - Moms Night In Special Edition (9:00pm)
- Saturday, October 24 - Play Date in the Park
- Monday, October 26 - Moms Night In (9:00pm)
- Friday, October 30 - Virtual Play Date (2:15pm-3:00pm)
Weekly Programs
- Mondays - Lunch and Learns (1:45pm)
- Tuesdays - Virtual Zumba with Elyse (4:00pm - 5:00pm)
- Wednesdays - Virtual Club 321 (4:00pm-5:00pm)
- Thursdays - Virtual T21 Social Network (18+) (4:00pm-5:00pm)
- Fridays - F^3: Fantastic Foundation Friends (4:00pm) and (4:30pm)
November
- November 6-8 - Camping Jamboree
- November 13 - Deadline to Apply for Thanksgiving Holiday Assistance
- November 14 - Member Orientation
Don't want to miss out on our events?
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Down Syndrome Awareness Month |
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Down Syndrome Awareness Month is a chance to spread awareness, advocacy, and inclusion throughout the community. During the month of October, we celebrate:
our members,
our partners,
our donors,
our volunteers,
our community,
our unique abilities!
It is also a time to promote awareness and acceptance by educating our peers and sharing our stories about our loved ones with Down syndrome.
We know it takes a village and ours has grown from four founding members with a vision of inclusion to literally thousands of individuals who have embraced that vision and helped us make our dreams a reality. The journey has been one incredible adventure after another, one success story after another, and one life changed after another.
Here's to celebrating
POTENTIAL, OPPORTUNITY, & SUCCESS!
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Down Syndrome Awareness Month Celebration! |
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Thank you to all who joined us for our Down Syndrome Awareness Month Picnic and Celebration! We loved getting to see you and your families connecting after so many months apart. It was a wonderful way to kick off our month together! |
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Shopping via Amazon?
There is NO COST to you by choosing The FOUNDATION as your charity of choice!
It's as simple as 1..2..3..
1. Make sure you are logged into AmazonSmile
2. Choose DOWN SYNDROME FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA as your charity of choice
3. MAKE A DIFFERENCE and SUPPORT our PROGRAMS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND FOUNDATION by doing what you do anyway: SHOP AWAY!
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Learning Programs Sip and Chat |
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Date: Saturday, October 10, 2020
Time: 10:00am
Location: Virtual
Who: Parents of children with Down syndrome ages 4-9
Unique times...unique programs! We are working with our partners at UCF to bring to you an innovative iCan Learn! program to best serve our families. The Sip and Chat will feature a panel of UCF professors/iCan program experts and doctoral students to address your specific needs and questions. The panel will discuss and share resources around education, mental health and wellness, and behavior.
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We will also be sending an update regarding iCan! Excel, which is a mindfulness program geared towards the ages of 10-15. Keep an eye out for information for iCan! Excel as well as the College and Career Prep Program (for all individuals 16+). |
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Check out our new Tour of Champions
Bowl-A-Thon incentive!
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How does a family celebration on the St. Johns Rivership sound as a way to celebrate YOUR CHAMPION? Down Syndrome Awareness Month is the perfect time to let the world know how you and your loved one have benefitted from your involvement with The FOUNDATION! We have a GREAT incentive for YOU to tell your story! If you register your team and have at least three NEW individual donors make a contribution by Oct. 31 you will be entered into the drawing to win this amazing dining experience.
If you already have a team....you just need to have three NEW individual donors make a contribution to your team between now and Oct. 31!
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The St. Johns Rivership Co. provides a different way to experience Florida. To appreciate its wildlife, its beauty and its warmth. All while indulging in chef-prepared cuisine, live onboard entertainment and endless hospitality in climate-controlled comfort.
*3 hour lunch cruise good for Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday for four people (good for 3 years)
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Every dollar counts! You can ask friends to make a $5 donation on a day they would usually stop for a drive through coffee or a $20 donation on a night they may pick up a pizza. And the BEST PART is that we already have a way to help you do this - check out the segment immediately below to learn how to tell your story! |
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Tour of Champions - Make a Difference One Story at a Time |
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Would you like to have a custom video of your son or daughter?
By joining us on October 15, you will have the opportunity to work with our talented Social Media Intern, Avari, to create a customized video!

Date: Thursday, October 15
Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: Zoom - see our private page for details!
Looking for cool and innovative ways to promote your Bowl-A-Thon team?
You do not want to miss this tutorial! We will be discussing different fundraising tools provided by Qgiv and fun ways to promote your team via different social media platforms. You'll also learn from other parents who have reached their fundraising goals in the past and find out how to share your story!
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Make an Impact!
Join the 2021 Bowl-A-Thon Committee.
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We are looking for Bowl-A-Thon Committee Members. If you would like to be part of the team which puts on our ONLY FUNDRAISER for the year, please email Camille.Gardiner@dsfflorida.org.
It is a short-term commitment that only requires a few hours a month between now and our Bowl-A-Thon.
We would love a few more creative and energetic individuals to help us make this the best event yet!
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Our next meeting is virtual through Zoom on:
Monday, October 19th at 7pm
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Meeting ID: 957 5324 5447
Passcode: 210686
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Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 10:00am
Location: Red Bug Lake Park
3600 Red Bug Lake Rd, Casselberry, FL 32707
We're excited to provide you with an opportunity for your little ones to get together at a park! Siblings are welcome to join.
Thank you to Suzanne Sherrill for planning this fun outing!
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Camping Jamboree - Register TODAY! |
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Deadline to register is October 21st |
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Where: Jetty Park Campground - 9035 Campground Cir.
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
When: November 6-8
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Join us for a fun-filled weekend at Jetty Park, located next to one of Central Florida's most beautiful beaches! The campground has many amenities including a HUGE playground, sand volleyball, fishing from the pier, and sport equipment rentals such as boogie boards, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards.
If you're planning to join us, sign up now to secure your spot. If you don't have a tent, no worries! The FOUNDATION has a set of tents just for this event so families who are interested in giving the outdoor life a try can borrow a tent for the weekend. Please let us know when registering that you'll need one.
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- Registration Deadline: October 18, 2020 to receive a t-shirt; October 21, 2020 last day to register.
- RV reservations must be done by October 1st to be guaranteed. We have a limited number of RV spots and if they sell out we will have to look for spaces not with our group (if they are even available).
- Cost: $25 per family to camp or $10 per family for Saturday cookout.
- Payment due at time of registration.
- This event is for immediate family only. All FOUNDATION campsites will be together.
- A confirmation letter with details regarding check in and events during the weekend will be sent to each family.
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Date: Saturday, November 14, 2020
Time: 9:00am - 10:00am
Location: Zoom - see our private page for details!
We've updated our scholarship policy - in addition to our normal requirements to be considered an active member for scholarships, we are now adding a member orientation requirement.
This requirement is in effect and you'll need to attend a member orientation between now and the spring semester to be eligible for spring scholarships! If you have any questions about this, you can email erin.goding@dsfflorida.org.
In the orientation, you'll learn about the programs and scholarships we offer and all the different ways you can get involved! Even if you don't apply for scholarships with The FOUNDATION, this orientation will be beneficial to you!
***You must activate your video in the call for your attendance to count***
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As we head into the holidays, we want all of our members to celebrate with a nice meal that they can enjoy with their loved ones.
The FOUNDATION continues our tradition this season, providing food and gift items for our families who need assistance.
If your family would like to receive the ingredients for a Holiday Dinner or assistance with purchasing gifts, please click on the request button below, fill out the form and we will be in touch with you.

Please submit requests for holiday assistance by
Friday, November 13th.
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When: Monday - October 12 and 26
Time: 9:00pm
Location: Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found on our private Facebook page, MeetUp, or by emailing Erin.goding@dsfflorida.org
Every other Monday at 9pm we're providing the opportunity for moms to share some time together !
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Moms Night In: Special Edition |
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When: Wednesday, October 21
Time: 9:00pm
Location: Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found on our private Facebook page, MeetUp, or by emailing Erin.goding@dsfflorida.org
Do you have a son or daughter that struggles with communication or has a dual diagnosis? Have you attended an event with other families that have a child with Down syndrome and left feeling like your child doesn’t fit in. If so, you are not alone! We’d love for you to join us to connect with other families.
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Virtual Zumba with Elyse! |
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When: Every Tuesday
Time: 4:00pm
Location: Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found on our private Facebook page, MeetUp, or by emailing Erin.goding@dsfflorida.org
Elyse Mundelein will be teaching a virtual zumba class! We will post the zoom information in the event for details to log in. No experience needed, just get ready to dance and have fun!
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Join our Club 321 virtual meet up for middle and high-schoolers! |
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When: Every Wednesday
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
Location: Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found on our private Facebook page, MeetUp, or by emailing Erin.goding@dsfflorida.org
This is a great opportunity for our middle and high school group to socialize, engage, and connect with each other. We'll have something new and different each week!
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Virtual T21 Social Network (18+) |
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When: Every Thursday
Time: 4:00pm-5:00pm
Location: Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found on our private Facebook page, MeetUp, or by emailing Erin.goding@dsfflorida.org
This is a great opportunity for our adult group to socialize, engage, and connect with each other. We'll have something new and different each week!
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When: Every other Friday, 16, 30
Time: 2:15pm-3:00pm
Location: Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found on our private Facebook page, MeetUp, or by emailing Erin.goding@dsfflorida.org
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We'll sing songs, read stories, and have fun - all through Zoom! |
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F^3: Fantastic Foundation Friends |
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When: Every Friday
Time: 4:00pm-4:30pm and 4:30pm-5:00pm
Location: Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found on our private Facebook page, MeetUp, or by emailing Erin.goding@dsfflorida.org
POWER UP!
This program will provide opportunities for small groups to form relationships and friendships in a virtual environment. Sessions are capped at 5 participants to allow for deeper engagement and a more personal experience. We'll build conversational skills and independence with the goal of forming true friendships over time. Each session will be offered to different age groups. Ex: Girls aged 11-14 for one session and boys aged 15-18 for a different session, women 25-30, etc.
October 9 at 4:00pm: Women 19-24
October 9 at 4:30pm: Boys 15-18
October 16 at 4:00pm: Women 25-30
October 16 at 4:30pm: Men 19-24
October 23 at 4:00pm: Women 31 and older
October 23 at 4:30pm: Men 25-30
October 30 at 4:00pm: Girls 11-14
October 30 at 4:30pm: Men 31 and older
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Help Develop a Therapy App |
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Gayane Hovhannisyan discovered a need during her work as a therapist for her patients to have a more reliable way of practicing what they learned in therapy. She found that parents are sometimes busy with work or other commitments and couldn't always make the time to practice at home. So she developed an app called Noomee which has
1) An “Organizer” feature that develops the patient's skills for their everyday life.
2) A “Social Story Maker” that enhances communication and behavioral skills, by illustrating how to behave in different social situations.
They would like to learn how you currently track progress for therapies, what needs you have, what would be helpful for your son or daughter to track their therapies independently.
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Technology Tip and Tricks |
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Drs. Lisa Dieker and Rebecca Hines, professors at the University of Central Florida in the College of Community Innovation and Education, have worked with schools and parents across the country.
They take a fun and informal look at "practical" situations from teachers, parents, and people with unique abilities. Their approach is fast, flexible thinking about "real" life problems.
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Let's get social!
Follow us on social media for more information
and to stay updated on our upcoming events!
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