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2023 TVDSA Walk For Down Syndrome

Posted by on Apr 28, 2023 in Our Stories, Uncategorized | 0 comments

REGISTER TODAY

The TVDSA Walk for Down Syndrome is a great opportunity for those of us who love someone with Down syndrome to share our feelings with everyone we know! Yes, the walk is the biggest fundraiser of the year for TVDSA, but it’s also a vehicle for creating community awareness. 

Invite everyone you know!

This year the Walk will be at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell ID, on Saturday, September 23th 2023.

Place

Indian Creek Plaza
120 S Kimball Avenue
Caldwell, ID US 83605

Description

Join us for the 21st Annual TVDSA Step Up for Down Syndrome! This event is a one mile walk along beautiful Indian Creek in downtown Caldwell, Idaho. The festivities begin at 10:00 am with entertainment and activities for the whole family. We will start our walk promptly at 11:00 am and end back at Indian Creek for more music, dancing and fun times!

Create a team of your own or join an existing one, then celebrate with your own Walk with your team members.

As always, we will have prizes for raising money and incentives for getting creative with your team. Most importantly we hope that you will HAVE FUN! 

We hope you will all join us for the 21st Annual TVDSA Walk for Down Syndrome!

Idaho Gives 2023

Posted by on Apr 19, 2023 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

MANY THANKS to our 2023 donors. We finished this year with $1,661.00 raised. Thanks to Bank of Idaho for our largest donation of $1,000.00. We were in the running for the Global Giver donation with a donation from 5,435 miles away in France, but were beat out by a donor from Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Better luck next time.

Below are all the 2023 donors listed on the TVDSA Idaho Gives site. Thanks again to all who gave in 2023!

Bank of Idaho $1,000
Devon Toomey $100
Auger Family $21
Kaitlin Johnson
Anne Spencer $50
The Rice Family $50
Lynda Wells $50
Herve Rigneault $20
Judy B Halverson $50
The Hacking Family $50
BRENDA TAYLOR $100
Jennifer $25
The McConnels $50
Angela Cochems $25
George Taylor $10
TVDSA First Donor $10

Idaho Gives is a statewide giving program that is usually one day of giving. This year, Idaho has the ability to give for FOUR DAYS! taking place from May 1st to May 4th, 2023, and it’s all online! This year, people across our state come together for Idaho nonprofits. It’s a time to celebrate the awesome work of Idaho’s nonprofits and benefit from the power of many. Idaho comes together – be a part of it!

Treasure Valley Down Syndrome Association thanks you in advance for your help and participation in Idaho Gives 2023. One of the great and easy ways to get involved is to post pictures on social media and share them with friends and family to encourage them to participate as well. At the bottom of this page is a list of Idaho Gives sign images with relevant sayings on them that you can either download and edit or print “as is” then create your own personal pictures to post back on social media.
Be sure to include the hashtags as well with your fun and inspirational images to support the Down syndrome community and TVDSA.

Hashtags – #IdahoGives #TVDSA #RockThe21 #morealikethandifferent #WhatIBringToMyCommunity #NothingDownAboutIt #Inclusion4All

TVDSA needs your help!
Please mark your calendar and tell your friends – We need your participation to not only support us directly but to help us participate in the contests during Idaho Gives. Each year Idaho Gives awards special bonuses and prizes for each category. Every donation qualifies us for a different contest. You can review the prize structure here to see when would be the best time for you to donate – you can even split it up over several smaller donations during the events to give us a better chance! In a previous year, we had a diligent donor that won us a $500 prize for their well timed, minimum donation!

Tips for best impact from Idaho Gives for TVDSA

  • Share with everyone you know.
  • Be on the lookout for contests.
  • You can give small amounts several times for maximum impact.

List of contests we ask that you participate in:

  • May 1st – First Donation – Organization that receives the first online donation at 12:00 am MT on May 1, 2023 will win $1000.00. All sizes and regions are eligible. Please burn the midnight oil with us and enter your donations at midnight!
  • Surprise Donation Hours – Organizations participating in Idaho Gives are eligible. Keep an eye on Idaho Gives social media to hear about the three surprise donation hours! Each organization drawn will win $500.00. All sizes and regions are eligible.
  • Shout Out in the Treasure Valley – Ride your bike and support your favorite Treasure Valley nonprofit! Anyone who visits George’s Cycles (either location) to make their donation has the chance to enter their favorite organization for a prize. Tag your nonprofit on social media and tag @georgescyclesboise (Instagram), @GeorgesCycles (Facebook), and @IdahoGives. Drawn randomly from group of qualified nonprofits on May 3, 2023 at 7:00 pm MT. All sizes are eligible.
  • Global Giver – The organization that receives an online donation from the location furthest away. All measurements will be taken from the donor’s mailing address to Boise, ID. Addresses must be recognizable in Google. Drawn after Idaho Gives is complete. All sizes and regions are eligible.
  • Leaderboard – Awarded to the top 10 organizations in our category based on the most unique donors at the end of Idaho Gives.

Visit our Idaho Gives site here to make your donation starting May 1st or to get info about our other activities.

More details and reminders to come via email and social media so mark your calendar now and check this page for more updates.

BIG+IdahoRocks Chromosomes
BIG+IdahoRaises Awareness
BIG+IdahoIncludesMe
BIG+IdahoAdvocates4me
BIG+IdahoAdvocates
BIG+IdahoAcceptsme
BIG+IdahoAccepts
BIG+Idaho+Includes+
BIG+IdahoRocksThe21
BIG+Idaho+____+

Explore Dance Company

Posted by on Apr 15, 2023 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Explore is dedicated to building meaningful connections in the community through dance by providing fun opportunities for self-expression, creativity, and new experiences. Each year, Explore Dance Company holds a charity benefit concert in which 100% of the proceeds from our silent auction benefit a local nonprofit.

TVDSA is proud to have been selected to partner with Explore for 2023 as the recipient of the proceeds from the silent auction. This year the silent auction bidding begins on Monday, April 17 and will close on Friday, April 28. You can view items now at ExploreDanceCo.com/silentauction.

Explore is capping off the silent auction with a charity benefit concert on Friday, April 28 at the Nampa Civic Center.

Show Details
CINEMATIC
Friday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m.
Nampa Civic Center
311 3rd St S
Nampa, ID 83651

Tickets
Explore is offering a discount to TVDSA members. Contact Angela at a.cochems@idahodownsyndrome.org for a promo code to receive $2 off per ticket. Tickets can be purchased at ExploreDanceCo.com/cinematic. Base prices are $20 for adults and $15 for children 3-18 (plus fees). Lap children 2 and under are free.

2023 Albertsons Boise Open

Posted by on Apr 4, 2023 in Our Stories, Uncategorized | 0 comments

TVDSA Golf Fans! - TICKETS GOING FAST!
TVDSA is excited to announce the return of the 34th Annual Albertsons Boise Open this August 24–27, at Hillcrest Country Club! Thanks to Albertsons, 100% of all ticket sales will support local Boise charities! TVDSA is participating again this year with a new, simplified format. Go to TVDSA’s Boise Open site to purchase tickets, and please encourage your friends and family to do the same. 

We are so thankful to the Albertsons Companies Foundation and Mondelez for their ongoing support to local non-profits through the Boise Open. In 2022 TVDSA received $8051.25 as a direct result of your participation at the Boise Open through ticket sales.

The tournament will feature three nights of exciting CONCERTS AFTER GOLF on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights on the 18th hole at Hillcrest and concert admission is INCLUDED with each daily event ticket! 

Bands for golf are:
Sheryl Crow - Thursday, August 24th 
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Friday, August 25th
Weezer - Saturday, August 26th SOLD OUT

Go here to purchase tickets to support TVDSA

Visit the Boise Open website for more details.






Idaho Gives 2022

Posted by on Apr 28, 2022 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

official

Idaho Gives 2022 has come to a close and we want to thank all of out generous sponsors – we could not do it without them. Through our generous donors we raised $1,281.00 for 2022. Thank You

Idaho Gives Donors

Anonymous $30

Paul Auger $21

Madeline Rice $100

Mika $100

Ashley Lane $50

Brenda Taylor $100

Kaitlin Johnson $500

Anonymous $50

Thankful parent $50

Austin Taylor $10

LaVar & Lynda Wells $50

Jennifer Rice $50

Anonymous $100

Patrick Taylor $10

Mary Hacking $50

First Donation $10

Idaho Gives is a statewide giving program that is usually one day of giving. This year, Idaho has the ability to give for FOUR DAYS! taking place from May 2nd to May 5th, 2022, and it’s all online! This year, people across our state come together for Idaho nonprofits. It’s a time to celebrate the awesome work of Idaho’s nonprofits and benefit from the power of many. Idaho comes together – be a part of it!

This year is a time for rebuilding so it is even more crucial that Treasure Valley Down Syndrome Association gets your support now! All of our events that would normally be used to raise funds have been affected and we are still not sure what the rest of the year will look like. We really appreciate your support!

Treasure Valley Down Syndrome Association thanks you in advance for your help and participation in Idaho Gives 2022. One of the great and easy ways to get involved is to post pictures on social media and share them with friends and family to encourage them to participate as well. Below is a list of Idaho Gives sign images with relevant sayings on them that you can either download and edit or print “as is” then create your own personal pictures to post back on social media.
Be sure to include the hashtags as well with your fun and inspirational images to support the Down syndrome community and TVDSA.

Hashtags – #IdahoGives #TVDSA #RockThe21 #morealikethandifferent #WhatIBringToMyCommunity #NothingDownAboutIt #Inclusion4All

BIG+IdahoRocks Chromosomes
BIG+IdahoRaises Awareness
BIG+IdahoIncludesMe
BIG+IdahoAdvocates4me
BIG+IdahoAdvocates
BIG+IdahoAcceptsme
BIG+IdahoAccepts
BIG+Idaho+Includes+
BIG+IdahoRocksThe21
BIG+Idaho+____+

TVDSA needs your help!
Please mark your calendar and tell your friends – We need your participation to not only support us directly but to help us participate in the contests during Idaho Gives. Each year Idaho Gives awards special bonuses and prizes for each category. Every donation qualifies us for a different contest. You can review the prize structure here to see when would be the best time for you to donate – you can even split it up over several smaller donations during the events to give us a better chance! Last year we had a diligent donor that won us a $500 prize for their well timed, minimum donation!

Tips for best impact from Idaho Gives for TVDSA

  • Share with everyone you know.
  • Be on the lookout for contests.
  • You can give small amounts several times for maximum impact.

List of contests we ask that you participate in:

  • May 2nd – First Donation – Organization that receives the first online donation at 12:00 am MT on May 2, 2022 will win. All sizes and regions are eligible.
  • May 3rd – Tuesday Two Hour Tournament – Organizations participating in Idaho Gives are eligible. Drawn randomly every two hours from a pool of online donations from the previous two hours at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 p.m., 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm MT on May 3rd. Each organization drawn will win $500.00. All sizes and regions are eligible.
  • May 4th – Peer-to-Peer Pals – All organizations with a Peer-to-Peer fundraiser that has collected $250 online or more will be eligible. Drawn randomly from group of qualified nonprofits on May 4, 2022 at 5:00 pm MT.
  • Global Giver – The organization that receives an online donation from the location furthest away. All measurements will be taken from the donor’s mailing address to Boise, ID. Addresses must be recognizable in Google. Drawn after Idaho Gives is complete. All sizes and regions are eligible.
  • Leaderboard – Awarded to the top 10 organizations in our category based on the most unique donors at the end of Idaho Gives.

Visit our Idaho Gives site here to make your donation starting May 1st or to get info about our other activities.

More details and reminders to come via email and social media so mark your calendar now and check this page for more updates.

Call To Action

Posted by on Feb 10, 2022 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

UPDATE:

TIME CHANGE for House Health & Welfare Hearing at the Capitol for Bill 1270! 

Bill 1270 will now be heard at 8:30 am MST, TOMORROW (Tuesday) morning in the House Health & Welfare Committee at the Capitol in Boise (NOT 9 am). Most of us will not make it over to see in person. If you would like to watch online here is the link! You scroll to the bottom and tomorrow you will see a link next to Tuesday, March 8th that will be live and you can click on it and watch!

 House Health & Welfare Committee Stream

Call or email Mary Murray with any questions (208-520-9900 or marymurrayd@yahoo.com)

Thank you,
TVDSA and the Idaho Down Syndrome Council Board

We Need Your Help ASAP with Bill 1270 – Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information Act

As you may be aware, the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information Act is important legislation that will ensure parents and providers get accurate information about Down syndrome. We have been working hard with our partners at IDSC to get this act to legislation and the time is here!

As most of you probably saw, Bill 1270 passed through the Senate with flying colors! It is now going to be heard in the House Health & Welfare Committee. So… we need your help again ASAP!!!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, contact your Representative, and help spread the message about Bill 1270.

This Tuesday, March 8th, a hearing is scheduled to hear our bill in the House Health & Welfare Committee at 9 am (Mountain Time). We need your help in contacting the Representatives on the Health & Welfare committee to let them know the importance of passing Bill 1270. Please contact the Representative on the Health & Welfare committee that lives closest to your home address, or you can email all of them! Here is a list of the Representatives on the Health & Welfare committee (13 Representatives):

Chair: Representative Fred Wood: FWood@house.idaho.gov
Vice-Chair: Representative John Vander Woude: JVanderWoude@house.idaho.gov
Representative Marc Gibbs: MGibbs@house.idaho.gov
Representative Megan Blanksma: MBlanksma@house.idaho.gov
Representative Mike Kingsley: MKingsley@house.idaho.gov
Representative Chad Christensen: CChristensen@house.idaho.gov
Representative Laurie Lickley: LLickley@house.idaho.gov
Representative Marco Erickson: MErickson@house.idaho.gov
Representative Greg Ferch: GFerch@house.idaho.gov
Representative Brandon Mitchell: BMitchell@house.idaho.gov
Representative Sue Chew: SChew@house.idaho.gov
Representative Ilana Rubel: IRubel@house.idaho.gov
Representative Ned Burns: NBurns@house.idaho.gov

Here is a map and bubbles to show you who is closest to you! https://legislature.idaho.gov/legislators/whosmylegislator/

The Legislature is in session so call their “Statehouse number” OR use their email.

If you need help figuring out which senator to contact please call or email Mary Murray (208-520-9900 or marymurrayd@yahoo.com).

Below is a phone script and an email template that you can use as you contact your Senator. You do not have to use either of these. They are just to help you if you want to use either of them.

Thank you SO much for your help. Please call, text, or email Mary Murray with any questions (208-520-9900 or marymurrayd@yahoo.com).

Thank you,
TVDSA Board and the Idaho Down Syndrome Council 

———————————————————————————————————–
Phone Call Script 
Intro 
Hello, my name is [Name]. I’m a resident of [Town, State].
I am contacting you to please ensure that Bill 1270, the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information Act, is passed.

Talking Point 1
The ultimate goal of Bill 1270 is to ensure that parents receiving a Down syndrome diagnosis for their baby are provided timely, accurate, and complete information about Down syndrome. 

Talking Point 2
Too many Idahoans have gone through traumatic Down syndrome diagnosis experiences where incorrect or a lack of information was shared. 

Talking Point 3
Research shows that a parent’s experience of receiving a diagnosis of Down syndrome is very impactful and the memory of fear OR hope stays with the parent for a lifetime. 

Talking Point 4
Bill 1270 is legislation requiring that health care practitioners provide written information about Down syndrome, resources, and support groups to parents receiving a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome for their baby. 

Talking Point 5
Bill 1270 is one way to share information with parents and health care professionals so babies with Down syndrome are not feared or disregarded but instead seen as valuable contributing citizens of Idaho.

Talking Point 6
Share a personal testimony or experience (this is not required) 

Closing 
Thank you for your time. Please support Bill 1270.
If you have more questions please contact Mary Murray at 208-520-9900.

[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address and zip code to ensure your call is tallied]
———————————————————————————————————————

Email Template 

[Date]

Dear [insert Senator’s name],

Hello, this is [Your Name]. I’m a resident of [Town, State].

I am writing to you to please ensure that Bill 1270, the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information Act is passed.

The ultimate goal of Bill 1270 is to ensure that parents receiving a Down syndrome diagnosis for their baby are provided timely, accurate, and complete information about Down syndrome. 

Too many Idahoans have gone through traumatic Down syndrome diagnosis experiences where incorrect or a lack of information was shared. 

Research shows that a parent’s experience of receiving a diagnosis of Down syndrome is very impactful and the memory of fear OR hope stays with the parent for a lifetime. 

Bill 1270 is legislation requiring that health care practitioners provide written information about Down syndrome, resources, and support groups to parents receiving a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome for their baby. 

Bill 1270 is one way to share information with parents and health care professionals so babies with Down syndrome are not feared or disregarded but instead seen as valuable contributing citizens of Idaho.

[Share a personal testimony or experience (this is not required)] 

Thank you for your time. Please support Bill 1270. If you have more questions please contact Mary Murray at marymurrayd@yahoo.com or 208-520-9900.

Sincerely, 
[Your Name]
[Your street address]
[Your City, ST, Zip code]

Join Us at the Capitol Building to show your support AND Thank You For Your Help With Bill 1270 

As you have seen recently with the email and Social Media posts, it is officially GO TIME on Bill 1270, the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information Act.
Thank you to everyone that has called or sent emails to Senators. Please keep the support coming! 
We wanted to invite you all to the hearing in Boise to show the Senate how important this bill is to our community and our state! We wanted you to know you are welcome! IDSC has ordered 40 shirts with the IDSC logo on them in various sizes. We will hand them out until they are, hopefully, all gone. We are encouraging everyone to wear blue and yellow to show unity in our cause. Here are the details:

What: Senate Health and Welfare Committee Hearing on Bill 1270
When: Monday, February 14th at 3 pm MST (please arrive at 2:30 pm)
Where: The Capitol building on the Garden Level in West Wing Room 54 (WW54) 
Where to go when you arrive for the hearing: We will all meet at the Rotunda on the Garden Level of the Capitol at 2:30 pm and then around 2:45 pm walk to West Wing Room 54 (the Garden Level is the lowest level of the Capitol)
Parking: There are no specific plans or requirements to meet in a specific area.  To find available parking in the Capitol area refer to this link – Capitol Mall Parking. Normal street parking is also available in the area.
COVID Precautions: There are currently no published requirements on the Capitol visitor website, however, we encourage you to come prepared – bring a mask.

Let’s fill the hearing room on Monday, February 14th! 

Call or email Mary Murray with any questions (208-520-9900 or marymurrayd@yahoo.com)
Please email president@idahodownsyndrome.org If you plan to attend including the number of people attending.

Thank you,
TVDSA and The Idaho Down Syndrome Council Board

Stay Positive, Stay Healthy and Stay Safe

Our Stories – Charlotte Rice

Posted by on Sep 2, 2020 in Our Stories | 0 comments

charlotte web
Our daughter, Charlotte, was born early at 27 weeks. We had had an inkling that she might have Down syndrome based on preliminary clues that our doctor had seen but never got any sort of confirmation before I went into labor. When she was born, there were so many other complications that Down syndrome seemed really trivial as far as things we should be concerned about. But as she got healthier, it was something that started worrying me. What did Down syndrome mean? What things would she be able to do? How different was this going to be from what I had been expecting?

We received a welcome basket from TVDSA which gave us a lot of information about Down syndrome and I was excited that there was a network of people waiting to help us and give us guidance. What I think helped the most was that one of the NICU nurses knew another parent of a child with DS and asked me if I’d like her phone number. I was quick to say yes and talking to another parent who was already going through this journey really helped to ease my mind even further. She told me all the things her son could do and what an amazing kid he is and encouraged me to join TVDSA to meet other parents and other individuals with DS. Once Charlotte was healthy enough to go out, we started attending playdates and meeting other members.

TVDSA has provided us with a network of knowledge, support, and friends and we are so grateful for everything we have gained from being involved.

Jennifer and Mark Rice

Our Stories – Charlie and Milo McConnel

Posted by on Sep 1, 2020 in Our Stories | 0 comments

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My name is Julie McConnel and my youngest boys, Charlie and Milo, are fraternal twins both with a diagnosis of Down syndrome. We received the news of our double lottery win when I was about 18 weeks pregnant. At the time we had no idea just how lucky we were and we struggled with the uncertainty of a future raising not just one, but two children with an extra chromosome. We were afraid we might not be the best equipped to care for them and even considered finding an adoptive family for them. I’m so thankful that we chose to act in faith rather than fear and decided to parent our two boys, welcoming them into our already good-sized family of six in August of 2015. We have never regretted our decision and love the new perspectives and joys Charlie and Milo have added to our lives. We have developed a greater sense of compassion and understanding for others and learned to slow down a bit and just enjoy the ride. We will get to our destination soon enough so no need to rush.

Finding a community of support and friendship through TVDSA has been one great and unexpected blessing our boys have given us. As the coordinator for Li’l Buddies, I have had the privilege of meeting new families and then seeing those families grow into a community who cares for one another greatly. And of course, I get to watch the cutest, brightest and most precious bunch of children grow and learn. Together we celebrate milestones – first steps, first words, first day of school – share resources and advice, and lift each other up during hard times.

I wish pregnant me could have had a glimpse into the life we have now that Charlie and Milo have been in our lives for 5 years. It is not a life to be feared. It is different than I had expected and planned, but another thing our boys have taught us is that differences are beautiful and worth celebrating!

Julie A. McConnel

Giving Tuesday – 2021

Posted by on Nov 19, 2016 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

#GT Heart

THANK YOU

Giving Tuesday – 11/30/2021

Please consider supporting TVDSA in the following ways:

Add a book to our Library – $10 to $20
Supply a new parent with an informational basket – $50
Sponsorship for an individual to a local conference – $100
Support a program event for 10 participants – $250
Sponsorship for a family to an out of town conference – $500

You can also contribute to the organization at any amount.

Donate online to support TVDSA for Giving Tuesday.

#GT Heart


November 30th is #GivingTuesday. This year we are fundraising to raise awareness and support our programs.

Click this link to donate:

Giving Tuesday 2021

This is a secure transaction and can be from a credit card, debit card, or existing PayPal account.

Thanks to all those who donated this year to support TVDSA.





As always, TVDSA appreciates your support.

iCan Bike Camp interview – Our Voice

Posted by on Nov 1, 2016 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Our own Paul Auger discusses iCan Bike with Our Voice Idaho

iCan Bike Interview