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DSAOC Golf Tournament, Banquet & Auction – Monday, June 11

Eighth Annual Golf Tournament, Banquet & Auction: Monday, June 11, 2012 at Los Coyotes Country Club, Buena Park

Check out our exciting special guests & sponsors!  Want to see what’s on the LIVE Auction list… see below.

  • Live Auction items:
    • Foursome at Trump National for the Albert Pujols Celebrity Golf Tournament on July 26 – $6,000 value
    • Play Ball Package at Angel Stadium
    • Autographed Albert Pujols Baseball Bat
    • Access to Pre-game batting practice and tickets to game
    • 2011 World Series autographed Albert Pujols baseball
    • 2 Night stay at the Aria Hotel & Resort with 2 tickets to “Viva Elvis”

If you are interested in joining the “After-Golf Banquet” please e-mail Kellie Perez at kperez@dsaoc.org by Saturday, June 9.

Special Guests:

Generous Sponsors:

Tim Harris serves up food and hugs at Tim’s Place

Service with a smile at Tim’s Place is truly what you get!

Check out this great article

Albert Pujols truly is an Angel

After meeting with the Pujols Family Foundation earlier this week, DSAOC was presented an exciting opportunity to attend Wednesday night’s Angels vs. White Sox game with Todd Perry, the CEO of the Pujols Family Foundation.

Mr. Perry’s hospitality certainly started things off with a bang, as he led our group to a beautiful suite donated for the evening by Mark Merhab from the Angels Baseball Foundation.

Just when we thought the night couldn’t get any better, Mr. Perry scheduled our families for a surprise visit with Albert Pujols.

I have one word for you…. AMAZING!!!!

Albert met with all of us before the game and was as nice as you can get.  He took the time to shake everyone’s hand, sign autographs and take pictures with our teens and adults with Down syndrome.  Albert truly is an Angel.

Check out the rest of this amazing night by visiting the Pujols Family Foundation Facebook page.

Research Opportunity: Doll Study needs additional volunteers with Down syndrome to participate

If your child with Down syndrome is between the ages of 4-17 years, they have an opportunity to participate in this exciting and informative study.

As many of you are already aware, researchers from the Down Syndrome Program at CHOC Children’s/UC Irvine have been conducting a study on self-concept in children and young adults with Down syndrome. The research team is still seeking volunteers for this study and are scheduling final study visits for May and June.  Please see the information below on our blog posting for a brief description of the study.  If you have an interest in participating, or if you have questions, please contact Eric Doran at (714) 456-8443 or edoran@uci.edu.

Register today for the DSAOC Banquet & Auction!

This is a FUN way to support DSAOC!  Please join us.

Want to see how much FUN you could have…?  Watch the 2011 Video.

Purchase your tickets today for the DSAOC Banquet & Auction, immediately following our Eighth Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, June 11 at Los Coyotes Country Club.  The Banquet & Auction is from 4:30-7:30 p.m.  

Tickets are $50 each and include:

  • Light Hors d’oeuvres and cash bar on the terrace from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
  • Live entertainment and access to our exciting silent auction
  • Opportunity to witness our Helicopter Ball Drop at 5:30 p.m.
  • Enjoy our special guests, delicious dinner, golf awards and live auction

Register online, download the form, or call the DSAOC Center at (714) 540-5794.

Interested in golf?  Spots are still available! Register for golf

Bringing the kids to the Banquet?  Kids meal tickets are available for $20 each.  Call the Center at (714) 540-5794 to reserve.

PURCHASE HELICOPTER BALL DROP Tickets!

Here’s a sneak peek at some of our special guests and auction items!

Jon Will – 40 years and going – with Down syndrome

This is a GREAT story from a dad’s perspective about his son.  Jon Will is showing the world that he is living well with Down syndrome.

George F. Will talks about “Jon’s Gift”.

Read story

The Pujols Family Foundation is expanding its support

Pujols to expand St. Louis-based nonprofit to three other states

The Pujols Family Foundation has announced that it is expanding its support to Kansas City, Nashville, Tenn., and Southern California.

Read more from Stltoday.com

Lisa and Hal – A Love Story

Defying the Odds

This is a great story about true love.  Lisa has Down syndrome and Hal has Cerebral Palsy… and they both have each other.

Besides being a great story, it also contains some important information on certain implications to getting married when you are currently receiving SSI benefits.

Read “Defying the Odds” from Kansan.com

Huy Pham Family Golf Tournament – DSAOC thanks you!

DSAOC would like to extend a very special THANK YOU to Huy Pham and all of his family members and friends who came out to support their annual family golf tournament.  Through this tournament, the group raised almost $3,500 for DSAOC!

Mr. Pham works at the same company as Dr. Jensen, who has a young daughter, Sarah, with Down syndrome.  When the home location for this family event moved from Nevada to Orange County, Mr. Pham wanted to support a charity that had grown close to his heart through his relationship with the Jensen family.

DSAOC was thrilled to be the benefiting charity of the Huy Pham Family Golf Tournament, and we are thankful to Mr. Pham for his desire to support the programs and services we provide to our community.

Thank you!

Way to go, Trevor!

Our very own Trevor Hendershot from Irvine gets an awesome job at the Angels Team store.

Way to go, Trevor!!

Read OC Register Article

World Down Syndrome Day 2012 Reflections…

March 21, 2012 marked a very exciting World Down Syndrome Day!  If you haven’t had a chance to see the UN Webcast, below is the link.

Additionally, NBC New York Nightly News aired a segment.  Check it out below.

DSAOC had an exciting fundraiser on March 24, in honor of World Down Syndrome Day.  We had almost 40 people in attendance, 10 of which were individuals with Down syndrome, including our fabulous DJ WillPower.  The event raised more than $800!

Thank you Trinity Episcopal Church for donating the space, a big thanks to our generous Zumba instructors, Gia and Patty,   and we’d also like to thank the sponsors in attendance which included a jewelry vendor, Bubba Sweets and Jamba Juice.  A photo collage from the event is below.

United Nations Webcast of WDSD 2012

View NBC New York Nightly News WDSD Segment

We are brothers and sisters – we are important to our families – Happy WDSD!

This is Issac…

Isaac is 11yrs old.  He is a loving and very proud big brother.

Honoring our loved ones with Down syndrome on WDSD.

Meet Mark…

Mark and his BBF….(Best Brother Forever).

Mark is 7 years old.  He loves electronics, playing frisbee and writing.  He also loves his brother!

Daisy has a great smile!

Meet Daisy…

Her family loves her, and she loves them.  She has a great smile!

Happy World Down Syndrome Day!

Watch the UN Conference video addressing World Down Syndrome Day: https://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2012/03/world-down-syndrome-day-commemorative-event-building-our-future-english.html

Join DSAOC at the “Dance 4 Down Syndrome – Zumba Style” World Down Syndrome Day Celebration!

This Saturday, March 24 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Orange – $30 per ticket – includes sponsor goodies, raffle and lots of fun.  Call the DSAOC Center for more information and to purchase your tickets (714) 540-5794  or you can purchase tickets the morning of the event for $40 each.  See you there!

Stories from our families in honor of WDSD 2012

Meet Sydney…

When Sydney was born 29 years ago we had the good fortune of meeting, that very day, a local pediatrician, the late Victor Ince, MD.  Victor rejoiced with us as parents of our brand new child, a beautiful daughter who also happened to have Down syndrome.  From that moment forward it was never about what our precious daughter wouldn’t be able to do, but rather about what she might one day accomplish.  We pay tribute to Victor Ince, MD as we celebrate this 2012 World Down syndrome Day.
They say a picture is worth 1000 words and so I have included a few pictures of Sydney, today, and some of the memorable occasions that have happened during the past few months. Sydney is employed by Ralph’s supermarket in Mission Viejo, CA; she is a courtesy clerk and she loves her job and the people she works for and with, very much.
She rounds her week out with church & community activities.  She volunteers at the South County Outreach on afternoons and fullfils her calling in the LDS temple and in the ward church nursery, weekly, as well.
Earlier this month she skied in the DEMO run for Park City, Utah’s National Ability Center, during the NAC Halti ski challenge, and enjoyed meeting some of the best “challenged” skiers in the country.
Also in late FEB Sydney enjoyed attending the DSAOC Red Carpet Ball with a special friend, David.  This event is the highlight of the year for many Orange County (and beyond) teens and adults with Down syndrome.
She loves the thera-drama class she is taking at the DSAOC Center on Tuesday nights, and has the opportunity to take a nutrician & fitness class on Thursday evenings at DSAOC as well. Sydney enjoys a well rounded lifestyle in the community and beyond!
AND we believe our dear friend, Victor Ince, MD would be proud!!!

Tickets are on sale now at DSAOC – Don’t miss out!

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW AT THE DSAOC CENTER

Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day with DSAOC & Friends this Saturday, March 24!

Sponsor goodies, prizes, DJ Willpower & Zumba!

Join our friends, Gia and Patty, along with DJ Willpower, teens and adults with Down syndrome and many others for our “Dance 4 Down Syndrome, Zumba Party!”

This event is an awareness and FUNdraiser.  Register today!

Date: Saturday, March 24       Time: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Location: Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal Street, Orange 92865   (in the Youth Center)

Call the DSAOC Center for ticket information (714) 540-5794

For information on Zumba con Gia, visit https://www.zumbacongia.com/

Join us for a Zumba-stic time!  You must be 16 years or older to participate, and all abilities are welcome.  This will be an introductory level of Zumba, so no experience is necessary.

Each participant must pay a registration fee, and your fee includes 1.5 hours of Zumba fun with DJ Willpower pumping out the tunes. You will also receive a raffle entry, water and goodies from our sponsors.

Submit your photo and story to DSAOC today!

Highlighting our loved ones with Down syndrome in honor of World Down Syndrome Day

Let’s meet Douglas…

Here is “the meez” Douglas!

He is absolutely the best gift from the Lord above.

Such a big heart, everyone wants to take and keep him!

Not to mention how cute he is….

Stories from our families in honor of WDSD 3/21… Meet Krista!

This is my daughter, Krista.   In just a matter of 11 years, Krista has inspired and brought so much happiness to everyone she meets.

When Krista was first born, my husband and I mostly heard the negative about having a child with Down syndrome.  Krista hasn’t stopped showing us the positive.  She has also proven time and time again that if she wants it, she makes it happen!
Krista has taught us patience, faith, unconditional love, and how to appreciate the small things in life.   Krista may not understand it today, but her positive spirit and her never ending self confidence, make me want to be a better person.
I truly believe my husband and I were given a very special gift the day Krista was born.  We can’t wait to watch all the wonderful things she will offer this world!

Submitted by Krista’s mom, Andrea

From the hearts of our families, in honor of World Down Syndrome Day.

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS TO DSAOC TODAY AT info@dsaoc.org

We will post your child’s picture along with a couple sentences or word that best describes them.

Meet Amy… she is “unstoppable”