Our Mission |
Our Vision |
|
Our mission at the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Toledo is to empower all individuals with Down syndrome to achieve their goals and reach their fullest potential by providing support, education and advocacy not only for the individual, but also their families and communities.
|
Our vision is to build a community where all individuals with Down syndrome are accepted, included, and given limitless opportunities to pursue their dreams as respected members of society.
|
Our Service Area
|
The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Toledo serves 17 counties across Northwest Ohio and 6 counties in Southern Michigan.
DSAGT Serves an estimated 450 individuals with Down syndrome and their families. |
Leadership
Staff
Krista Huff Administrative Director
Board of Directors
Alexis Eggenberger, Board President
Philomena Ayers, Immediate Past President
Caitlin Bainter, Treasurer
TJ Miller, Member at large
Christine Folley, Member at large
Ali Kingston, Member at large
Cynthia Marley, Member at large
Krista Huff Administrative Director
Board of Directors
Alexis Eggenberger, Board President
Philomena Ayers, Immediate Past President
Caitlin Bainter, Treasurer
TJ Miller, Member at large
Christine Folley, Member at large
Ali Kingston, Member at large
Cynthia Marley, Member at large
From the President
|
Dear Friends, Families, Advocates, and Supporters,
What a year it has been! 2020 was a challenging and unexpected year. We have been touched in one way or another by the pandemic, whether it be a loss of job, death of a loved one, change to virtual education, or cancellation of clubs/social events. Although we have launched virtual programs and events, all of us at DSAGT miss seeing your faces! Even though we have been physically distant for the better part of the year, we have connected with many of you through our virtual events including Smart Start Kindergarten Prep, the Buddy Walk, Baby & Toddler Group, and parent support groups to name a few. I’m also thrilled to continue our partnership with Be Instrumental through our virtual drumming and music groups. While this change to virtual programming has impacted all of you, we are hopeful to continue providing virtual programming in some fashion in the future. We have found that virtual programming has helped us to connect to many of you that live outside of the Toledo area, and for whom traveling can be difficult. |
As you’ll see in the following pages, even with the financial stress of the pandemic, DSAGT is continuing to grow and prosper. We have been the recipient of several grants/scholarships from United Way, Rite Aid, and multiple community sponsors. These grants, along with your Giving Tuesday donations, monthly contributions, and ongoing support have allowed us to continue to serve over 450 families, in addition to many friends, schools, and community groups. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your generosity, particularly in these strange times. We wouldn’t be here without you and we can’t wait for you to see our new changes. Please stay tuned to hear about our new service and program offerings in the near future.
Be safe and stay well, Alexis Eggenberger, MBA, LISW-S, BCBA Board President |
From the Director
|
At the beginning of 2020, we traveled to each of the county boards in our service area, in an effort to find ways to better serve our families all across Northwest Ohio. We had hopes of bringing programs and events to other parts of the area, but little did we know that just weeks after finishing up our visits, our in-person programs would come to a halt.
What we didn't foresee, was that this pandemic would help us to find new, innovative ways to reach our families all across the area. We pivoted from in-person to virtual on World Down Syndrome Day, our annual Toledo Buddy Walk, our Smart Start Kindergarten program and our end of the year holiday programming. We also partnered with BeInstrumental in bringing our families two different music programs throughout the year. We are also grateful to our community partners for supporting us throughout this past year, despite the uncertainty they too may have been facing. We received significant grants from the Rite Aid Foundation and the United Way of Greater Toledo. With the funds from UWGT, we were able to launch our COVID-19 Food Assistance program, offering DSAGT families grocery store gift cards to help ease financial burdens caused by the pandemic. We also want to thank all of our program and event sponsors who donated to DSAGT this year. We wouldn't be here without them and of course all of our amazing individual donors who believe in our mission and the work that we do here at DSAGT. |
Over the course of this next year we're looking to continue with virtual programs, including our music programs with BeInstrumental, informational webinars, parent support groups and more. One of our main focuses in 2021 will be an overhaul of our new parent outreach programming, in hopes of better serving new families receiving a diagnosis of Down syndrome. And, just as we set out to do before the COVID-19 pandemic, we're continuing to improve existing programs and services and bring new ones to our families to ensure we're helping meet their needs to the best of our ability and continue to be a resource not only to individuals with Down syndrome but to their families as well.
Here's to brighter and healthier days in the year ahead, Krista Huff Administrative Director |
TWENTY TWENTY
AT A GLANCE
|
Programs and Events
|
|
|
Thousand Dollars Raised
|
|
Donors
|
Statement of Financial Position
Statement of Activities
Danny Celian Memorial Golf TournamentAugust 16, 2020 |
29 Teams116 GolfersRaised Over $13,000 |
19th Annual Toledo Buddy Walk
|
For the first time, the Toledo Buddy Walk was celebrated virtually! On Sunday, October 18th DSAGT families celebrated their loved ones all across Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan.
Each family was encouraged to hold a small celebration at their home, while DSAGT provided them with Buddy Walk celebration baskets, that included party items, DSAGT logo items and coupons and items from some of our sponsors. The Toledo Buddy Walk was celebrated by over 1,000 registrants and over 40 Buddy Walk teams! This year's Buddy Walk, presented by Little Caesars was sponsored by The Dana Foundation, Mark Feldstein and Associates, Velocity, Modene Insurance Agency, Mt. Eaton Eleveator, Key Bank, UAW Local 12 Clarios Battery Unit, and Local 50 Plumbers and Steamfitters. The Buddy Walk® was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness. 
|
|
The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Toledo was one of several organizations to receive a grant from the United Way of Greater Toledo as part of their Covid-19 relief fund. The funds received from the grant were used to establish our Covid-19 Food Assistance Program.
|
$4,000 of Gift Cards Given |
|
Over 50 families served |
The program provides DSAGT families affected by the pandemic with $75 grocery store gift cards to help ease financial burdens. We are grateful we had the opportunity to help over 50 families with the program who might not have otherwise received any type of food assistance.
Virtual Programs
2020 brought the introduction of virtual programming to DSAGT. The organization offered several virtual programs and events including World Down Syndrome Day, Smart Start Kindergarten Prep, Moms' and Dads' Night Support Groups, Fall into Music: Music Kits and Bucket Drumming with BeInstrumental and virutal Home for the Holidays programs.
We forsee the continuation of virtual programming even after the pandemic eases up. It's made DSAGT programming more accessible to families that live in our outer counties and who may not be able to commute to Toledo as easily or as often as they'd like.
We forsee the continuation of virtual programming even after the pandemic eases up. It's made DSAGT programming more accessible to families that live in our outer counties and who may not be able to commute to Toledo as easily or as often as they'd like.
