Olivia and her Buddy Walk Family Fun Day team have raised over $55,000 since 2020 to support the Down Syndrome Association NWI. Because of this, she has been selected as this year’s Grand Marshal leading our walk on October 18th at the Lake County Fairgrounds. She wants everyone she knows to be there October 18th to walk along side her!

Olivia enjoys every part of being involved with the DSANWI–looking forward to events and activities, helping others when she is at activities for younger friends, and speaking on behalf of the organization to help raise awareness of the impact of our free programs. She watches the calendar and anticipates what is coming up–it’s part of how she keeps track of her life and daily schedule. This regular schedule and routine of activities is a part of how we are helping our adults ward off mental decline. Olivia is no exception.

She has been a regular at our weekly basketball program. This 2 hours weekly from September-May have taken her from an individual who couldn’t dribble a ball or hit a basket on an 8 foot net to one of our most improved adults regularly making baskets at 10 feet and dribbling down the court during drills.

She cannot wait for our commercial teaching kitchen to be complete so that there are even more activities for her to look forward to. She loves to prep food for herself and uses a number of tools to do so–the opportunity to learn even more is very exciting for Olivia and the money our friends and family has given toward our goals is a large part of why we are able to take on such a huge expansion. We are very grateful for every dollar given and hope you will join us to learn more when we host a Grand Re-Opening!

If you’re looking to register to attend Buddy Walk or purchase T-shirts click the button below:

Thank you for your support.