2013 Be Beautiful Be Yourself DC Gala invitation

BE BEAUTIFULBE YOURSELF

Cole Rodgers2013 Ambassador

About the Global Down Syndrome Foundation

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation is a public nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to significantly improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through Research, Medical Care, Education and Advocacy. The Foundation’s primary focus is to support the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the first academic home in the U.S. solely committed to research and medical care for people with the condition. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation has funded approximately $5 million in research including grants investigating the co-occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease, certain leukemias, immune disorders, sleep apnea, and autism in the Down syndrome population. The Foundation organizes the Be Beautiful Be Yourself galas – the largest annual awareness-raisers and fundraisers benefiting people with Down syndrome. The gala expanded to Washington DC in 2011 and attracts over 500 attendees, including self-advocates, families, celebrities and government officials. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation is an inclusive organization without political or religious affiliation or intention. The Foundation believes that educating the United States Federal Government is important to correct the alarming disparity of funding for Down syndrome research.

Tax ID number: 26-4431001

www.globaldownsyndrome.org www.BeBeautifulBeYourself.org

Hollywood Red Carpet GetawayGet into your black-tie best as you get up close and personal with your favorite stars. This holiday includes two nights at the 5-star Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel and two Loge tickets to the 2013 Emmy Awards at the NOKIA Theatre in L.A. on Sept. 22, 2013. This holiday for two also includes two coach airline tickets, passes to walk the red carpet like a celebrity, a pre-event cocktail hour, and luxury coach transportation to and from the show.

A Girl’s Best FriendNeed to say “I love you”? “I appreciate you”? Or just “Forever” all over again? Whether you want to bring a smile to someone’s face and glitter to their hand OR pamper yourself, this custom hand-crafted 14-karat white gold three-stone diamond is your ticket! This beautiful ring, donated by the elite private jewelers Mark & Nataliya Hadley, features diamonds hand-set into micro-pave settings and 3 oval cut diamonds. This

one-of-a-kind piece boasts 44 round brilliant cut diamonds equaling .47 carats and oval cut diamonds equaling 1.19 carats. Destined to bring a lifetime of happiness, this ring was exclusively gifted to the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Cathy McMorris Rodgers was born into a farming family and was the first in her family to attend college. She was elected to Congress in 2004 and has risen to become the highest-ranking Republican woman in Congress. McMorris Rodgers represents Eastern Washington’s 5th District and is the chair of the House Republican Conference, the fourth-

highest-ranking position among House Republicans. McMorris Rodgers is married to retired Navy Commander Brian Rodgers, and they have two children, Grace and Cole. Cole happens to have Down syndrome. She is a staunch advocate for the differently-abled, and in 2007 she co-founded and is currently a co-chair of the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus. She works with the NIH to encourage increased funding for research benefitting people with Down syndrome, and she is co-sponsor of the ABLE Act and the Trisomy 21 Translational Research Parity Act. We are proud to announce Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers as the 2013 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awards recipient.

Congressman Chris Van HollenChris Van Hollen has served in Congress since 2002 representing Maryland’s 8th District. His past positions include assistant to the Speaker and the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Today he serves as the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee. Van Hollen, an advocate for the Affordable Care Act, successfully spearheaded the effort to ensure young adults receive expanded access to health insurance under the act. A champion of civil rights, he has worked to ensure schools provide accommodations for people with disabilities to fully participate. He is one of four co-chairs on the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus. Van Hollen is a graduate of Swarthmore College, the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and Georgetown University Law Center. He lives in Kensington, Maryland, with his wife, Katherine, and their three children, Anna, Nicholas and Alexander. We are proud to announce Congressman Chris Van Hollen as the 2013 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award recipient.

Expect a STAR-STUDDED fashion show with celebrities and beautiful models with Down syndromeKyra Phillips

CNN anchorJohn RobertsFox News anchor

DeOndra Dixon2011 Ambassador

Alex Sessions2011 Ambassador

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Featured Live Auction Items

A fundraiser for the

GLOBAL DOWN SYNDROME FOUNDATIONbenefiting the

Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

6:00 PM – Cocktail Reception7:15 PM – Dinner, Fashion Show, Live Musical Performance

Emcee Kyra Phillips – CNN anchor

The Ritz-Carlton Washington DC 1150 22nd Street N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20037

Complimentary Valet Parking

Business Attire

Quincy JonesPatrick KennedyTim ShriverJohn C. McGinleySen. Tom HarkinRep. Pete Sessions

Jamie FoxxDeOndra DixonKaren GaffneySujeet DesaiLuke Zimmerman

SponsorsAnna and John J. Sie Foundation

AflacAT&T

Sharon Magness Blake & Ernie BlakeTom & Betsy Blumenthal

Kristine BomgaarsBrownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

Clear ChannelComcast

Dish NetworkJohnson & Johnson

NextEra EnergyPrinting Industries

John & Cornelia Stephens and John Franklin Stephens

Time Warner CableWal-Mart

The Whitten Family

Rep. John Barrow Rep. Joe BartonSen. Michael F. BennetSen. Roy BluntSen. Sherrod BrownRep. Michael BurgessRep. Dave CampRep. Lois CappsRep. Andre CarsonRep. Steve ChabotRep. Howard CobleSen. Thad CochranRep. Mike CoffmanRep. Chris CollinsRep. Gerald ConnollyRep. Ander CrenshawRep. Diana DeGetteRep. Charles DentRep. Lloyd DoggettRep. Chaka FattahDel. Eni FaleomavaegaRep. Jeff FortenberryRep. Cory GardnerRep. Bob GoodlatteRep. Sam GravesRep. Gene GreenRep. Tim GriffinSen. Tom HarkinRep. Jeb Hensarling

Hon. Chris Hill & Julie HillDel. Eleanor Holmes NortonRep. Michael HondaRep. Steny HoyerRep. Ron KindRep. Doug LambornRep. Tom LathamRep. Blaine LuetkemeyerRep. Carolyn McCarthyRep. Michael MichaudSen. Barbara A. Mikulski Rep. Jim MoranRep. Richard NealRep. Ed PerlmutterRep. Jared PolisRep. Dave ReichertRep. John SarbanesRep. Loretta SanchezRep. Brad SchneiderRep. Pete SessionsRep. Albio SiresRep. Adam SmithRep. Lamar SmithRep. Lee TerryRep. Patrick TiberiRep. Scott TiptonSen. Mark UdallRep. Fred UptonRep. Greg Walden

Performance by the “Queen of Soul”Aretha Franklin!

She is known the world over by her first name and as the undisputed “Queen Of Soul.”

Aretha Franklin is peerless, receiving a Presidential Medal Of Freedom in 2005, a Kennedy Center Honor, 18 Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Grammy Living Legend Award. Her soulful vocal style has graced the music charts for over four decades with classic hits such as “Respect,” “A Natural Woman,” “Chain Of Fools,” “Think,” “Daydreaming” and “Freeway Of Love,” and over 40 albums.

Aretha was born in Memphis and grew up in Detroit. She began her musical journey singing at her father’s church and started her recording career in 1960. She sang at the funeral of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 and at two presidential inaugurations. The legendary Quincy Jones claims her reading of “Somewhere” (from “West Side Story”) among his favorite recordings of all time.

Aretha was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was named the “#1 Vocalist of All Time” by Rolling Stone magazine in 2009. Aretha says she still has “so much more music to share,” and we are proud to welcome the legendary Aretha Franklin to the 2013 Be Beautiful Be Yourself Gala!We regret any omissions due to printing deadlinesCover photo provided by Will Schermerhorn Honorary Host Committee as of March 18, 2013

Kathy IrelandBeverly JohnsonJeff ProbstJohn Roberts & Kyra PhillipsKimberly AndrewChauncey BillupsTom & Betsy BlumenthalNorm BrownsteinGeorge DixonLoretta Solon GreeneFran & Kris HickeyDeana Perlmutter

Casey & Brett PerryRicki & Dave RestNete SessionsJohn & Cornelia StephensJohn Franklin StephensBrian & Kathy StevensGov. Tommy ThompsonBeth ViolaBill & Leslie VollbrachtTom & Michelle WhittenAlison & Kirby Winfield Jr.

Honorary Committee

Past Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award Recipients

Honorary Host Committee

Congressman Pete Sessions and his son, Global Down Syndrome Foundation Ambassador Alex Sessions

Former Washington Redskins linebacker Rocky McIntosh escorts Kendra Hager down the runwaySenator Tom Harkin and emcee Kyra Phillips

DeOndra DixonChase Turner PerryAlex Sessions

Past AmbassadorsSamantha StevensSophia Kay WhittenKatherine Vollbracht Winfield


















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Business Attire




AflacAT&T







Time Warner CableT-MobileWal-Mart

The Whitten Family

Rep. John Barrow Rep. Joe BartonSen. Michael F. BennetSen. Roy BluntSen. Sherrod BrownRep. Michael C Burgess, MDRep. Dave CampHouse Majority Leader

Eric CantorRep. Lois CappsRep. Andre CarsonRep. Steve ChabotRep. Howard CobleSen. Thad CochranRep. Mike CoffmanRep. Chris CollinsRep. Gerald ConnollyRep. Ander CrenshawRep. Diana DeGetteRep. Charles DentRep. Lloyd DoggettRep. Chaka FattahDel. Eni FaleomavaegaRep. Jeff FortenberryRep. Cory GardnerRep. Bob GoodlatteRep. Sam GravesRep. Gene GreenRep. Tim GriffinSen. Tom HarkinRep. Jeb Hensarling

Hon. Chris Hill & Julie HillDel. Eleanor Holmes NortonRep. Michael HondaRep. Steny HoyerRep. Ron KindRep. Doug LambornRep. Rick LarsenRep. Tom LathamRep. Blaine LuetkemeyerRep. Carolyn McCarthyRep. Michael MichaudSen. Barbara A. Mikulski Rep. Jim MoranRep. Richard NealRep. Ed PerlmutterRep. Jared PolisRep. Dave ReichertRep. John SarbanesRep. Loretta SanchezRep. Brad SchneiderRep. Pete SessionsRep. Albio SiresRep. Adam SmithRep. Lamar SmithRep. Lee TerryRep. Patrick TiberiRep. Scott TiptonSen. Mark UdallRep. Fred UptonRep. Greg WaldenRep. Frank R. Wolf

Performance by the “Queen of Soul”Aretha Franklin!

She is known the world over by her first name and as the undisputed “Queen Of Soul.”

Aretha Franklin is peerless, receiving a Presidential Medal Of Freedom in 2005, a Kennedy Center Honor, 18 Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Grammy Living Legend Award. Her soulful vocal style has graced the music charts for over four decades with classic hits such as “Respect,” “A Natural Woman,” “Chain Of Fools,” “Think,” “Daydreaming” and “Freeway Of Love,” and over 40 albums.

Aretha was born in Memphis and grew up in Detroit. She began her musical journey singing at her father’s church and started her recording career in 1960. She sang at the funeral of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 and at two presidential inaugurations. The legendary Quincy Jones claims her reading of “Somewhere” (from “West Side Story”) among his favorite recordings of all time.

Aretha was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was named the “#1 Vocalist of All Time” by Rolling Stone magazine in 2009. Aretha says she still has “so much more music to share,” and we are proud to welcome the legendary Aretha Franklin to the 2013 Be Beautiful Be Yourself Gala!We regret any omissions due to printing deadlinesCover photo provided by Will Schermerhorn Honorary Host Committee as of March 20, 2013



Honorary Committee
















Business Attire




AflacAT&T







Time Warner CableT-MobileWal-Mart

The Whitten Family

Rep. John Barrow Rep. Joe BartonSen. Michael F. BennetSen. Roy BluntSen. Sherrod BrownRep. Michael C Burgess, MDRep. Dave CampHouse Majority Leader

Eric CantorRep. Lois CappsRep. Andre CarsonRep. Steve ChabotRep. Howard CobleSen. Thad CochranRep. Mike CoffmanRep. Chris CollinsRep. Gerald ConnollyRep. Ander CrenshawRep. Diana DeGetteRep. Charles DentRep. Lloyd DoggettRep. Chaka FattahDel. Eni FaleomavaegaRep. Jeff FortenberryRep. Cory GardnerRep. Bob GoodlatteRep. Sam GravesRep. Gene GreenRep. Tim GriffinSen. Tom HarkinRep. Jeb Hensarling

Hon. Chris Hill & Julie HillDel. Eleanor Holmes NortonRep. Michael HondaRep. Steny HoyerRep. Ron KindRep. Doug LambornRep. Rick LarsenRep. Tom LathamRep. Blaine LuetkemeyerRep. Carolyn McCarthyRep. Michael MichaudSen. Barbara A. Mikulski Rep. Jim MoranRep. Richard NealRep. Ed PerlmutterRep. Jared PolisRep. Dave ReichertRep. John SarbanesRep. Loretta SanchezRep. Brad SchneiderRep. Pete SessionsRep. Albio SiresRep. Adam SmithRep. Lamar SmithRep. Lee TerryRep. Patrick TiberiRep. Scott TiptonSen. Mark UdallRep. Fred UptonRep. Greg WaldenRep. Frank R. Wolf

Performance by Sheryl Crow!

Since the release of her seven-times Platinum, Grammy award-winning debut, “Tuesday Night Music Club,” Sheryl Crow has garnered nine Grammys, performed duets with musical luminaries such as Sting and Mick Jagger, released seven studio albums (each charting Top 10, four of them platinum-plus), a quadruple-platinum greatest hits collection and a Christmas album.

Crow has also been nominated for an additional 27 Grammys, her most recent for 2008’s critically ac-claimed “Detours.”

Crow launched her very own clothing line, Bootheel Trading Co., is a cancer survivor, has performed for President Obama and is a passion-ate supporter of a variety of environmental and health-related charities, including the NRDC, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and The World Food Program.

Crow has sold more than 35 million records world-wide. Her new single, “Easy” is off her forthcoming Warner Music Nashville release out later this year.

We are proud to welcome Sheryl Crow to the 2013 Be Beautiful Be Yourself Gala!We regret any omissions due to printing deadlinesCover photo provided by Will Schermerhorn Honorary Host Committee as of March 20, 2013



Honorary Committee







2013 BBBY DC invite Sheryl.indd 2 4/29/13 4:55 PM


















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My name is Cole Rodgers. I am 6 years old. I love music, school and peanut butter. I also am chromosomally enhanced. I have Down syndrome.

My family is from Eastern Washington State, but most of the time, we live in Washington, D.C. That is because of my mom’s job. You may have heard of her, Cathy McMorris Rodgers. She represents the 5th Congressional District of Washington State. She started and co-chairs

the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus with Representatives Sessions and Van Hollen, and

Delegate Holmes Norton.

I love my mom … she tells me I make her a better person, and she calls me a gift from God. I love my dad too. I also love my little sister, Grace, even though she gets into my stuff.

I spend most of my time playing. I love music, cars and kicking balls. I have fun at school with my friends. I love to learn - a good thing, since I have a lot of homework. Can you believe that they give us homework in kindergarten?

Along with my teachers, my mom and dad help me learn. They help with my homework, they

teach me how to behave, and they teach me to care about others. My parents think that I need to learn all

of the same lessons as everyone else. They have high expectations for me.

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation has high expectations for all people with Down

syndrome. Won’t you please support their efforts?

My name is Cole. And this is my story. So far...


My name is Cole Rodgers. I am 6 years old. I love music, school and peanut butter. I also am chromosomally enhanced. I have Down syndrome.

My family is from Eastern Washington State, but most of the time, we live in Washington, D.C. That is because of my mom’s job. You may have heard of her, Cathy McMorris Rodgers. She represents the 5th Congressional District of Washington State. She started and co-chairs

the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus with Representatives Sessions and Van Hollen, and

Delegate Holmes Norton.

I love my mom … she tells me I make her a better person, and she calls me a gift from God. I love my dad too. I also love my little sister, Grace, even though she gets into my stuff.

I spend most of my time playing. I love music, cars and kicking balls. I have fun at school with my friends. I love to learn - a good thing, since I have a lot of homework. Can you believe that they give us homework in kindergarten?

Along with my teachers, my mom and dad help me learn. They help with my homework, they

teach me how to behave, and they teach me to care about others. My parents think that I need to learn all

of the same lessons as everyone else. They have high expectations for me.

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation has high expectations for all people with Down

syndrome. Won’t you please support their efforts?

My name is Cole. And this is my story. So far...

2013 BBBY DC insert.indd 1 3/14/13 2:25 PM

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2013 Be Beautiful Be Yourself DC Gala invitation