This is EXCITING!!! TWO exciting GIVEAWAYS from Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation

When I started Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation (SWDSF), I had two main objectives.  The first was to help families and individuals with Down syndrome and the second was to advocate for Down syndrome Awareness.

You may or may not know, October is National Down syndrome Awareness month.  I wanted to do something special that both helped individuals or families and also advocated for Down syndrome.  I believe, the SWDSF has put together two very exciting programs for October that accomplish both.

First, we have partnered with Baby Signing Time - Two Little Hands and SWDSF will be giving away a Baby Signing Time DVD/CD Combo Bundle (valued $69.95) to one family each day throughout the month of October. This package is a great first step into signing and was created specifically for babies as young as 3 months old up to 3 years old.  This is a 4 DVD/CD set and contains the first 4 volumes in the collection.  Click Here to learn more about this combo bundle and what is included, SWDSF Giveaway.

I am so excited!! This is the exact same bundle that I bought for Shane and Wyatt.  Our family still uses it and this has helped all of us to learn sign language.  Shane and Wyatt, now 3 1/2 years old, still do not speak but do communicate to us through signing.  I wish I had purchased and started using this when they were months old.  I believe in this product and know that it works and will help your child and your family.

This giveaway is for any individual with Down syndrome that hasn't yet learned to sign but needs to.  You can start showing and kids have started to sign as early as 3 months old.  You may register for this giveaway at Register for Giveaway.  Good Luck!!  Please share with a family that could use this.  Increase your chances and ask the family, grandparents, aunts and uncles to register as well.  Register today!

Second, I wanted to put together a program that advocates for individuals with Down syndrome.  SWDSF has purchased 31 of the Just Like You Down Syndrome DVDs.  I will send a copy of this DVD for free to any school, hospital or library in NJ or PA.  I want to make sure in order to receive a copy, the institution wants the DVD and will use it.  I know some of you are teachers, doctors and librarians or have family members that are.  Maybe you have contacts that are.  This giveaway is simple, Please send an email to swdsfoundation@gmail.com.  Please include the contact person, name of the institution, mailing address and a note as to why they want it or what they will do with it.  From the emails, I will select 31 and will send them off.  This has the potential to impact thousands of people.  This past May, our family had the opportunity to show this DVD to Jesse's entire school and I also did a presentation on Down syndrome which included Q/A from the students.  Jesse was so excited to bring Shane and Wyatt to school that day and we had so much fun.  We can do the same for your school as well.

I hope that you find what we are doing as exciting as I do.  I wanted to do something special this year, something that both helped individuals and advocated for Down syndrome.  Please share this with your friends and family and as always, thank you for your support.

SWDSF is also currently working on our official non-profit status and we are working to create our website.  This is taking longer then expected and hopefully we will have both completed soon.

If you have any questions for comments, please feel free to contact me at ericwaxy@ptd.net. If you received this by email and no longer wish to receive an email of my blog or from SWDSF, let me know and I will remove your address.  If you would like to be added, let me know.

Thanks again,
Eric
Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation
PO Box 214
Lehighton, PA  18235

Helping the Down Syndrome Community after Hurricane Sandy

This past week we witnessed the storm of the century.  Hurricane Sandy set her sights on the East Coast of the United States and her wrath was felt from Florida to Maine, from New Jersey to Wisconsin and all the states in between.  This storm struck with devastating wind, rain, floods and snow and in doing so, it left millions of people without power, destroyed property and even claimed lives in its aftermath.  

Today as I recover from 3 days without power, some damage to my house and lose of all my food in my refrigerators, I worry and pray for the millions of people who have it far worse than I do.  I know during the storm and after losing power, I needed to relocate my family as it was to cold to keep kids in the house.  Also, Shane and Wyatt need electricity for their apnea monitors and feeding machines, both require continuous feeds through the night.  Just knowing what I had to do, again makes me think of the families who are still struggling.  There are millions of people still without power, families who can not and will not return home due to damage from wind, fire or flood.  There are families who are cold, hungry, out of gas and are really struggling at the moment.

I know the Down syndrome community is a close knit family.  We rally when we have a cause and often come to the aid of those in need.  We need to do this yet again.  I have decided, through the Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation, that we will try to assist a few families.  I am hoping that we can provide $50 gift cards so that a family may purchase food, gas or clothing.  I realize that this wont make all things better but maybe will help, even if just a little bit.

I am asking for your help.  Every dollar donated will go to a family that has suffered through this hurricane.  I have made my donation and I hope that this will provide some relief for a couple families.  Please consider doing the same and please feel free to share or email this to your family, friends, business owners, professional athletes or anyone who understands and supports and might be able to help.  I am not setting a goal of how much I would like to collect but I know we are ready to send 2 gift cards with my donation and I hope that we can send 50 or 100 or to every family nominated to receive a gift card.  This is so important.

Please send checks payable to Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation, PO Box 214, Lehighton PA  18235 or consider a donation with Paypal to ericwaxy@ptd.net.  

Now, if you would like to add your family to the list or if you would like to nominate a family to receive a gift card, please do so by emailing me at ericwaxy@ptd.net.  I will acknowledge each email.  I will place the family name on an index card and pull a name for each $50 donated.  I will pull the first two names next friday and will mail the cards shortly afterwards.

The rules are simple, a family must have an immediate family member with Down syndrome.  The family must have been in the path and suffered directly from the hurricane.  Please include a brief note on the storm and the impact on your / the family, who is the individual with Down syndrome, mailing address and the preferred grocery store and gas station. 

My family will not benefit from this in any way. I will also post on the Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome page on Facebook the amount donated and the winners by name only of the families receiving Gift Cards.  I really hope that we can make a difference and with your help, help more then just a few families.

Thank You and God Bless.

Eric 

ericwaxy@ptd.net

Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation

Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation: Please consider a donation to the Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation.
SWDSF will have two primary points of focus. The first will be to recognize individuals in our

The Waksmunski Family: Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation

The Waksmunski Family: Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation: The Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation (SWDSF) is now open for business.  This Foundation will have two primary points of focus.  Th...

The Waksmunski Family: Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation

The Waksmunski Family: Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation: The Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation (SWDSF) is now open for business.  This Foundation will have two primary points of focus.  Th...

Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation

The Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation (SWDSF) is now open for business.  This Foundation will have two primary points of focus.  The first will be to recognize those in our schools and communities that are making a difference in the everyday lives of those with Down syndrome or special needs.  The second will be to assist individuals or families, who may not always ask, but who could use  a helping hand.

First, I spend a lot of time advocating for my sons and educating those who may not know of the challenges, struggles, joys and success of having a child (or twins) with Down syndrome or special needs.  With this in mind, SWDSF will establish a scholarship program for high school seniors to be used to continue their education after High School.  This award will go to a senior who has shown leadership while advocating, fundraising or volunteering to help and assist those with special needs.  I hope to establish at least two scholarships in two different High Schools for the class of 2013.  SWDSF will also establish a community award that will go to an individual with Down syndrome or to a sibling of an individual with Down syndrome who has made a significant contribution to the Down syndrome community.  For this award, since I will come out to meet the person and conduct the presentation, we will initially limit this to those living in the Northeastern United States.  I hope one day to be traveling the country delivering this award.  My hope is that nominations would come from the nominee’s friends, family or local Down syndrome group.  This is an opportunity to work together and say thanks to those who are making a difference.

Secondly, SWDSF will establish a program to assist individuals and families in purchasing learning tools, iPads or supplies that will positively impact a person’s life so that this person may reach their full potential as a person.  SWDSF has already secured donations to purchase an iPad that will be delivered next month to a family in PA.  This family also has twin boys with Ds, are non-verbal and have autism.  After notifying their Mom this past weekend and after a few back and forth emails, this was the last email from her that I received:  “Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! And I KNOW this will help the boys unlock what's inside their smart little heads”  I hope so!!  This is why this program is so important.  Hopefully, we will be able to assist many more families as well.  

This Foundation will only work and be successful if we all get involved.  SWDSF will need financial assistance and with your help and through your donations along with fundraising activities, we can make this possible.  I realize that there are many family obligations, financial stresses, other charities and such, but I know we can make a difference and we will, one family at a time.  Also, my goal was not to rival other local Down syndrome groups or organizations to but work with them to recognize those who are making a significant contribution and to develop a program to assist families.

We are planning a Fundraising Dinner / Dance for later this year, more information to follow on this event.  If you are interested in sponsoring an event or hosting a fundraiser, please reach out to me so that we can discuss this in more detail.  

I hope you find what we are doing valuable and beneficial.  Please consider making a donation so that we can really hit the ground running.  Every donation is important, with no amount being to small.  

I am so excited and I know together we can make a difference.  The first iPad is being delivered next month and the first community award will be presented shortly as well.  This is just the beginning!!

Please send donations to:

Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation

PO Box 214

Lehighton, PA  18235

My email address is ericwaxy@ptd.net  

Again, THANK YOU!!

Shane and Wyatt Down Syndrome Foundation 

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