Dahlia: Power people focus on Down syndrome
Published April 19, 2006 at midnight
It's not unusual to meet people with big ideas, but it's rare to meet people with the wherewithal to make those ideas come to life.
Michelle Sie Whitten is one of those big-idea people who recently made her dream a reality by hosting the inaugural Down Syndrome Educational Symposium and kickoff reception.
Two years ago, Whitten and her husband, Tom, welcomed into the world a beautiful baby girl named Sophia. Sophia was born with Down syndrome, and the Whittens quickly discovered there were few local educational programs for people who care for children with the condition.
Michelle came up with a plan she hoped would make Colorado the best place for people with Down syndrome to live and ultimately would serve as a template for other states, regions and countries for tackling issues related to Down syndrome and other cognitive disabilities.
Her success isn't surprising, considering that Michelle is the daughter of Denver philanthropists Anna and John J. Sie, founder and retired chief executive officer of Starz Encore. Whitten is president of Encore International and executive director of the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation.
The foundation has awarded $600,000 in grants to the University of Colorado to stimulate research into Down syndrome and also formed the Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Educational Fund, a fund of the Denver Foundation that seeks to enhance the lives of people with Down syndrome from early childhood to adulthood.
The foundation hopes to garner $1 million during the next few months to implement programs that will make a difference in the lives of the more than 5,000 Coloradans with Down syndrome and their families. The foundation will match up to $500,000 in donations.
The Sies recently hosted a reception at their Cherry Hills Village home to announce their daughter's project to the community and to kick off the Down Syndrome Educational Symposium series featuring Dr. William Cohen, a world-renowned Down syndrome expert and chairman of the National Down Syndrome Society Clinical Advisory Committee.
The demand for this kind of program in Colorado was demonstrated by the nearly 400 people who signed up to attend the inaugural symposium.
"Our hope is that the community will meet our challenge and contribute at least $500,000 so that our foundation can match that amount and our million-dollar goal will be met," said John Sie.
The Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Educational Fund hopes to develop programs including training classes for new parents, tutoring support and extracurricular activities for children with Down syndrome, higher-education opportunities and life-skills education, and professional training for doctors, nurses, educators and therapists.
Reception guest Jay Mills, owner of Jay's Valet Service, was the first to contribute to the fund, with a $1,000 check.
Other supporters among the more than 100 guests included Mayor John Hickenlooper; Children's Hospital President Dr. Dori Biester and Chief of Pediatrics Dr. Stephen Daniels; Denver Foundation President David Miller; Mile High Down Syndrome Association Executive Director Linda Barth; Denver Options Executive Director Stephen Block; Denver Broncos safety John Lynch and his wife, Linda; Barry Hirschfeld and his son, Hayden; Lisa and Carl Williams; Susan and Randall Karsh; Laura Barton and artist William Matthews; and Ricki and Dave Rest.
"Everyone in our region supports the goal of helping local families receive the best possible educational resources for children with special needs, and the Sies are generously providing a vehicle for Coloradans to make a difference," Hickenlooper said.
"We do a lot to help the community, Colorado's children and marginalized populations, and we are proud to be part of this initial step towards creating educational programs and services that have - until now - not been available locally," added Denver Foundation President Miller.
For more information about the Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Educational Fund, call Whitten, 303-468-6666, or Betsy Mangone, vice president of the Philanthropic Services Group at the Denver Foundation, 720-974-2610.
Dahlia Jean Weinstein is the society writer. weinsteind@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-2882.
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