Buddy Fest NW 2020

Buddy Fest NW promotes acceptance and inclusion of all people with Down syndrome. The walk brings together family members, friends, professionals, community leaders and individuals with Down syndrome from Portland Metro, SW Washington, and beyond!

NWDSA's mission is to create and nurture a loving and inclusive community celebrating every individual with a disability, including Down syndrome.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH
1 PM - 2 PM
Facebook Live

This year we bring our annual celebration of acceptance and inclusion to the community in a safe and accessible way via Facebook Live or YouTube and we need your help to make it a success!

Mark your calendar, like us on Facebook or YouTube, engage your team members, consider how you can support, dig out your past #BuddyFestNW t-shirts (or make your own), and do not forget this is the largest fundraiser of the year for the work we do at the Northwest Down Syndrome Association that values relationships, social justice, equity, diversity, and self-determination!

Let's shoot for the stars (like we do for our children), let our friends and family know what their support means to us, and share our pride in our loved ones and lives with Down syndrome!   

Create your #BuddyFestNW team or individual fundraising profile beginning July 6, 2020 -- Registration is FREE!

Your support of #BuddyFestNW can earn you a variety of incentives including a HP Touchscreen laptop, iPad mini, and Power Pumper!  See details under 2020 Fundraising Incentives. 

Funds Raised at Buddy Fest NW help empower and support families and individuals, connect new parents to the community, increase education and promote public understanding and acceptance, increase competence of professionals, work toward full inclusion, and defend the civil rights of individuals with disabilities.  Key programs and activities, offered in English, Spanish, and now virtually,  include:

• New Parent Outreach and Ongoing Support
• Healing Hearts Booklets
• Open Arms Playgroups 
• Winter and Summer Socials
• Medical and Genetic Outreach
• Social Justice Youth Community
• Parent and Self-Advocacy
• Reciprocal Learning Community Workshops
• Community Training Opportunities
• Resourcefulness Center Access and Drop-in Hours
• Event Calendar, Newsletters,  and Website
• Community Partnership and Education
• World Down Syndrome Day Celebration

Emcee Tony Starlight!!!

Tony Starlight celebrates his diamond anniversary as Buddy Fest NW emcee this year and will host and entertain us from the Tony Starlight showroom!  Tony adds such joy, wit, and charm to the day and we appreciate him and his musical prowess so much!

Tony is a performer and venue owner who's been entertaining Portland and beyond with music and comedy for over 20 years. 

tonystarlight.com

This year we would like to feature all our people with Down syndrome as our community keynote! Please send us a 15-30 second video sharing what #BuddyFestNW means to you!  It could be one word or a sentence. It could be a picture message or a dance.  It can be simple or fancy. Wear your #BuddyFestNW t-shirt from a previous year if you have one or wear what you want. We simply want to see your faces, hear your voices or see your message, and feel the love and pride you have for your life with Down syndrome! Feel free to share your name and/or team name with your message and email to buddyfestnw@nwdsa.org! 

Advice for taking a good, usable video: Please shoot horizontal, not vertical. Make sure you are close enough to the phone to be heard clearly. Avoid shooting your video around noisy ambient sounds, like traffic or a lawn mower or barking dogs, etc.  Have fun and smile big! 

In addition, please also send us your favorite images that do include your #BuddyFestNW t-shirt for us to also share! 

Thank you for sharing and being an important part of our day!