Frank Stephens, the 2016 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award recipient put it this way: “people who happen to have Down Syndrome are an unusual source of happiness.”
You can say that again. Every year, the Be Beautiful Be Yourself fashion show demonstrates that the models with Down syndrome, their families, the celebrity escorts….pretty much everyone in the room can’t stop smiling. The models strutted and vamped on the runway with no inhibitions and the crowd clapped and shouted wildly. You rarely see the President and CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Michelle Sie Whitten, without a 500-watt smile.
True to past years, the event attracted many A-list celebrities, including Jamie Foxx (whose sister DeOndra was one of the models and has been heavily involved in Global for many years), Peyton Manning, Hilary Swank, Queen Latifah, Matt Dillon, model Amanda Booth, Miss Colorado Shannon Patilla, John C McGinley and several local sports stars and Broncos cheerleaders. Bright stars as they are, they all were quickly upstaged by the models, who danced and twirled and soaked up the limelight.
Frank Stephens gave a hilarious speech in accepting his Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award. (He talked about Ashley Manning wanting Peyton to take her on an exotic vacation, but “he only wants to go to Omaha, Omaha, Omaha.”)
Mario Lopez brought his famous dimples to co-emcee with Kim Christiansen this year, and John C McGinley’s daughter Billie Grace showed that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in talent as she gave a quick speech.
The Global Down Syndrome Foundation is dedicated to significantly improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through Research, Medical care, Education and Advocacy. Formally established in 2009, the Foundation’s primary focus is to support the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the first academic home in the United States committed solely to research and medical care for people with Down syndrome. Since Down syndrome is the least-funded genetic condition in the United States, fundraising and government advocacy to correct the alarming disparity of national funding for people with Down syndrome is a major goal.
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- Susan and Eugene Sherman
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- Rico Nelson, Bella and Rico Jr., Julie Nelson
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- Louie Rotella Jr. and his wife Kathi
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- George Dixon and DeOndra Dixon
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- Teri and KC Lewis
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- Peyton Manning and Louie Rotella IV, this year’s Global ambassador
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- The Rotella family with Peyton Manning
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- Vito and Jennifer Solimene
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- DeOndra Dixon and Louie Rotella IV
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- Lana and Joe Turner, left, with Betsy and Dr.Tom Blumenthal, Executive Director of the Linda Crnic Institute
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- Marco Pappa, left, Shkelzen Gashi, Sam and Samantha Cronin
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- Susan Vanderploeg, visiting from Canada, left, with her son Andy Irvine (live auction chair), Angela Lieurance and Bret Zungila
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- Denise Wilson and Susan Vanderploeg (“the Canadian contingent)
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- Samantha Gruitch, left, Edie Marks and Lori Marks-Connors
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- Clark Booth and Jan Turner Hering
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- Melissa and Chuck Cory
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- Dominic and Carol Capuano
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- Ralph and Anne Klomp, left, with Robert and Carla Wright
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- Peyton Manning, left, chats with Queen Latifah and Matt Dillon
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- Petyon Manning and Queen Latifah
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- Brian and Julia Dillon with sons Brendon and Ty
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- Cathy Pasquariello, left, Sherrye Berger, Nancy Benson and Lydia Pena SL
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- John and Nancy Sevo
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- Chris Cornelius, left, Jake Henrich, Cindy and Ian Terowsky
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- Celebrities on the red carpet
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- Silent auction co-chair Streeter McClure, left, and Raz Gnat
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- Catherine and Andy Velopulos with Charissa
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- Roger Armstrong and Pat Robinson
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- Lisa and Tony Davis, left, Brittani Sievers, Nicholas Uribe and Jake Schroeder
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- Julie Haase (back), Kelly Roberts (seated), Mardra Sikora, Quinn Sikora, Jen Irelan
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- Cornelia and John Stephens
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- Lee Bowen and Louise Richardson, left, with Claudia and Bob Beauprez
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- Lee Bowen and Louise Richardson–newly engaged, congrats!!
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- Keri Christiansen, left, Kay Burke, Terri Lantz
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- Ellen Robinson, left, Rachel Robinson, Bonnie Mandarich and Nancy Sevo
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- George and Jacque Hinman
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- Deanna Tharpe, left, David Tolleson, Jacob Tharpe
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- Stuart and Marilyn Spinner
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- Dr. Inge Wefes and Dr. Huntington Potter
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- Dan Serwitz and Jen Darling
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- Tolly Tate and Edward Neibauer
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- Leslie and Bill Vollbracht
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- David Mandarich, left,and Norm Brownstein
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- Robin Pringle Hickenlooper and Governor John Hickenlooper
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- George and Jacque Hinman, left, with Shelly and Rick Sapkin
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- Larry Mizel, left, his daughter Courtney Mizel and Steve Guetterman
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- John and Anna Sie
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- Dana Davis, left, chats with Robin Pringle Hickenlooper
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- Peyton Manning and Hilary Swank at the head table
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- Gov. John Hickenlooper talks with Queen Latifah and her bodyguard
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- Kim Christiansen and Mario Lopez were great emcees
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- Peyton Manning and Hilary Swank
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- John C McGinley with his daughters and Michelle Sie Whitten on stage
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- Billie Grace gave a wonderful speech
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- Global Down Syndrome Foundation President and CEO Michelle Sie Whitten
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- The Rotella family on stage
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- Louie Rotella IV gives his dad a hug
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- Michelle Sie Whitten talks comfortably with the audience of 1,500
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- Jamie Foxx and John Sie at the head table
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- The Rotella family table
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- Event Chair Maureen Regan Cannon thanks everyone for their support
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- Michelle Sie Whitten and Maureen Cannon on stage
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- Sports Chair Tomago Collins and Harry
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- Lee and Susan McIntire with her daughter Lauren Napheys
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- Governor John Hickenlooper on stage
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- Isn’t this exciting??
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- Michelle Sie Whitten and Jamie Foxx on stage with his daugher Annalise
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- Michelle Sie Whitten, DeOndra Dixon, Annalise and Jamie Foxx
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- Frank Stephens accepts his QJ Exceptional Advocacy Award from DeOndra Dixon, a past recipient herself
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- Frank Stephens has travelled around the world being an advocate for Down syndrome research
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- Frank Stephens has a career waiting in the comedy field
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- Peyton Manning takes the runway with Louie Rotella IV
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- Louie gives Peyton a hug
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- Ava Nelson and Kenleigh McCall take the runway with Colorado Rapids Golden Boot player Shkelzen Gashi
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- Kenleigh McCall and Ava Nelson with Shkelzen Gashi
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- Lisa Newtop and her son Nic Allen
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- Nic Allen gives his mom Lisa Newtop a kiss
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- Frank Stephens takes the stage with Broncos Cheerleaders Allie Kirby and Angela Wood
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- Frank Stephens with Allie Kirby and Angela Wood
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- Frank Stephens–a lucky guy
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- Miss Colorado Shannon Patilla with Alexandra Shankle
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- Shannon Patilla and Alex Shankle on the runway
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- Sam Levin hams it up with actor Matt Dillon
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- Gavin Dunbar and Jake Lacle vamp on the runway with Jake Schroeder
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- Jake Lacle came all the way with his family from Aruba
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- Danny Barbier and Pearl Hogan with model Amanda Booth
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- Pearl Hogan, Amanda Booth, Danny Barbier
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- Broncos cheerleader Angela Wood with Olivia Posthumus
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- Academy award winner Hilary Swank with Max Sherman and Marcus Sikora
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- Marcus Sikora, Hilary Swank, Max Sherman
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- Kayla Gutierrez and Sara Stephenson with Denver Outlaws professional lacrosse player Eric Law
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- Chloe Chapman and Sarah Wrubel with Colorado Rapids Captain Sam Cronin
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- Chloe Chapman, Sarah Wrubel, Sam Cronin
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- Charlotte Fonfara-LaRose with John C McGinley
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- Clarissa Capuano, Jamie Foxx, his daugher Annalise and Kenlee Karl
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- Rebekah Randall and Matthew Hayes with Colorado Avalanche Captain Gabriel Landeskog
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- Rebekah Randall, Gabriel Landeskog, Matthew Hayes
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- Queen Latifah takes the runway with DeOndra Dixon–some attitude goin’ on there!
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- DeOndra and Queen Latifah ham it up on stage
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- DeOndra and Queen Latifah
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- Models and escorts came out for the last “We Are the World” song
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- Models and celebrity escorts
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- Kenlee Karl couldn’t resist another strut down the runway
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- Fred Churbuck, second from left, with friends at the after-party
