Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show 2014

The recurring theme from family and friends of people with Down Syndrome is that they are a special gift. They exist on such an uninhibited and happy plane that they bring so much joy to those around them. As the family of Global Down Syndrome Foundation Ambassador Steven Dulcie put it, “Steven is the silver lining in a day.”

The fun atmosphere was prevalent again this year at the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show as celebrities and models vamped on the runway to wild applause and cheers from the 1,200 well-heeled guests.

Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, whose sister is Global Ambassador DeOndra Dixon (who regularly upstages Jamie everywhere from the Grammy Awards to video shoots) was on hand again this year to promote the cause, along with other well known supporters such as Helen Hunt, Laura Dern, John C McGinley, Alec Baldwin, golfer David Duval, and several other sports and entertainment figures.

Longtime supporter and supermodel Beverly Johnson, whose niece Natalie Fuller has Down Syndrome, received the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award, and so did advocate Brad Hennefer.

Kim Christiansen returned as extraordinary emcee, with additional remarks by force of nature Michelle Sie Whitten (executive director of Global), Governor John Hickenlooper, actor John C McGinley and Event Chairs Sharon Magness Blake and Ernie Blake. Auctioneer Jim Nye wratched up bids on some incredible live auction packages, which included not only a trip to the Superbowl, but a ride on the Broncos plane to get there; and a really nice watch from Vacheron Constantin and Hyde Park but the winner also gets to travel to Geneva, Switzerland to tour the workshop.

The real stars of the show, as they are every year and every day, were the beautiful models in the Be Beautiful Be Yourself fashion show.  The BBBY Fashion Show is the largest fundraiser for Down syndrome in the nation and has raised more than $7.6 million for Down syndrome research, medical care, advocacy and education, plus creating unprecedented awareness regarding the shocking disparity of funding for people with Down syndrome, while successfully emphasizing their abilities.

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation provides fundraising, education, awareness and government advocacy for the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome.