About Us

Friends of the Trisomy 21 Center

All of us have been inspired by someone with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) – and more join us every day – This year 5,000 American babies will be born with Trisomy 21.

Thanks to those who have gone before us, all of these babies will have many opportunities for success. Children with Trisomy 21 attend mainstreamed classrooms, read with peers, make friendships and touch many. Adults with Down syndrome can live full and productive lives marrying, living independently and working. But there are challenges. Health risks are primary. A generation ago, the average life span was 3. Today it is 55 – but getting there can seem impossible when new parents are holding a sick baby. In order to help the greatest number of families, we have partnered with the world’s leading children’s hospital, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, to create a national center which will over time dramatically improve the lives of all.

This center is desperately needed! There are only a handful of centers across the nation dedicated to helping those with Trisomy 21, and the National Institutes of Health spends very little on clinical research of Down syndrome. Our efforts began in 2001 by two mothers, Grace Wadell and Lizanne Magarity Pando. Their children, Georgie and Jenna, were both thriving thanks to the life-saving surgeries and outstanding care they had received at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. They knew that if the brilliant minds at Children's could focus on Trisomy 21, tremendous gains could be made. Today our ranks of Friends have grown from two to more than 7000. We hold an annual Buddy Walk to support the center. Last year over 4,000 attended and $300,000 was raised. With this money in 2006:

A fellowship program began in Developmental Pediatrics to train more doctors
Research commenced
Our endowment was doubled
Additional new and existing patients were seen
Parent support was expanded to include a second Educational Symposium

Our Sixth Annual Buddy Walk for the Trisomy 21 Center is September 30, 2007, at Villanova University stadium. Together we have made a great difference! We are so grateful for the support we've received.

Won’t you please join us in keeping the dream alive to help those with Trisomy 21?

Friends of Trisomy 21 Center, Inc.

Grace Wadell, President
Lizanne Magarity Pando, V.P.
Susan Davis, Treasurer
Bradley Mortensen, Esq., Secretary

2007 Buddy Walk Committee

Linda Cartwright & Ed McLaughlin, Co-chairs
Susan Scerbo
Val Hurwitz
Mary Ann Martinelli
John Klouser
Lynn Ruffenach
Deb & Gary Roessler
Kim Perciaccante
Mike Evenosky
Matt Braun
Kristine Acevedo
Dorothy & Ken Brightcliffe
Nancy Romano
Cindy Dannenbaum
Tracey Carney
Kathi Gillin
Jacqui DiDomenico

Please email questions or issues concerning the use of this web site to:

webadmin@tri21center.org