BY GRACE WAHLE
PALS Congratulations
Project Associate
At PALS, we often ask individuals in our community, “Why PALS?” to hear why they are invested and inspired by the mission of PALS. Typically, we ask donors, participants, leaders, and partners this question. I recently had the opportunity to ask my grandmother, Sandi, this question of “Why PALS?”
My grandma’s “Why PALS” is because PALS provides a wonderful place for families that just had a new baby and continues to support the family as the child grows up through camp experiences even during the pandemic. For five years, Sandi has seen the power PALS has had on our family. She witnesses her granddaughter with Down syndrome have a place she feels loved and can be her authentic self. Then, she also experienced me as driven to the mission and supported at PALS as a sibling and volunteer when I became involved in 2017 and then joined the PALS community as a staff member in 2019. To top it all off, she saw her third grandchild, Sam, volunteer this summer during the pandemic as she has been long awaiting for.
She said, “PALS has given my whole family, including my three grandchildren, an opportunity to work together and become involved with a meaningful community no matter what age they are.” After seeing the direct impact of PALS’ mission, she decided she wanted to give back and be more involved. Using her talent, she donates handmade baby bibs to add to each Congratulations Project package. She knew PALS was a place she wanted to contribute to with her time.
“Love has no boundaries. PALS Love spans across generations.”
By making bibs, Sandi has also had the opportunity to tell other people in her community about PALS. She talks with people about what PALS’ mission is and what it means for our family, in hopes that her friends may want to get involved, donate, or contribute fabric to make more bibs. She is so grateful to contribute her time and talent to the organization, especially to support new parents.
It is especially important to her for each bib to be given to new families having a baby with Down syndrome. When I interviewed her, she expressed how she wished the project was around when her daughter found out she was having a child with Down syndrome. The support of PALS and receiving a Congratulations Project letter 18 years ago would have been so impactful. Sandi is excited to continue to use her time and talents for The Congratulations Project and PALS community. She is grateful to see a community grow through generations.
This Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we thank my grandmother, Sandi, for supporting the mission of PALS and spreading the PALS love to others as well!
If you’d like to give back to PALS, visit https://palsprograms.org/invest