BY JO PRESSIMONE

PALS Advancement Manager

The primary focus of PALS will always be our week-long summer camps with all the trimmings: one-to-one pairings, karaoke and dance parties, fun off-campus adventures, and of course PALS Olympics. But the PALS Magic is something that keeps us going all year round. We wanted to create spaces where our friends, both old and new, could get a little taste of that Magic while summer still felt far away. So we tried something new: PALS Pop-ups.

In the Fall of 2022, PALS hosted three pop-up events - one in Philadelphia, one in Cleveland, and one in Los Angeles during PALS Holiday. The events were open to new and returning Participants, Volunteer Leaders, families, and supporters. Everyone was welcome to join, learn about PALS, and catch up with the community!

Each Pop-up was a little different, but every one of them was the embodiment of our values: Welcoming, Passionate, Genuine, Supportive, and Fun.

The Philadelphia Pop-up was hosted by the Baumstein family at Homebred Farm. Even though the day turned out to be one of the rainiest of the year, we were able to play lots of games in the basketball gym. Parents got in on the fun, too, forming their own team to compete against Partners and Peers.

In Cleveland, new Partners and Peers joined the returners in some outdoor fun at Camp Ho Mita Koda. The day was a little blustery, but not too windy to keep us from playing Capture the Flag and Gaga Ball.

At the Los Angeles location, Club 21 hosted PALS and invited their local Down syndrome community to join. It was a wonderful opportunity to team up with the organization! We played Olympic games during PALS Holiday and enjoyed some snacks from Recess Ice Cream.

Every Pop-up concluded with “Why PALS.” It is always so moving to hear about how important PALS is to our community. These events were a great reminder that PALS stays with you all year round!