Who Is Your One?

BY LAUREN GIBEAULT

PALS Recruitment Coordinator

Over 1,000 Partners, Peers, and Volunteer Leaders came together in Summer 2022 for week-long, overnight experiences across the country, a long-awaited reunion that was joy-filled, emotional, and fun. We are building on that momentum for Summer 2023. We rely on Peers that volunteer to ensure every Partner with Down syndrome has a one-to-one pairing. As we grow our programs, we are excited to grow our volunteers, too!

As the Recruitment Coordinator on PALS Staff, one thought continued to come to mind. If each person could commit to inviting one new person into the PALS Family, our volunteer spots would be filled for 19 programs this summer. Thus, the Who's Your One campaign was born!

Word of mouth has always been a powerful tool for growth; here at PALS, that is no exception. Many of our new Peers express they decide to come to PALS after hearing about their friends' experiences through conversation or social media. Imagine the impact we could have if we shared about PALS to each of our unique circles of people. From sports teams to work settings to houses of worship to affinity groups, so many communities would hear our mission of inspiring a world of belonging. 

My Mom always used to say, "many hands make light work," and while my siblings and I often rolled our eyes about this - she was right. We are more powerful, and our mission will go much further if we work together to inspire a world of belonging. So will you join us? Will you consider Who's Your One? There are simple ways for you to make an impact:

  1. Invite someone personally to apply for camp this summer by sending the application link here. 

  2. Share on social media about PALS with this graphic! 

  3. Schedule a presentation at your school, club, or work with PALS Staff by emailing support@palsprograms.org.

  4. Fundraise for PALS by creating your personal page here.

One-to-one friendships are core to the mission of PALS and dedicated volunteers help us continue this model. Consider the power we have to influence the growth of PALS. We hope you will join us this summer and bring along someone else to experience these benefits. In return, we can pour into a new generation of PALS Peers. We are grateful for you and eager to see what Summer 2023 has in store for us all, especially as you invite your friends into PALS!