The off-season programming at PALS has been part of our work since 2014. Over the past 10 years, we have run Adventures all across the country.
In June of 2016, I stepped onto Cabrini University’s campus, flooded with nervous excitement, for my first week of camp at PALS Philadelphia. Little did I know that I was about to experience the greatest dance parties, participate in an unforgettable karaoke night, build life-long friendships, and change the course of my life.
At PALS Programs, our mission has always been to create inclusive camp experiences for young adults with Down syndrome and their peers. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to connect, grow, and have fun in an environment where differences are celebrated. This summer, we are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Brother Rice High School.
PALS is fortunate to have a Board of Directors that provides guidance and support for our operations and bolsters our mission of inclusion. We are excited to introduce three new members who joined the board in the past year.
PALS is thrilled to announce we have been accepted to be a certified organization for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. In the realm of non-profit organizations dedicated to making a positive impact, PALS Programs is eager to kick-off Summer 2024 and celebrate 20 years of impact and stories.
Shining light on situations like these help us all to know where we have room for growth. At PALS, we realize how important it is to continue to do this kind of work. By sharing my story, I hope it helps to prevent things like this from happening in the future. At the end of the day no one is perfect, but we must all do our part to understand one another and to make sure we are providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone which PALS is focused on doing year round.
After launching PALS Affinity Groups in March, we wanted to create a space specifically for individuals with Down syndrome in the PALS community to discuss their shared experiences, triumphs, and challenges beyond programs. Thanks to the help of Sam and Zoe, co-facilitators, we are introducing a Self Advocate Affinity Group!
PALS is committed to increasing access to our programs so that more people from diverse backgrounds have the opportunity to experience the magic of PALS. However, in order to do this, it is important that we consider not only one identity such as gender or race, but other identities such as age, class, religion, and combinations of these identities and other identities and their impacts as we grow.
A group of students from Salesianum School, in Delaware, created fundraising pages for PALS and raised $2,495. Thank you so much to Kian, Evan, Ryan, Dylan, Connor, Abel, and Joseph for your fundraising efforts! We asked them to reflect on their experience and why they decided to fundraising for PALS as high school students. Here is what Connor and Kian shared on behalf of the group.
In May 2020 PALS made a public statement on Black Lives Matter. It has been over a year since I posted that blog and it is time to share an update. Our work at PALS to build a more equitable and inclusive organization goes far beyond a public statement, and as we mark some progress we also know we have so far to go.
