New Directions Down Syndrome Association

10/13/2026

👻 Need a reason to come to BOO•GIE BASH? We've got plenty! 🎃

Games, prizes, a potion station, delicious food, sweet treats, and a DJ ready to keep the dance floor hopping! 🎶🕺🪩

But the BEST part? Spending the evening with friends, making new ones, and having a spooktacular time together!

This is a FREE Halloween dance party for teens and young adults of ALL abilities!

Register for this free event here: https://charity.pledgeit.org/newdirectionsboogiebash

10/07/2026

Get spooky and boo•gie with us!

🎃 🕸 🦇 👻

Register today for our annual Halloween dance: https://charity.pledgeit.org/newdirectionsboogiebash

10/06/2026

Learn. Be inspired. Leave with a new perspective.

We are so excited to welcome Rachel and Jawanda Mast as keynote speakers at the 2026 Education Conference!

Rachel and Jawanda bring something pretty special to the stage: the lived experience of a self-advocate paired with more than 26 years of family advocacy, policy work, and a shared commitment to creating meaningful, inclusive lives for people with disabilities. And trust us, this is a conversation you will want to be part of.

📅 October 23 | 8:00 am–4:30 pm
📍 Hilton Garden Inn South | Sioux Falls

👉 Register here: https://charity.pledgeit.org/c/lol59nawsp

10/06/2026

A HUGE thank you to Emily Schmidt - Security National Bank of South Dakota for donating 1,200 bags for this year’s Buddy Walk and to the amazing businesses who made sure we had plenty of fun things to fill them with!

🍟 Dairy Queen - Hartford SD
🎨 White Spruce Real Estate
📸 Lucky Duckling Photography
🥤SoDak Soda
📸 Midwestern Charm Photography

Thank you for helping us send our Buddy Walk crew home with a little extra happy!!!

10/06/2026

💙 💛 WHAT A DAY! 💛 💙

To every walker, team captain, sponsor, volunteer, and friend who helped make it happen - THANK YOU! You showed up BIG for our community, and we are so incredibly grateful.

📸 And because there are WAY too many amazing moments to fit into one post, Harberts Media captured them all! Check out the full 2026 Buddy Walk album here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/4gs75xmpexqpWAJ77

Feel free to download, save, and share your favorites!

10/05/2026

We love a business that can see the BIG picture! 👀

A huge thank you to Sioux Falls Family Vision for supporting New Directions and our Buddy Walk! Your support helps us continue working toward a community where individuals with Down syndrome are seen, valued, and celebrated. We’re so grateful to have you as a Cheering Buddy! 🫶

10/04/2026

What an amazing Buddy Walk! We want to see all the amazing fun you had! Please share your photos below.

We did have a couple of items left at the walk. One was a blanket and another a phone that was made into a play phone. Please message us to claim these.

We also had someone’s chairs go missing when packing up. If you ended up with a black and a pink fold up chairs in your items, please reach out. There was a lot going on and it could easily have happened.

Yesterday was so much fun and reminded us all of the amazing community we live in.

Professional Pictures to come soon!

10/03/2026

💙💛Did someone say RAFFLE???

So many amazing items on the raffle this year! You won’t want to miss out! The drawing will be held on Oct 3 at 12pm CST. The raffle is done online only! Be sure to get your tickets!!!

https://charity.pledgeit.org/c/uzmzg99eg5/pages/raffle?fbclid=IwRlRTSAUtZdVwZG9mBWZkaWQWUMpJ-gbyMa-hQ9Hd3yhxR1_ZK9Hk9WV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7Fq979u5Q4sz_Bq8eqjJEz8fuRd7tR8LtjzH4XMhnzbKPJvh90nBzGRQv8jA_aem_mcJDLCuQen2lhqgZlS9OZw

Since its creation in 1995, the Buddy Walk® has grown into the nation’s leading awareness and advocacy event for the Down syndrome community. What began as a single walk has become a worldwide movement, recognized as a symbol of inclusion and celebration. Each year, Buddy Walks across the country...

10/02/2026

Updated board and winners in the comments (if I’m able to do this correctly 🤪😉)!

Keep going! Every minute counts! The team who is at the top of the fundraising list during the morning announcements to will lead the Buddy Walk!

Will it be your team?!

⭐ CONTEST TIME! ⭐

Two ways to win!

🏆 CHALLENGE #1: THE FINAL PUSH
Every team that raises an additional $321 between NOW and 5:00 PM on Friday, October 2 will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card to Union Social in Harrisburg!

👉 The fundraising totals shown on this graphic are your official starting numbers. Find your team’s current total, add $321, and that’s your goal!

EXAMPLE: If the graphic shows your team at $2,150, reach $2,471 by Friday at 5:00 PM, and you’re entered!

🥤 CHALLENGE #2: THE $321 CLUB
Every team with a total of $321 or more by 5:00 PM on Friday, October 2 will be entered into a drawing for a $25 SoDak Soda gift card!

The good news is that many of you have already qualified! 🎉

Both winners will be announced on Facebook and can pick up their gift cards at the New Directions table at Buddy Walk on Saturday!

Share those team pages. Text your friends. Ask your coworkers. Call Grandma. 😂 Every dollar raised helps New Directions continue supporting individuals with Down syndrome and their families throughout our community.

3...2...1...GO!

10/02/2026

Talk about showing your TRUE COLORS! 🎨

Positive Painting may be known for “spreading paint while spreading positivity,” but they spread a whole lot of kindness, love, and inclusion along the way, too.

We’re incredibly grateful to have this amazing crew supporting New Directions. Thank you, Bryce + Courtney, for making our community brighter and a whole lot more colorful! 🌈🫶 Keep spreading that positivity. We’re BIG fans! 💙💛