Allianz gives $25,000 to DSAMN! Happy World Down Syndrome Day!

I've been so excited to post this great news and wanted to do it TODAY, 3/21 to celebrate (3 stands for "trisomy" and 21 stands for "21 chromosomes")!  As you know, we are so proud of our daughter, Ellie who has Down syndrome.  She has been a miraculous blessing in our home.  She shows us an infinite amount of LOVE (and stubbornness!).  She makes us laugh out loud all the time and sometimes cry out loud too!  :)  She is beautiful, funny, smart, loves music and giving hugs - We are BEYOND BLESSED that we get to be her parents.

The good news: The company where Matt works holds an annual "vote for your favorite charity/foundation" day.  We are super excited because the employees voted for the Down Syndrome Association of MN meaning that DSAMN receives $25,000 this year!  This is the THIRD time in the last few years DSAMN has "won" at Allianz!!!  I would like to share what Matt wrote to his collegues at Allianz asking for their vote this year:

Allianz Friends:

We're already near the end of the window to vote for our favorite charities!  If you have already voted - thank you!  If not, please consider voting for the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota.  The deadline to vote is this Thursday, January 31st.  

Our daughter Ellie is now 4 years old and is doing great.  She LOVES music and going places.  Over the past year, she has started to say several words and the other night, she ate her whole dinner by herself with a fork!  On the other hand, just yesterday she locked my wife Erin and our other daughter Rachel out of the house and missed her music class.

Ellie brings us great joy just like your kids, nieces and nephews bring to you.  Erin and I are passionate about helping her reach her potential and feel fortunate that there are resources available to help children like Ellie with Down Syndrome.  The Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota is one such important resource.  They provided great comfort to Erin and I as we were just learning about what life would be like raising a child with special needs.  Their programs educate teachers, families, doctors and therapists to help make the world a better place for these children who in turn make the world a better place for the rest of us.

If you haven't voted already, please consider voting for the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota as one of Allianz Life's employee elected charities.  

Thank you!
Matthew Gray

We are so grateful to Allianz for their generous contribution and for the DSAMN and the wonderful people and resources it has provided us.  The thing I love most about what the association teaches about special needs is that we are "more alike than different".  Thank you DSAMN for all you do!!!!