Supermodel Beverley Johnson will grace the catwalk on October 25, 2014 for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show in Denver.
Attracting more than 1,200 attendees and raising over $7,600, 000 with proceeds supporting the Linda Crnic Institute for Down syndrome, the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show is the largest single fundraiser for the condition in the nation. The annual event provides a vehicle for individuals with Down syndrome to showcase their abilities and shine with support from community leaders, tastemakers, influencers and celebrities.
This year, in conjunction with celebrating her 40th anniversary of being the first African-American woman to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine, supermodel and actress Beverly Johnson will be honored with the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award and grace the catwalk with her famous strut. Past honor recipients include Quincy Jones and self-advocates Tim Harris and actor Jamie Foxx’s sister, DeOndra Dixon, to name a few.
“I’m so honored to be receiving the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award this year,” said Johnson in an emailed statement to JET.
“From the day my niece, Natalie, was born and it was learned she had Down syndrome, I’ve been on a journey with her; my sister, Joanne; and my family to find a partnership that supports our needs,” she shared. “I had always had the desire to do more for Natalie, but didn’t know how.”
“The Global Down Syndrome Foundation has given me the opportunity to not only make a difference in the life of Natalie, the life of people with Down Syndrome condition but also making a difference in our respective families My family and myself have found an extended family in the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. This has been an honor, as well as, a life reaffirming relationship for me. Global’s focus on research and medical care is changing lives.”
For tickets and more information about the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, visit www.BeBeautifulBeYourself.org.
