$2,264 raised by 12 donors
9% complete
$25,000 Goal
Friends of Club 21 is a Colorado Springs non-profit that exists to celebrate individuals with Down syndrome through arts and education. We do this through fostering supported communities, raising awareness of Down syndrome and investing in engaging outreach. At Friends of Club 21, our vision is that every individual with Down syndrome would flourish into his or her full potential and live an abundant life. We celebrate every person's unique talents and empower them to shine--on stage , on canvas, and in life.
What began as a small Christmas production in 2015 has blossomed into something far larger than we ever imagined. Today, that one show has not ony grown into a year-round Arts Academy, but it also fills UCCS's Ent Center for the Arts each season with four sold-out shows. What started as a simple idea has become a vibrant community where individuals with Down syndrome can grow, create and shine through various visual and performing arts programs.
The Friends of Club 21 Arts Academy aims to provide a platform where individuals with Down syndrome can showcase their abilities, build lasting friendships, and develop skill that extend beyond the stage. Whether participants are taking their first steps on stage or honing their skills, the Arts Academy is a place where every person is valued and every dream can take flight.
Friends of Club 21 is a Colorado non-profit celebrating Down syndrome locally and around the world. We exist to see supported communities, social awareness and global generosity for families affected by Down syndrome.
Friends of Club 21 was founded by Tim Middlebrook after a trip to South Africa in 2014. While there, he met Izelle Ells and learned about how she started Club 21, a school for children with Down syndrome. Club 21 received no public funding or government support. Tim, with the support of his wife Michelle, and their four children, started Friends of Club 21 to some alongside this special school and see their vision grow.
Tim and Michelle are proud parents of Sarah, born in 2001 with multiple diagnoses including Down syndrome. They know firsthand the support that is needed for their daughter, their family and their community.
In 2015, Tim invited recording artist Jared Anderson to join him in South Africa and visit Club 21. On that visit, Jared was surprised to find the students at the school had learned some of his songs and that they performed together at a theater to benefit the community around the Club 21 school. Music connected them across their cultures and they discovered a shared love of those with Down syndrome and special abilities.
This profound experience inspired the team to question, “What could we do to help people understand our beautiful people with special abilities right here in Colorado Springs?”
Out of this experience, the vision for "Christmas This Year" was born. What started in 2015 with a handful of performers in a small auditorium and has grown now into four sold-out shows at the beautiful Ent Center for the Arts with a cast of more than 70 performers.
Organization name
Friends of Club 21
2014
Tax id (EIN)
47-2201484
Category
Diseases, Disorders & Medical Disciplines
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
3472 RESEARCH PKWY STE 104-405Colorado Springs, CO, US
Denver, CO, US
Pueblo, CO, US
CO, US