Vintage New York City Magazine is proud to introduce our readers to The Felix Organization here on our website, and in the summer 2014 issue of the magazine. The Felix Organization was founded eight years ago by Rock ’n Roll Hall of Famer, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Emmy Award winning casting director, Sheila Jaffe. Both adopted and grateful to have been “taken home”, they were compelled to use their resources and experience to enrich the lives of children growing up in the foster care system. They had no idea the impact this partnership would have on the lives of so many disadvantaged children. This summer, Felix will send its 1,000th child to Camp Felix, an overnight camp in Putnam Valley, NY designed to meet the unique needs of youth in foster care. Felix also sponsors Camp Felix West, a camp serving Los Angeles based foster youth and offers programs to help foster children in New York City reach their dreams throughout the year.
On September 28th, hundreds of people in New York will be dancing to change the lives of children growing up in the foster care system. DANCE THIS WAY is the brainchild of Emmy-Award winning Casting Director Sheila Jaffe and Rock ‘n Roll Hall of famer Darryl DMC McDaniels. As adoptees, they met, bonded and decided to form an organization that would make dreams come true for children who were not as fortunate as they were, who did not necessarily get taken home to a loving family.
Eight years later, the charity known as THE FELIX ORGANIZATION has sent over 1,000 children to their own special summer camp, CAMP FELIX. It’s a game changer for these boys and girls. DANCE THIS WAY is Felix’s anchor fundraiser that will plant the seeds to grow these dreams.
I am reaching out to you for your help so FELIX can achieve its $300K goal necessary to make this happen.
In the words of The Felix Organization Co-founder Darryl DMC McDaniels:
Now all the kids need loving
And a little hugging
That's why I'm here to say
We just can't do nothing
We gotta do something
Or the kids will be fading away
Now there's a real big reason
That I am beefin
And I'm gonna tell it like this
The Felix Organization is bringing the nation
Together for The Foster Kids
We at Vintage NYC Magazine are pleased and proud to announce that we will be supporting “Families In Arms, Inc.", a non-profit organization that raises money to send families of children with Autism to Disney World. The mission of “Families In Arms” is to “give families of children with Autism, the opportunity to create memories that go far beyond the walls of therapy.” If you have a child with Autism, or have a child in your extended family with Autism, you know how difficult the daily struggles can be for the child, the parents and siblings. “Families In Arms, Inc.", was created in an effort to give these families a space to breathe and have some fun. We are so excited to be involved in this organization, founded by Alonna Rubin and her father Ric Mango, from the iconic band “Jay and the Americans.” Alonna and her husband David, welcomed their first son, Jack, in 2001. Jack was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2. Alonna resigned from her teaching position and became a full-time advocate for her son. She knows the emotional and financial strain that a family of a child with Autism experiences. Alonna and her husband David, took their two sons to Disney World for the first time when Jack was 7 years old. The experience was one the family will always cherish. They have since created beautiful memories, year after year, at this magical place. Alonna understands how life is impacted when Autism knocks at your front door. In an effort to give back, Alonna and her father Ric, have created this organization out of love and a passion to help support other families that have children with Autism. Please follow the link provided to learn more about “Families In Arms” and to be a part of helping a family of a child with Autism create new memories.
Love,
Vintage NYC Magazine
Sherry Mercer
Hope for Javier strives to turn HOPE into reality for thousands of boys affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Our sole mission is to help change the outcome forthese boys in two ways:
Funding cutting-edge translational research - research that focuses on moving science from the laboratory into human clinical trials - to accelerate the development of life-saving treatments.
Supporting efforts to promote advocacy in order to: maximize the collective DMD investment in breakthrough research, improve the standards of care for all DMD patients, and ensure consistent implementation of the latest care standards - ensuring the best possible quality of life for all boys afflicted by this devastating disease. For more information visit: www.hopeforjavier.org
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NDSS 30TH ANNUAL GALA
The good times were rolling at the National Down Syndrome Society's (NDSS) 30th Annual Gala! The charity event was set to the tune of a swinging live band at the B.B. King Jazz Club, right in the heart of Times Square. Cocktails mixed as people mingled and made their entrances to the venue. Some of the featured guests and honorees included ABC news network, Geraldo Rivera, actor Chris Burke, and most of the 60 models used for the rocking photoshoot. Pictures from the shoot were turned into replicas of 80's era album cover posters and covers to Rolling Stone-esque booklets for theevent. Cocktail hour and dinner were followed by a live auction that was enthusiastically led by C.K. Swett, who did a wonderful job at pumping up the crowd and helping raise around $300,000! It was truly a night worth celebrating. While there, VNYCMAG got an exclusive chance to sit down with NDSS President, Sara Hart Weir, to talk about the future of the organization.
Ms. Weir was recently on a trip to Saudi Arabia to meet with the leadership of Saut, their down syndrome organization. While there, the two organizations launched an international partnership with big goals in mind. This "Voice for Down syndrome" alliance hopes to help spread more down syndrome awareness throughout not only the middle east, but globally as well. There's currently talks in the works for an international conference, set to be held later this coming year. Back on our home front, NDSS put their own hash tag to work: #DSWORKS™. The tag stands for Down syndrome works - with a simple goal in mind - to break down barriers to employment and create more jobs for individuals with Down syndrome. The Down syndrome community is no doubt a motivated and diligent one, that's the attention they want to bring to the legislative agenda to create corporate and small business partnerships for members of the community. With so much to look forward to, it's no wonder why the theme of this year's gala was "let the good times roll"! So far, 2016 has started off swinging for NDSS and all involved! If you would like to help keep the momentum going and donate or raise awareness, head to the NDSS website, www.ndss.org!
LOVE,
Vintage NYC Magazine
Amelia Meloni
By: Iris Maraboli
Photographer: Conni Freestone
Sara Hart Weir/gown by: Mikael Aghal
Make up by: Victoria Drago
Hair by: Paris Salon NY @1laspe
NDSS 31ST ANNUAL GALA 2017
The National Down Syndrome Society, the leading human rights organization for all individuals with Down syndrome, paid tribute to SAUT: The Voice of Down Syndrome Society (SAUT) of Saudi Arabia at their 31st Annual Gala and Auction on March 30 in New York City’s Gotham Hall. This year’s Old Hollywood-themed gala gathered friends and supporters to celebrate the NDSS mission, the accomplishments of individuals with Down syndrome and those who contribute to the Down syndrome community. Cocktail hour and dinner were followed by a live auction that was enthusiastically led by auctioner Charles Antin. Charles and two self-advocates from NDSS' #DSWORKS® Even Strength Internship led the paddle raise during which NDSS received a record high number of donations.
The National Down Syndrome Society was proud to honor SAUT at the event. As part of the collaboration, NDSS and SAUT are actively working together to develop a formal postsecondary program for students with Down syndrome and other disabilities in Saudi Arabia. NDSS works with a number of institutions of higher education in the United States that maintain high-caliber programs leading to more employment opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome. So far, 2017 has been a successful year for the National Down Syndrome Society and the organization looks forward to working for individuals with Down syndrome. If you would like to help keep to join NDSS' #DSArmy, donate or raise awareness, head to the NDSS website, www.ndss.org !
It was an evening that celebrated the best of who we can be, and the wonderful people who care about on making a difference!
Love,💋
Vintage NYC Magazine
Editor IC/CD- AmeliaMeloni
video/Photography By: Conni Freestone
National Down Syndrome Society
Non-Profit Organization
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