Higher Education
Ruby’s Rainbow
“Dedicated to providing college scholarships for students with Down syndrome, spreading awareness of their capabilities, and supporting their dreams of higher education and independence.”
Liz Plachta is a dear friend of mine, an amazing mom to Ruby, and doing work in an area that is scarce in resources. She is actively fighting for advocacy through higher education support.
Ruby’s Rainbow has awarded 741 scholarships worth over 2.6 million dollars since its inception.
For the past two years our family has participated in the Ruby’s Rainbow 321 pledge campaign. It is honestly one of my very favorite fundraising events of the year that happens every March – our goal for our family each year is to have the opportunity to award a student a scholarship in Annie’s name! In 2022 we raised $8,164.00 and in 2023 we raised $6,698.00 for a total of $14,862.00 collectively. Almost better than the financial accomplishment, is the number of individual donors over the years who, 1.) become aware that higher education opportunities are possible for people with intellectual disabilities and 2.) that they care enough to give of their own resources to see those opportunities multiply.
Think College
Think College is a national initiative dedicated to developing, expanding, and improving research and practice in inclusive higher education for students with intellectual disability.
