Carrie Muench

Hello! My name is Carrie, and I am a mom of three amazing kids. My husband and I live in Chanhassen, MN, and our youngest Ava has Down syndrome. Thank you for showing interest in the 3/21 Pledge! If you have made your way to our page, you have in some way been impacted by Ava, or another amazing person rocking an extra chromosome. Ava joined our family in 2008, and has been lighting up rooms since then with her enthusiasm, energy, and JOY. This girl LOVES to learn, and I am continually amazed by her passion to keep learning new skills. (She also happens to LOVE rainbows, so this partnership was an easy YES!).

Our amazing 17yo daughter Ava is our inspiration! We have been donating to Ruby’s Rainbow for awhile, watching behind the scenes over the years with gratitude, knowing this organization provides scholarships and is paving the way for opportunities for young adults with Down syndrome. Last year, in honor of Ava’s “Sweet 16” birthday, I decided to join the Pledge Committee to raise money for this incredible organization. Our goal was to raise enough to sponsor a scholarship, and also get the chance to meet our recipient. You helped us surpass that goal! We had the joy and privilege of delivering a scholarship in 2024 to student in MN who is attending Bethel University. Meeting Molly was a highlight of our summer, and helped Ava see what life could be like as a college student. It was VERY impactful and meaningful. This year- Ava is 17- one year closer to her dream of attending college at Bethel University. She still loves learning, and her 2 favorite classes at high school are ASL (sign language) and Unified Theater. Her friends at school Unified Special Olympics convinced her to jump in an icy cold lake for “The Polar Plunge” this month to raise money for Special Olympics. She was SO brave, and said “you can do anything with friends on each side of you”. With friends and family by our side, we can achieve more than we thought possible! Join us in our ambitious goal to raise $3000- that would allow us to personally deliver another Ruby’s Rainbow scholarship to a deserving recipient. Would you consider giving any amount to help us make college dreams achievable for people with Down syndrome? March 21 (3/21) is World Down Syndrome Day- a gift of any size helps, from $21 to $321 to $3210! THANK YOU for your partnership on this fun journey.