Rockin’ Recipient Izzy Ketchum Is a Rockin’ Self-Advocate!
October 18, 2018
Rockin’ Recipient Izzy’s no stranger to the boardroom! She has been volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse in Chicago since 2013, while on summer break after her first year in the Elmhurst College ELSA Program. She interned that summer assisting the Playhouse Director with administrative and fundraising tasks as well as volunteering with their baby/toddler open play and various other programming. In addition, Izzy co-chaired this year’s Dance-A-Thon, the largest fundraiser specifically for the Chicago Gigi’s Playhouse, and helped raise $40,000!!!
Izzy says she started volunteering there “because I wanted to empower other children with Down Syndrome with the knowledge that they can do anything they put their mind to, it just may take longer. The best thing in the whole world is seeing parent’s reaction when they realize what their child can do, it unlocks so many possibilities in their minds.”
Just by speaking up, being a self-advocate and being involved in her community, she is changing the lives of so many ????❤️???? She also went on to say:
“I feel like I have made an impact not only at Gigi’s but on the world. When parents talk to me, I get to tell them something they don’t usually hear, I tell them ‘Your child can do anything and everything as long as you believe in them.’ My dream job is to open a massive school/camp for kids with special needs – who will show the world that they are able to do so many brilliant and unimaginable things!!!!!!!!”
Izzy, you bring us so much joy and hope!! Just keep on rockin’ it!!
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