Upside of Down-In Memory of Law
Donation protected
As you know, our dear friend and brother Lawrence Ramirez passed away suddenly almost a year ago. He is missed everyday by all of us that were close to him and we continue to remember Law everyday for the positive impact he had on all of our lives. One clear example of Law’s impact on this world is his role in helping his friend and fellow co-worker Teana. Teana, who has a daughter with down syndrome, had started a website (upsideofdown.org) in an effort to help others. It was Law’s persistence, however, that convinced them to grow their website into a true non-profit organization so as to make a bigger impact on helping others.
Law didn’t stop there, however. Once the Upside of Down had been granted the non-profit status, he was already thinking ahead. What would be a good way to raise money for the new organization? Kickball! And so in 2009 the Upside of Down Charity Kickball Tournament was born. Thanks to Lawrence, since 2009, the Upside Of Down Charity Kickball Tournament has raised close to $50,000. The organization has provided scholarships to numerous kids and adults with Down syndrome to attend summer camps, both locally and across the nation! They have donated thousands of dollars to DSRTF (Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation) for research. Funds have also been donated to local Down syndrome outreach programs & to The University of Texas to sponsor employees in a research lab, who happen to have Down syndrome!
The support to The University of Texas has allowed a young woman, Cory, with Down syndrome to work in a lab on Parkinson’s research. Cory started out participating in a lab, lecture and social hour that was sponsored by DSACT (Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas). Her professor, Jon Pierce-Shimomura, quickly noticed her potential and aptitude for this type of research. The Upside of Down is honored to be able to support Cory and provide her with the opportunity to get paid for the great work she is doing at UT!! Lawrence was always eager to help others in their educational endeavors and was such a great inspiration to so many and so, in his memory, the Upside of Down will commit to an annual donation to this program and it will be called the Upside Of Down – Lawrence Ramirez donation.
That brings me to this year’s kickball tournament. Law always had a team called the Quickies that participated in the tournament. The Upside of Down has reached out to a few of us and have asked us to field a team in Law’s honor. And so, in remembrance of our brother, the Quickies will be back in this year’s tournament on May 31st. In addition to the participation, we are hoping to be able to also give a sizable donation to the Upside of Down on behalf of Law, his wife, Lilia, and his beautiful daughter Ximena. Please consider donating any amount that you can so that we can continue to help an organization that Law cared so much about.
Law didn’t stop there, however. Once the Upside of Down had been granted the non-profit status, he was already thinking ahead. What would be a good way to raise money for the new organization? Kickball! And so in 2009 the Upside of Down Charity Kickball Tournament was born. Thanks to Lawrence, since 2009, the Upside Of Down Charity Kickball Tournament has raised close to $50,000. The organization has provided scholarships to numerous kids and adults with Down syndrome to attend summer camps, both locally and across the nation! They have donated thousands of dollars to DSRTF (Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation) for research. Funds have also been donated to local Down syndrome outreach programs & to The University of Texas to sponsor employees in a research lab, who happen to have Down syndrome!
The support to The University of Texas has allowed a young woman, Cory, with Down syndrome to work in a lab on Parkinson’s research. Cory started out participating in a lab, lecture and social hour that was sponsored by DSACT (Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas). Her professor, Jon Pierce-Shimomura, quickly noticed her potential and aptitude for this type of research. The Upside of Down is honored to be able to support Cory and provide her with the opportunity to get paid for the great work she is doing at UT!! Lawrence was always eager to help others in their educational endeavors and was such a great inspiration to so many and so, in his memory, the Upside of Down will commit to an annual donation to this program and it will be called the Upside Of Down – Lawrence Ramirez donation.
That brings me to this year’s kickball tournament. Law always had a team called the Quickies that participated in the tournament. The Upside of Down has reached out to a few of us and have asked us to field a team in Law’s honor. And so, in remembrance of our brother, the Quickies will be back in this year’s tournament on May 31st. In addition to the participation, we are hoping to be able to also give a sizable donation to the Upside of Down on behalf of Law, his wife, Lilia, and his beautiful daughter Ximena. Please consider donating any amount that you can so that we can continue to help an organization that Law cared so much about.
Organizer
Orlando Mondragon
Organizer
Austin, TX
