SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2024 | DENVER, CO

Q&A with Debra McKenney, Be Beautiful Be Yourself Ticket Chair

Debra McKenney1. Why did you join the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show Committee?

“I joined the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show committee because it was about getting involved in something that tugs on your heart strings. I have been close friends with Nancy Sevo for a very long time and we have worked together on many philanthropic causes. When she approached me about the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and her meaningful work to bring more awareness to Down syndrome through a community outreach committee I wanted to get involved. Nancy has always been such a great supporter of my philanthropic work with Smart Girl and Beacon Center and as she told me about the Global Down Syndrome Foundation it sounded like a wonderful idea with a great community of people. Through my involvement the relationships made are so meaningful and the work at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation is so important.”

2. What does supporting the Global Down Syndrome Foundation mean to you?

“I am not personally touched by Down syndrome, however the work at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation is so important to me as it supports a whole group of people who need increased funding and awareness. I have worked significantly with organizations over my life to provide a better life through enrichment of others to reach their greatest potential. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation advocates for a large population who are underfunded and are not given as many opportunities, this work is so meaningful and I want to be even more a part of the skill building and enrichment efforts for individuals with Down syndrome.”

3. Why should people support the Global Down Syndrome Foundation?

“The Global Down Syndrome Foundation is such a dedicated organization that is extremely impressive. The critical work such as the prenatal testing pamphlet and their work in Washington D.C. is crucial. There are so many people in the world with Down syndrome, supporting the Global Down Syndrome Foundation is an opportunity to help a whole group of a population that has been neglected in the past so they can live a longer more fulfilling life. When I share with others about my work at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation I connect with so many friends, colleagues, and families that have a relationship with an individual with Down syndrome, it is so common yet still the least funded genetic disorder making the work so essential.  Support brings more light to Down syndrome and overall awareness on a global scale to serve a substantial group of people.”

4. Please share a sentence or two about your life, including what is important to you and anything else you would like to share with others.

“I have a corporate background and for years I saw what it takes to succeed in the workplace. I have spent my energy to mentor young women to become successful in a competitive male focused industry. A group of women and I started Smart Girl to prepare women with tools to enrich their lives and reach their potential. My continued philanthropic work is to help everyone reach their potential. My husband and daughters are very supportive of my work at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and they were blown away at the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show. I am very proud of my daughters in 2012 they were a part of the Young Professional Committee for the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show and it was a very rewarding experience for them as well. In 2013 we look forward to increased involvement at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.”