Thousands of people are expected Saturday for the Down Syndrome Festival & 5K, an annual celebration of inclusion that doubles as the region's largest fundraiser supporting families affected by Down syndrome. The 5K race kicks off at 8 a.m., followed by a full festival spread across the Great Lawn and Sheridan Lawn.
The event is organized by the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma, known as DSACO, and stands as the nonprofit's biggest fundraiser of the year, according to KOCO. Participants can register for various runs.
Beyond the race itself, the event will host live music, talent shows, local food trucks, inflatables, carnival games, face painting, and resource vendor booths, per details from RaceEntry. On-site packet pickup is also available race morning starting at 7 a.m., according to RunSignup's event page.
Where the Money Actually Goes
Every dollar raised during the festival stays in central Oklahoma to fund DSACO's local programming, according to RunSignup's event FAQ. The nonprofit uses the festival's annual proceeds to support its local programming.
DSACO also runs a Self-Advocacy Center program for young adults with Down syndrome ages 18 to 21, according to DSACO.
The organization offers free tutoring and an enrichment lab.
Leadership and the Broader Mission
DSACO's services include free tutoring, computer labs, quarterly workshops, and family scholarships to attend national conventions, according to a DSACO video posted to YouTube.
That full-lifespan approach reflects just how common Down syndrome is nationally. The condition is diagnosed in roughly 1 in every 700 live births in the United States, or about 6,000 newborns each year, based on estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited in research published by Industry Today. Clinical data from the American Academy of Family Physicians shows the statistical likelihood of a Down syndrome pregnancy rises with maternal age, moving from about 1 in 1,300 at age 25 to 1 in 365 at age 35 and 1 in 30 after age 40, the same research indicates.
Local Businesses Step Up
Regional corporate and financial institutions have become steady backers of DSACO's mission, including Simmons Bank's Oklahoma City commercial team, which regularly supports the organization through annual sponsorships, community grants, and corporate fundraising drives, according to Simmons Bank. Corporate teams from the bank participate in fundraising events, golf tournaments, and walk teams throughout the year.
Saturday's festival in Oklahoma City is DSACO's biggest fundraiser of the year, according to KOCO.
