• Facts About National Buddy Walks®

    Over the last thirteen years, the Buddy Walk®has become the premier advocacy event for Down syndrome and has become a major platform for inclusion in communities across the country.

    Here are some milestones to show how the program has grown:

    ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    1995

    • The National Down Syndrome Society establishes the Buddy Walk®to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and to celebrate October, National Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
    • Buddy Walk® events take place in 17 locations across the United States. Chris Burke leads the flagship New York City Buddy Walk®. The premiere advocacy event for Down syndrome is off to a great start!

    1999

    • The National Down Syndrome Society introduces the Times Square Video to raise acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome.
    • The Buddy Walk®adds a fundraising component to raise money for local and national programs and services.

    2001

    • NDSS introduces a new Buddy Walk®logo, the familiar blue and yellow graphic with a family holding hands.
    • The Wal-Mart commercial featuring footage of the walk in Colorado Springs, CO first airs and is instrumental in the growth of the Buddy Walk® program.
    • Over 100 Buddy Walk® events take place during this year.

    2002

    • John C. McGinley joins NDSS as the National Buddy Walk®Spokesman, providing significant national visibility for the program.
    • The first BuddyWalk.org site is launched.
    • The first comprehensive Buddy Walk®Manual for walk organizers is distributed.

    2003

    • NDSS further demonstrates its support for the growing Buddy Walk®program by designating it as one of the Society?s five key strategic initiatives for the coming years and hiring a National Buddy Walk® Coordinator to oversee the direction of the program and assist local organizers.
    • The Buddy Walk®logo is trademarked by NDSS.
    • More than 190 Buddy Walk® events take place in 49 states and 5 countries with over 180,000 participants.
    • More than $2.5 million is raised for national education, research and advocacy programs, as well as local programs and services.

    2004

    • BuddyWalk.org is re-launched with new tools and features for Walkers and organizers.
    • More than 214 Buddy Walk® events took place (at least one in each state), involving more than 200,000 people and raising more than $4.5 million for local and national education, research and advocacy programs.

    2005

    • NDSS celebrates 10 years of the Buddy Walk®!
    • More than 260 Walks were held in 2005 across the country and abroad.
    • Approximately 5.5 Million dollars were raised nation-wide through the NDSS Buddy Walk®. These funds were distributed among sponsoring Buddy Walk®Organizations and the National Down Syndrome Society.
    • More than 225,000 individuals participated in a Buddy Walk®in 2005. Since the Buddy Walk®was created in 1995, over 1,500,000 people have participated in a Buddy Walk®worldwide.

    2007

    • More than 270 Buddy Walk® events took place across the country and abroad.
    • Over $9.5 million dollars was raised nationwide, a 46.2% increase from
    • More than 230,000 individuals participated in a Buddy Walk® in 2007.  Since the Buddy Walk® was created in 1995, over 2,000,000 people have participated in a Buddy Walk® worldwide.

    2008

    • More than 275 Walks were held worldwide in 2008. For a list of where registered walks were held, please visit www.buddywalk.org and click on the “2008 Walks” link, located under “Find A Walk”.
    • Approximately $10,500,000 was raised nation-wide through the NDSS Buddy Walk®. These funds were distributed among sponsoring Buddy Walk® Organizations and the National Down Syndrome Society.
    • More than 235,000 individuals participated in a Buddy Walk in 2008.   Since the Buddy Walk® was created in 1995, nearly 2,000,000 people have participated in a Buddy Walk® worldwide

    2009

    • More than 275 Walks were held worldwide in 2009. For a list of where registered walks were held, please visit www.buddywalk.org and click on the “2009 Walks” link, located under “Find A Walk”.
    • Approximately $10,000,000 was raised nation-wide through the NDSS Buddy Walk. These funds were distributed among sponsoring Buddy Walk Organizations and the National Down Syndrome Society.
    • More than 250,000 individuals participated in a Buddy Walk in 2009.   Since the Buddy Walk was created in 1995, more than 2,500,000 people have participated in a Buddy Walk worldwide.
    • The Buddy Walk is a trademarked program of the National Down Syndrome Society and was created in 1995 to assist local groups in their advocacy efforts in their communities. With more than 275 Walks taking place each year, the National Down Syndrome Society is able to speak with a unified and stronger voice on issues of policy that affect individuals with Down syndrome.
    • As the Buddy Walk has grown over the past 15 years, it is very important that we speak with a unified voice when promoting the Buddy Walk program.  As we seek national sponsorship, it is more important than ever to be conveying a consistent message.  These current statistics, along with the new Buddy Walk logo (available for download on www.buddywalk.org), must be reflected in your brochures and on your website.

    The Buddy Walk® is a one-mile walk in which anyone can participate without special training.  The Walk has grown from 17 Walks in 1995 to 275 nationwide and around the world in 2008.  Hundreds of thousands of people walk from coast to coast and abroad each year.  Our goal is to substantially increase the number of walkers each year. The goal of the Buddy Walk is to promote understanding and acceptance of people with Down syndrome.