OVER 400 CHILDREN FROM AREA NON-PROFITS TO ATTEND DASH FOR DIGNITY AT DALLAS MEDICAL CENTER TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY

Achieve's Dash for Dignity 5K, fun run, health fair, and carnival on October 7th is partnering with the LV Project to make inclusion a priority and educate the Dallas area community about the need for adults with disabilities to feel like they belong. The event takes place at the Dallas Medical Center, the presenting sponsor's campus in Farmers Branch. The health fair and carnival are free. To register online, visit getmeregistered.com/dashfordignity; race-day registration opens at 7 AM.

DALLAS, TEXAS - 10/04/2017 /EASY NEWSWIRE/ — Achieve, A Place to Grow is hosting the 24th Annual Dash for Dignity at its Presenting Sponsor’s location: Dallas Medical Center, 7 Medical Parkway, Farmers Branch, Texas. This year’s event includes a 5K race, half mile fun run, food trucks, silent auction, prize drawing, pet adoptions, health fair and carnival. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The event is part of the national campaign What can YOU do?  to promote positive employment outcomes for people with disabilities by encouraging employers and others to recognize the value and talent they bring to the workplace.

Achieve has invited children from area non-profit organizations, group homes, and foster families to attend the carnival for free. Over four hundrend children from the following organizations have committed to attending: Autism Treatment Center, Bea's Kids, Jonathan’s Place, Interfaith Dallas, Dallas Casa, Genesis, and A World for Children. 

The carnival includes games and prizes, face painting and bouce houses, pet adoptions and Dallas Zoo Animal Adventures, featuring educational animals including a variety of birds, mammals, and reptiles.

“Inviting all these wonderful children to interact and play along-side of people with disabilities is our way of educating the community regarding the value of inclusivity.  I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a carnival, no matter the color of your skin, your age, or your disability.  It’s all about being together and having fun,” said Kathi Sebastian, Development Director for Achieve. “We also invited families from the surrounding neighborhoods of Dallas Medical Center so they could have the opportunity to not only enjoy the carnival, but learn more about the valuable services the hospital has to offer.”

Achieve is also partnering with  the LV Project, a non-profit founded by the mother of a 15-year-old boy who died in a lake tragedy that was preventable if a life vest had been worn.  In addition to spreading awareness, the LV Project performs community service and has offered to pair two adults with disabilities from Achieve, who normally are unable to participate in a 5K, with athletes trained to push a racing chair designed for people with disabilities.

 “ JoAnn has participated in the Dash Fun Run using a walker for the past six years and never minded finishing last. It’s all about proving that she can do anything she puts her mind to. She is enormously inspiring. But this year she gets to experience the thrill of the race without feeling disabled,” said Sebastian. “Nothing is going to hold JoAnn back!”

Achieve is based in Dallas, Texas. The thirty-six-year-old non-profit supports programs for adults with disabilities such as its work center where a few hundred individuals unable to work in the community come daily to work and earn a pay check.  Achieve also provides outside employment placement for veterans and other adults with disabilities as well as vocational training and work experience for special needs students transitioning from high school into the community. Its mission is to empower adults with disabilities and our veterans to achieve their highest level of independence and employment. For more information, visit http://achievedfw.org/.

Media Contacts:

Company Name: Achieve
Full Name: Kathi Sebastian
Phone: 469-917-9275
Email Address: ksebastian@achievedfw.org
Website: achievedfw.org