NYCM Stories: Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day with Pathfinder Village - NYCM Insurance Blog

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Mar 21, 2023

NYCM Stories: Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day with Pathfinder Village



Team NYCM Raises Money, Donates Fun Socks to Pathfinder Village

For the third straight year NYCM Insurance hosted its Rock Your Socks (#RockYourSocks) campaign, giving employees the chance to directly support our neighbors at Pathfinder Village ahead of World Down Syndrome Day.

 

March 21st - the 21st day of the third month of the year - has been officially observed as World Down Syndrome Day by the United Nations since 2012 as an homage to the triplication of the 21st chromosome, which signifies Down syndrome. Every year on March 21st, World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated around the globe to bring awareness and advocate for a more inclusive society for individuals with Down syndrome.

Pathfinder Village in Edmeston, New York is a place where individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities are able to make lasting friendships, learn about community, and gain independence. It’s also “...a community where people who have Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities discover their own value and talents, and share these gifts with others.”

 

For more than 100 years, Team NYCM has maintained a strong friendship with our Edmeston neighbors at Pathfinder—even dating back to 1922 when the community was called the Otsego School. To learn more about the 2023 Rock Your Socks campaign at NYCM Insurance and our partnership with Pathfinder Village, continue reading below.

Sporting Socks with Significance


 
When it comes to observing World Down Syndrome Day, Down Syndrome International’s global Lots of Socks campaign (#LotsofSocks) aims to bring awareness to Down syndrome by adding a little extra pizzazz to your wardrobe. Every year on March 21, people around the globe are invited to wear their favorite pair of fun socks in an effort to get people talking about the rights, inclusion, and well-being of people with Down syndrome.

“World Down Syndrome Day is an annual reminder of the importance of keeping inclusion at the forefront,” said NYCM Insurance Chief Financial Officer, Chief Risk Officer, and Treasurer Michael Perrino, who also serves on the Pathfinder Village Board of Directors. “Every year we look forward to connecting with the amazing individuals at Pathfinder and partnering to support their mission.”

 

In March 2023, NYCM employees were able to purchase fun company socks ahead of World Down Syndrome Day, with all proceeds benefiting our friends at Pathfinder Village. In total, members of Team NYCM purchased 381 pairs of fun socks and raised a total of $1,000.84! In addition, 361 pairs of fun NYCM Insurance socks were donated to residents at Pathfinder.

“It’s been really fun and rewarding to support our friends at Pathfinder Village through Rock Your Socks the last few years,” said NYCM Insurance Public Relations Supervisor Stephanie Bader. “The whole team has really embraced the fun socks as a way to continue the conversation on inclusion while raising money to support some pretty incredible people.”

 

In three years of internal Rock Your Socks fundraisers, Team NYCM has raised $3,661.90 for Pathfinder Village and has also donated more than 600 pairs of fun socks to its residents.

Making a Difference


 
Pathfinder Village President and CEO Paul Landers said, “For a century, Pathfinder Village and NYCM have been neighbors and partners. From the Otsego School to Pathfinder Village, NYCM employees have been part of our story and progress. Together, we shape the Edmeston community as a welcoming and supportive community. We are true partners and better for it.”

Landers said that the fun socks are something that Pathfinder Village staff and residents have come to look forward to every year on World Down Syndrome Day, and that they have come to serve as a tangible and fun reminder of how important our Down syndrome friends are and the value and meaning they bring to our collective community. Every dollar raised through Rock Your Socks at NYCM has benefited Pathfinder across a variety of vocational and employment training programs.

“These programs are critical to the future success of our residents and it is a vital community connector,” said Landers. “Over the next few years Pathfinder will be developing a new vocational and retail center on our west campus that will house our Produce Market and Produce Mobile Market and space for educational classes.”

At NYCM Insurance, we know that by supporting the people and organizations where we live, work, and play, we can strengthen the foundation of the communities we call home. To support Pathfinder Village or for more information on how you can donate to support its mission, click here. To learn more about the history of our partnership with Pathfinder Village, click below.