With World Down Syndrome Day coming up tomorrow, Ruby’s Rainbow is shining a spotlight on college dreams for people with Down syndrome — or, as the organization puts it, people “rocking an extra chromosome.”
Ruby returned to the We Are Austin studio this morning as a guest co-host, joined by her mom, Liz Plachta, the co-founder and executive director of Ruby’s Rainbow. They joined Trevor Scott and Sierra Waggoner to chat about the group’s mission and how it supports students pursuing higher education.
Ruby returned to the We Are Austin studio this morning as a guest co-host, joined by her mom, Liz Plachta, the co-founder and executive director of Ruby’s Rainbow.
During the conversation, the show also checked in on what Ruby has been up to since she guest co-hosted last summer, including news that she made the cheer team again.
Trevor Scott: “And you’re still cheering, right? You made the cheer team again, so what’s your favorite part about doing that?”
Ruby: “My favorite part is my back walkover. I have been working really hard on it with my coach.”
But Ruby offered some big personal news, too.
“I have a boyfriend now,” said Ruby.
“Is this who you were talking to on the phone in your Instagram story?” asked the hosts.
“Yeah, his name is Parker!” Ruby shared excitedly.
The team also got to rock the new Pride Socks Ruby helped design.
“She’s designed several pairs of socks with our friends over at Pride Socks,” said Plachta, “World Down Syndrome Day is a day that we all wear crazy socks. So it’s just a fun way to celebrate.”
Ruby returned to the We Are Austin studio this morning as a guest co-host, joined by her mom, Liz Plachta, the co-founder and executive director of Ruby’s Rainbow.
Plachta also explained Ruby’s Rainbow for viewers who may not be familiar with the organization, including its scholarship focus and the group’s goals for the year. With World Down Syndrome Day set for tomorrow, she also discussed the 3/21 Pledge.
“When Ruby was born, we didn’t know that she had Down Syndrome. I didn’t know anything about Down Syndrome. I really just wanted her to have the same opportunities as her older sister to learn and grow and get out into the world and do all the things. And it’s really more just about opportunity and people believing that you’re worthy of that opportunity. So we’ve been able to give out $3.7 million in scholarships since she’s been born, and that’s over a thousand scholarships that, you know, we’ve been able to really tell people with down syndrome that we are believing in them and that we’re dreaming with them and that we’re just investing in their future and that they’re worthy of it all.”
Ruby returned to the We Are Austin studio this morning as a guest co-host, joined by her mom, Liz Plachta, the co-founder and executive director of Ruby’s Rainbow.
The 3/21 Pledge is an opportunity for the community to pitch in on World Down Syndrome Day to help make college dreams come true.
“Right now we’re in our biggest campaign of the year, the 3/21 Pledge. We’re working on raising $600,000 so we can give out another 120 scholarships. That’s 120 amazing and capable humans rocking that extra chromosome that we are hoping to help go for their college dreams. We just hit the 400,000 mark, so we’re going to do it. We’re hoping to hit that $600,000 mark tomorrow for World Down Syndrome Day to celebrate all the awesomeness that people with Down Syndrome bring into this world and into our lives.”
For more information about Ruby’s Rainbow, including scholarships and the 3/21 Pledge tied to World Down Syndrome Day on 3/21, watch the full video above and head to rubysrainbow.org. Be sure to follow them on social media, too!
Ruby returns to We Are Austin to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day and college dreams