Landon Baker Memorial Grant Program
This grant has been called the Classroom Grant since we launched it in 2017. This year (2023) we decided to give the program a proper name. It was decided to name the program in loving memory of Landon Baker.
The Landon Baker Memorial Grant is funded by our Grand Strand Buddy Walk and Festival team captains. Families create a team and raise money, once they have earned $1,000 or more, they have earned a grant for a local classroom or program of their choosing. The only qualification is that the program serves at least one person with Down syndrome.
2023 Grant Recipients
Daniel’s Dancers earned a grant of $1,000.
Daniel is 18 years old and moved to SC from NJ 2 years ago. He had been extremely active in NJ and has been able to keep busy here too! He plays golf and swims with Special Olympics and plays baseball, soccer and golf with the Miracle Leagues. Daniel loves music and is Michael Jackson’s #1 fan. He can dance all of MJ’s hits and has taught himself how to play some of his music on the clarinet. Daniel has played the clarinet for 5 years and is now learning how to play the piano. This will be Daniel's Second Buddy Walk!
Landon’s Legacy earned a $200 grant. His grant is being split with half being sent to his middle school teacher, and half to the teacher he had in elementary.
Landon was a loving, fun, high energy, smart, mischievous young man. He had a great sense of humor and liked to play little tricks on his family. Landon was delayed at walking do to his heart surgeries and condition, but once he got on those feet, he took off running. If you were a regular at our event you would know of Landon just from seeing his daddy chase him around or his grandmom carrying him on her back. Everywhere he went his smile turned heads.
Elijah earned a $100 grant. His grant is going to his Papa because he is homeschooled, and Papa is his teacher.
Elijah is 7 years old. He loves Doritos, bread, swinging, flirting with girls and of course his papa. He started homeschooling this year and he is working hard on speech to start talking.
Team Wild Child earned a $500 grant, Jeremiah chose his teacher to be the recipient of the grant.
Jeremiah is really enjoying the 8th grade with his new teacher and team. He is full of surprises and has quite the personality. Jeremiah is a big fan of show and tell. He loves to hide surprises in his backpack to see if he sneaks them to school without Mommy catching him. When his teacher takes a picture to send to mom, he gets a good laugh out of it. Jeremiah's favorite thing to do is ride in the car with Daddy and go out anywhere!
Jack earned a $200 grant which will go to his classroom.
Jack has been a member of GSDSS for 8 years. Some of you are doing the math. He joined when he was 3 months old.
We like that GSDSS provides a Down Syndrome community, support for families, a group for siblings, and school scholarships. In the past Jack received scholarships for swim lessons, Mom and Dad had grants to attend a Down Syndrome convention, Evan and Sadie participated in a sibling group and Jack's classroom at our local school has received a scholarship.