Matthew Ready for Football Season

September 13th may have been a normal Sunday for most people in the country, but for Liberty resident Matthew Vittoria, it was the beginning of long awaited Chiefs season. Anyone who knows Matthew also knows he’s a sports nut. Ever since he was a kid, he’s been a diehard Kansas City Chiefs and Royals fan. To him, nothing is better than rooting for his home teams.

In that regard, Matthew is a typical 24 year old guy: he loves sports, food, and family. Like every good son, he loves his mom’s cooking, watching ball games with his dad, and riling up his brother and sister. The fact that he has an extra chromosome has never once slowed him down. He’s a proud former participant of the Special Olympics, an accomplished high school graduate, and a social butterfly who can’t go anywhere in his town without seeing an old friend or making a new one.

Throughout the summer, he can be seen walking around his neighborhood with a Royals jersey on and smile on his face, socializing with neighbors and keeping up with his family on his trusty flip phone. His knack for dates and numbers means he doesn’t have to check his address book to call his second cousin whose wedding anniversary he remembered today. But that’s just Matt; always there for his family.

Now that the MLB playoffs are here, he’ll be rooting for his favorite home team in the World Series. Anybody who ever has the privilege of being at a Royals game viewing party with him will feel more excited than if they were actually at the game with all the enthusiasm and jubilance he brings to the room.

With football season happening at the same time, sports are the number one thing on his mind besides what’s for dinner. Every Sunday is going to see Matthew in a Chiefs jersey either watching the game at home or at Arrowhead Stadium. He and his dad Louie build their fantasy football teams together each year as they follow drafts, games, and who the best players of the season are.

With football season in full swing, all Matthew will talk about are his three fantasy football teams. Within about an hour of meeting him, he’ll probably tell you that his team the Northenders are going to beat his older brother Michael’s fantasy team by the end of the season. And you know what? In the past, he has.

It’s exciting to know another Kansas City resident as excited for first downs as First Downs for Down Syndrome is! Good luck with your season Matthew!

13th Annual Golf Classic and Huddle Time Highlights

The 13^th Annual Golf Classic and Huddle Time at the Shadow Glen Golf Club for First Downs for Down Syndrome was another huge success thanks to you! We raised over 200 thousand dollars between both events that will help us immeasurably. Watch the video below to see all the highlights of the event!

          

We had a blast hanging out with everyone on the green who played or watched the tournament, as well as those who participated in the live and silent auctions and came out to support the cause. Amazing items like the Mike Moustakas autographed bat, an autographed Escobar jersey, and so much more went to good homes.

On the behalf of everyone at FDFDS, we would like to say thank you for the continually tremendous support of the Down Syndrome community in Kansas City. Our organization’s events and successes wouldn’t be possible without the support of an amazing community. You help us move forward in our goal to raise positive awareness for all the incredible people in our lives and around the world with Down syndrome.

Check out the rest of the photos from both the Golf Classic and Huddle time on our Facebook! We look forward to seeing you again next year!