Upstate Caring Partners, in partnership with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), will host a community Buddy Walk® on Sunday, September 14, 2025, to honor and celebrate individuals with Down syndrome. This event is focused on raising awareness and funds for programs that benefit individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

This year, the event will return to Mohawk Valley Community College, 1101 Sherman Drive, Utica. The walk will begin at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Alumni College Center and will follow a designated path around the MVCC campus. Donations will be accepted but are not required to walk. Event/Activities begin at 10:00 a.m. and the Welcoming Remarks will be at 10:45 a.m.

The event will also include entertainment, refreshments, and activities including an interactive art project with the help of the pieces of heART program. The collaborative art project will be raffled off at the conclusion of the event. The Children’s Museum will have their Mobile Museum on-site for some fun, interactive play suitable for all ages. Latte Love will have their specialty coffee drinks available for purchase, and Big Papi’s Coquito Iceys will be selling their delicious frozen treats. Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon will be in attendance to present a New York State Assembly Proclamation in recognition of this meaningful event and the incredible work being done to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.