Upstate Caring Partners to Host 2026 Buddy Walk at MVCC

Upstate Caring Partners, in partnership with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), will bring the annual Buddy Walk® back to Mohawk Valley Community College on Sunday, September 20, celebrating individuals with Down syndrome while raising awareness and support for programs benefiting individuals and their families.

Activities begin at 10 a.m. outside MVCC’s Alumni College Center, followed by welcoming remarks at 10:45 a.m. and the Buddy Walk at 11 a.m. Participants will follow a designated route around the Utica campus. There is no fee to participate, although donations will be accepted.

The morning will include entertainment, refreshments and family-friendly activities. Upstate Caring Partners’ pieces of heART program will lead an interactive collaborative art project that will be raffled at the conclusion of the event, while the Children’s Museum Mobile Museum will offer hands-on activities for visitors of all ages.

Old Dog Coffee Company will be on site with beverages available for purchase, and Big Papi’s Coquito Iceys will serve frozen treats. New York State Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon is also scheduled to offer remarks before the walk.

The Buddy Walk program was established by the National Down Syndrome Society to promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. Upstate Caring Partners has hosted the Utica-area walk for many years, with previous events at MVCC drawing hundreds of participants from across the community.

Upstate Caring Partners provides programs and services supporting people of all abilities and their families throughout Central New York. Its services reach more than 15,000 children and adults annually through locations across the region.

2026 Buddy Walk®
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Activities begin: 10 a.m.
Welcoming remarks: 10:45 a.m.
Walk: 11 a.m.
Mohawk Valley Community College
1101 Sherman Drive, Utica

Participation is free, and donations are welcome.

Learn more about Upstate Caring Partners

I also found the 2026 event listed publicly with the September 20 date and MVCC location

 

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