LEXINGTON, S.C. — Sixty participants spent Saturday on a basketball court in Lexington sinking free throws to collect donations for Down Syndrome Families of the Midlands, a nonprofit that supports families across the region.
The event, called Free Throws with a Purpose, filled six hours at Meadow Glen Middle School, starting at 10 a.m., while volunteers cheered from the sidelines. Organizers billed it as the third annual edition of the shoot-out, and they had put out a call for both participants and volunteers ahead of the day.
The group set a goal of $25,000. The money is meant to pay for the organization’s first conference, planned for next year, with Liz and Ruby Plachta of Ruby’s Rainbow lined up as keynote speakers. Organizers said the conference is meant to offer local families resources, support and inspiration.
The nonprofit was founded in 2023 and describes its mission as bringing together, empowering and celebrating people with Down syndrome along with those who love them. Saturday’s fundraiser landed in October, which is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
Leaders of the group said they want deeper ties across the community, including with people who have no direct connection to Down syndrome but simply want to back a good cause.
Filed under: Lexington SC Neighborhood News
