The Adams & Giannou Community Engagement Scholarship

About the Scholarship

Mission 

The mission of the Adams & Giannou Community Engagement Scholarship is to recognize individuals with Down Syndrome who are committed to enriching the lives of others.

History 

Marianna Adams and Natalia Giannou are sisters who grew up in Toronto, Canada. Marianna, who has Down Syndrome is the eldest of four siblings and is a tremendous role model in her family and community.

She has spent over 20 years contributing to her community by working with preschool-aged children, volunteering in her church, counseling children at camp, and lending a helping hand to those in need.  She has shown compassion to those around her by writing cards, making bracelets, spending time with the elderly, and those in need of a friendly face and open ears.  Her kindness, compassion, and intelligence are just a few of the things that make her so special.

We are celebrating Marianna and honoring her contributions by awarding a scholarship to five individuals who participate in their community.  There are so many people with Down Syndrome who are enriching the lives of others daily.  The recipient of this award will receive financial recognition.

Marianna Adams and Natalia Giannou

 

2023 Scholarship

Five deserving self-advocates who demonstrate a passion for supporting their local community through service or volunteering and who exemplify Marianna’s passion for helping others will be selected to receive a 2022 Adams & Giannou scholarship. Each recipient will receive $1,000.

Additional Information

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant Must:

  • Have Down Syndrome
  • Be 15 years or older
  • Demonstrated community involvement and volunteering

Application Questions

To apply, please provide the following:

  • Photos or videos of the individual with Down syndrome
  • Name, address, age, phone number and e-mail address. Self-advocates may apply for themselves or have someone complete the application for them.
  • Please tell us about yourself by submitting an essay or video highlighting your contributions to your community.
  • Letter of recommendation (download) from someone who is not a family member and can attest to the individual’s commitment to their community. Letters of recommendation can be sent to info@ndss.org.

Scholarships

  • Five self-advocates will receive the 2023 Adams/Giannou Scholarship
  • $1,000 will be awarded per recipient

Application Deadlines

You should complete the application as independently as possible by June 8, 2023.

You will receive an email confirmation that we received your application. If you have any questions about completing the application, please contact NDSS at info@ndss.org.

Photos and/or Videos
Please upload photos or video links that will help the review committee get to know you better.
Maximum 3 files.
10 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png.
Write a short essay about yourself or share a video that highlights your contributions to your community.
One file only.
100 MB limit.
Allowed types: txt, rtf, pdf, doc, docx, odt, ppt, pptx, odp, xls, xlsx, ods.
Letter of Recommendation - Use the enclosed form. (Letter of Recommendation should come from someone who is not a family member, such as a teacher, employer, co-worker, etc.) Download Letter of Recommendation
One file only.
100 MB limit.
Allowed types: txt, rtf, pdf, doc, docx, odt, ppt, pptx, odp, xls, xlsx, ods.