For fans, players and coaches, it tends to feel like there’s nothing more important than wins and losses, that there is NOTHING worse than a playoff collapse, a blown save or a losing season.
Well, it’s a novel concept, but the truth is that there are some things that are bigger than sports, and last Saturday night proved that.
Last weekend at the Colorado Convention Center, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation threw their annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself fashion show, an amazing event where amazing people get to be beautiful and be themselves on the runway — the fact that they suffer from Down Syndrome is nearly forgotten during the festivities.
The models are escorted down the catwalk by a slew of big-name celebrities including Denver athletes Carlos Gonzalez, Kenneth Faried and Brandon McManus. Not to mention actors such as Jamie Foxx and Terrence Howard.
Check out some of the awesome pictures from the night:
The stars are out tonight to show their support for The Global Down Syndrome Foundation! #BBBY15 pic.twitter.com/GzJKdG92At
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 25, 2015
Una noche increíble apoyando esta gran causa con La Fundación Global de Síndrome de Down #Ri5e pic.twitter.com/jMfIrgPrVf
— CarGo (@CarGo5) October 25, 2015
The Manimal has moves on the runway, too! #BBBY15 #Nuggets pic.twitter.com/2ufgdmHZUr
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 25, 2015
Awesome time walking down the runway with Andrew at @GDSFoundation Be Beautiful Be Yourself FashionShow #BBBY15 pic.twitter.com/JVhGgbOkGs
— Brandon McManus (@thekidmcmanus) October 25, 2015
All these athletes follow in the footsteps of Rockies pitcher Kyle Kendrick, who’s “Kendrick’s Krew” helped bring awareness to the Special Olympics-Colorado and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.
As we detailed earlier this month, Kendrick’s work earned him a nomination for the MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award, given to “a player that best exemplifies the game of baseball through sportsmanship and in his individual contribution to his team. But the award is also about what the player does off the field – his commitment to community and understanding the value of helping others.”
Kendrick isn’t expected to be back in Denver for another season, but that doesn’t mean he’s leaving the city without a role model. Whether it’s CarGo, Faried or someone else, it’s clear that Colorado has some amazing athletes.