When my Uncle Lenny Ben was born in the 1930’s, his parents were told to put him in a home, he’ll be dead by age 30 anyhow. Instead, they brought him home and gave him a world of love and acceptance where he belonged to a large, loving family, where he had jobs and chores like everyone else, where he knew he had a place in this world where he was loved and where he belonged. Food, water, and shelter are just the tips of the iceberg when it comes to human needs. We need to feel acceptance, to feel a belonging to something larger than ourselves and we need a connection to other people. We also need to be needed. We need to have a role, a reason to be. As a result of being provided these things, Lenny Ben didn’t just survive, he thrived and lived over two lifetimes of what those doctors predicted. Sadly, we lost him in 2009 at age 75. Not everyone is as lucky as Lenny Ben and those basic human needs haven’t changed.  GiGi’s Playhouse McHenry County provides a place of acceptance and belonging, of learning and understanding, of fun and socializing for children and adults with Down Syndrome and they provide it all at no cost to their participants. Please join me in raising money for this wonderful place. Join Team Lenny Ben and run with us by clicking here: https://support.gigisplayhouse.org/fundraise/team?ftid=79128 or please donate and help provide that place of loving acceptance for our friends with Down Syndrome to go and thrive!