Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society host 10th annual Night of Champions

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s not Christmas, but it’s just as magical, because it is the night an entire community sits spellbound while listening to emotional testimonies, dedications and inspiring stories that better make me cry!

Arriving at the Savannah Convention Center armed with a small pack of Kleenex, I land on a pile of DIRTTbags! Yes - I have run into the 2018 World Trade Center Savannah “International Business of the Year” winners who are gathered around their champion Chris Maynor who “assembles and builds the hardware for modular wall solutions.”

After a hug from their fierce leader Laura Lee Bocade, Savannah State retail director Michelle Fox waves me over, LDSS’ Tom Kenkel and Kayla Johnson make a last minute walk through while one of their founders Candy Bogardus introduces me to her son’s Charlie and Mason.

Next up is one of tonight’s guest speakers John Lee and Mark X. Cronin of John’s Crazy Socks. Stoked to meet the father-son duo who have a self proclaimed message of spreading happiness while sporting wicked fun socks, I pause them for a quick pic with co-emcee Allyson Harvin and LDSS treasurer Brian Hussey.

With hundreds of local big shots like Savannah Morning News Event Planner Jen Hinton with her hero and husband Johnny, Effingham County’s biggest community supporters Scott and Laura Thompson then Karen Hancock with her effervescent daughter Kinzie – I am literally galloping through crowd to pause with Jamie Deen when I see Ammie Dover waving me over.

Loving the glamorous look of Ammie and Canada’s best import, Regan Drake, with their friends Anna Khaver and Tonya Weinbach, I rush through a photo before getting distracted by a rare social sighting of RISE Biscuits’ Shane Johnson.

Since day one, I’ve been a a fan of this local boy who started his first business here in Savannah with his mom. I loved him even more when I walked in and found EmployAbilities superstar Michelle Phoenix behind the counter. Proud to learn that he is a sponsor this year for his favorite charity, I tease Shane on sporting a suit and tie, meet his girlfriend Britni Gardiner and her daughter Harper Butts then get a tad bit amped when he tells about “daily hot donuts” debuting next month.

Next up, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office Beverly Hardee with their clerical assistant, Johanna and her grandmother Elfreda Castro pose for a photo. Hearing about Elfreda driving her granddaughter to her part-time job makes my heart happy and after wrangling Sheriff John Wilcher away from his buddies Mark and Bill Grainger, I get a perfect photo.

Speaking of the title sponsor, who knew that me introducing Grainger Nissan & Honda’s marketing manager Parla Parker to the CCSO would lead to such a magnificent charity partnership. Getting these three dynamic men to pause for a photo proves more difficult than I thought because everyone from model Amanda Calamari and Jennifer Hagan want pics.

Of course the night would not be complete if I didn’t snap a shot of Michael Holton! Posing with his dad Mikey, Tina and her beau Matthew Chance, Michael approves his photo before getting called over to meet more fans and I get a chance to catch up with anti-aging Jamie Deen.“I can’t tell how much it means to me to have my wife Terry and sons, Jack and Matthew here tonight,” shares the restauranteur.

After telling Savannah Convention Center’s Jamie Parks and Sherrie Spinks what a great job they have done for this magical event, I see a radiant Mary Mayle waving me over for a group pic with her daughter Meghan, but get detained by my good friend, Kicklighter’s Stacey Davis.

Standing in at 5 foot 11 inches, without heels, this executive director is my personal Southside angel and I can’t say nice enough things about a woman who has changed the entire fabric of a school that teaches children with different abilities.

It’s showtime! After introductions, speeches from Bitty & Beau’s founder Amy Wright and Crazy Sock’s John and Mark, Bill Grainger takes the mic and reminds us why we are all here. Listening to this powerful man passionately speak on how Iyaona Weathers changed the entire aura of a room by the sheer force of her personality makes me think that God sent down his own personal angels to give us all a chance to be happier, better people.

There simply isn’t another night like this. When you leave an event inspired by how we are all more alike than we are different and how one person can make a difference – it makes you want every night to be a night of champions. – It’s simply magical.

Invite Bunny to your gathering, gala or other social event. Contact Bunny at 912-844-1122 or email her at bunnyware@aol.com.