Jamie Foxx is honoring his sister DeOndra Dixon, who died unexpectedly nearly a month ago, with the creation of a foundation in her name.
Michelle Sie Whitten, founder Global Down Syndrome Foundation, announced during the annual Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show on Saturday, that she and Jamie, along with DeOndra’s surviving family and the Sie family, will be creating The DeOndra Dixon Fund in her honor.
Dixon, who had Down Syndrome and was a Special Olympics athlete, was the inspiration behind Global’s highest honor, the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award. She was recognized by the Foundation in 2011 when they made her their ambassador.
The annual event, now in its 12th year, was held virtually for the first time and raised a record-breaking $1.9 million.
Celebrity guests at Saturday’s event included Caterina Scorsone, Eric Dane, Kevin and Matt Dillon, Jeff Probst, Amanda Booth, Zack Gottsagen, Philip Phillips, Quincy Jones, John C. McGinley and Beverly Johnson.
As the largest fundraiser for Down syndrome in the world, the BBBY fashion show has now raised a cumulative $22 million. Proceeds from the event help underwrite life-changing and life-saving research and medical care at Global’s affiliates — the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome and Rocky Mountain Alzheimer’s Disease Center.
By George Costantino
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