Our Story
After adopting two children with Down Syndrome, founder Kim Adams was inspired by the love and kindness her two children emanated. She knew from the moment she met her sweet Judy and Matt that she wanted to do more. That's when she came up with the idea for a nonprofit. With an immeasurable amount of hard work and help, Kim was able to form Gifts From the Heart For Downs, a 501(c)3 non-profit tax exempt organization. With the formation of this organization, Kim found herself accepting the greater challenge of making dreams come true for individuals with Down Syndrome. Since it's formation, Gift From The Heart For Downs has been able to grant over one hundred wishes. From meeting celebrities to birthday celebrations the organization has been tackling it all. Gifts From the Heart For Downs prides itself on love and passion to help others.
Board Members
Olivia Johnson, president
Olivia Johnson, president
Olivia Johnson, president
Olivia met Judy, Founder Kim's daughter, while in High School. Judy and Olivia rode the school bus together where they created life-long memories. The love Judy has for helping others has inspired Olivia to want to do more. Since meeting the Adams family, granting wishes and helping others has become a passion of hers. Olivia earned her
Olivia met Judy, Founder Kim's daughter, while in High School. Judy and Olivia rode the school bus together where they created life-long memories. The love Judy has for helping others has inspired Olivia to want to do more. Since meeting the Adams family, granting wishes and helping others has become a passion of hers. Olivia earned her Bachelors in Business with a concentration in Marketing from Southern New Hampshire University. Olivia enjoys being able to help provide special memories to wonderful people!
Kim Adams, Founder
Olivia Johnson, president
Olivia Johnson, president
Kim is the mother of two children with Down syndrome, whom she adopted as a single parent. Over the past 26 years, Kim has actively advocated for both of her children, and many others. Kims advocacy was and still remains a full time job. Kim has granted wishes for individuals with Down Syndrome for the past 10 years. From raising money t
Kim is the mother of two children with Down syndrome, whom she adopted as a single parent. Over the past 26 years, Kim has actively advocated for both of her children, and many others. Kims advocacy was and still remains a full time job. Kim has granted wishes for individuals with Down Syndrome for the past 10 years. From raising money to purchase iPad’s to trips to Disney World, Kim has worked to grant all forms of wishes. Besides raising her children and helping others Kim works part-time as a CT scan specialist. She has two licensing certifications, one as a radiology technologist and the other certification in CT. Additionally, Kim received her BA in psychology from Fordham University and has been working in the medical field for over 40 years.
Katerina pisciotta
Olivia Johnson, president
Katerina pisciotta
Katerina grew up in upstate New York in the same town as founder Kim and her daughter Judy with whom Katerina went to high school with. Katerina has always been interested in helping others and was part of a high school club that collected dimes to help Judy's "Dimes for Downs" fundraiser. It was then that Katerina realized the true meani
Katerina grew up in upstate New York in the same town as founder Kim and her daughter Judy with whom Katerina went to high school with. Katerina has always been interested in helping others and was part of a high school club that collected dimes to help Judy's "Dimes for Downs" fundraiser. It was then that Katerina realized the true meaning of helping others. Recently, Katerina has had the opportunity to get to know Kim and Judy and learn how she can help them help others. She has been an active supporter of fundraising efforts and enjoys to help anyway she can. Katerina currently studies Biology at SUNY Geneseo where she will graduate this year. Outside of college, Katerina is a Rugby player and an EMT where she continues to help others. Katerina is so excited to sit on the board of Gifts From The Heart For Downs so she can help others!
Judy Adams
Olivia Johnson, president
Katerina pisciotta
Judy is the 22 year old daughter of founder Kim Adams. Judy has been supportive of her mom since the beginning of the organization. At the age of 12 Judy started her own fundraiser "Dimes for Downs" to help her mom grant wishes. To date she has raised over 600,000 dimes. Judy has been featured on Disney’s “Make Your Mark”, the Jimmy Fa
Judy is the 22 year old daughter of founder Kim Adams. Judy has been supportive of her mom since the beginning of the organization. At the age of 12 Judy started her own fundraiser "Dimes for Downs" to help her mom grant wishes. To date she has raised over 600,000 dimes. Judy has been featured on Disney’s “Make Your Mark”, the Jimmy Fallon Show, the virtual “Pop up Show”, starred in the movie My Brother and did a visiting nurses of New York commercial. As a baby Judy was the cover of Baby Talk Magazine. Judy is very outgoing, energetic and eager to help anyone she can. She loves being able to be a part of helping others and granting wishes.