Press Releases:
For Immediate Release: 5/16/23
Suzi Beall Shaw
President
22q Texas, Inc.
(214) 405-2817
(512) 909-8359 (Spanish)
contact@22qTexas.org
22q Texas, Inc. Celebrates 22q at the Zoo Worldwide Awareness Day in a Big Way
Local nonprofit supporting individuals and families affected by 22q11.2 chromosome syndromes hosts 9 statewide events to raise awareness of common but little know genetic condition.
Dallas, TX: Join us this Saturday, May 20th and Sunday, May 21st for 22q at the “Zoo” Worldwide Awareness Day as family, friends and medical professionals come together to fellowship and raise awareness of 22q11.2 syndromes (note most Texas locations are not at a zoo). The day of fun and solidarity will allow families to enjoy various activities and make new friends who share a common bond. For many it will be their first time meeting another family living with these syndromes. Participants will be recognizable by their red, “22q at the Zoo” t-shirts and “Ask me about 22q” buttons. Texas hosts more events than any other state in the USA, and more than any other country in the world!
Events Saturday, May 20, 2023
• Austin Area- Safe in Austin, 14601 Honeycomb Dr., Leander TX 78641 (2:00-4:00 p.m.)
• Rio Grande Valley- Gladys Porter Zoo, 500 Ringgold St., Brownsville TX 78520 (9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
Events Sunday, May 21, 2023
• Abilene/Hawley- May Farm, 7933 US Highway 277 S, Hawley, TX 79525 (2:00-4:00 p.m.)
• Beaumont- Gator Country, 21159 FM 365 Rd., Beaumont TX 77705 (11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
• Dallas/Fort Worth- Cathy’s Critters Hands On Humane Education Farm, 7422 CR 466, Princeton, TX 75407 (1:00-3:00 p.m.)
• Greater Houston- Old McDonald’s Farm, 3203 FM 1960 Rd. E, Humble, TX 77338 (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
• San Antonio- Morgan’s Wonderland, 5223 David Edwards, San Antonio, TX 78233 (11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
• Temple/Waco- Spare Time Texas, 5434 205 Loop, Temple, TX 76502 (1:00-3:00 p.m.)
• Tyler- Times Square Grand Slam, 5201 S. Broadway Ave., Ste. 170, Tyler, TX 75703 (1:00-3:00 p.m.)
22q at the Zoo Worldwide Awareness Day began in 2011 when The International 22q Society initiated the event. The event now includes participants from more than 115 cities in twenty-four countries across six continents. 22q is a very common yet poorly recognized genetic syndrome. It is caused by missing or duplicated genetic material on the 22nd chromosome. There are hundreds of ways children with this syndrome are affected. While no child is affected exactly the same, common issues include developmental delays, learning differences, speech abnormalities and often times, life threatening conditions like congenital heart defects and severe immunodeficiency. Early diagnosis and interventions can have a huge impact on the lives of these resilient children. For more information, visit 22q.org or 22qtexas.org