Previous Founders Award Winner

2022 Founder's Award Recipients Brent and Dana Bythewood

Brent and Dana Bythewood are the 2022 recipients of the Founders' Award, created in 2016 to honor Parent representatives who exemplify the vision set by our founders, Elise McMillan, Sheila Moore and Joanne Drumright. Brent and Dana, parents of Emily, are parent representatives that have gone above and beyond to welcome every family to the Down syndrome community. They ensure all families are aware of resources and information, and regularly put the needs of our families first. DSAMT often contacts them for families with prenatal diagnosis, congenital heart defects, and other complex medical issues. The Bythewoods have never said "no" to being parent representatives for any family no matter the situation and are often a support to other families within the community. In the few years since Emily’s birth, they have been parent representatives for more families than any other trained representatives in the same time period and are an asset not only to DSAMT but the entire Down syndrome community. Brent and Dana are not only parent representatives for DSAMT, Brent serves on the board of directors, and they are involved with and support many other organizations including Gigi's playhouse, Nashville and the Brett Boyer Foundation. Emily’s diagnosis and birth story is one of Hope. Dana and Brent share that hope with every family they meet. That story can be found in an article on the Epoch Times website.

2021 Founder's Award Recipient Christi Gould

Christi Gould is DSAMT's 2021 recipient of the Founders' Award, created in 2016 to honor a Parent representative who exemplifies the vision set by our founders, Elise McMillan, Sheila Moore and Joanne Drumright.

Christi is a parent representative who regularly puts the needs of our families first, has never turned down talking with or meeting a family, sets up meetings between parents in rural areas and very often notifies us of families in her area. She truly goes above and beyond with her visits to families, delivery of Celebration Bags, communicating the needs of families to DSAMT staff, and too many other examples to name.

2020 Founder's Award Recipient Anne-Marie Clark

April Booten is DSAMT's 2019 recipient of the Founders' Award, created in 2016 to honor a Parent Mentor who exemplifies the vision set by our founders, Elise McMillan, Sheila Moore and Joanne Drumright.

April is a parent mentor and Board Member who regularly puts the needs of our families first, makes sure we don’t miss any babies born or in the NICU at all the St. Thomas hospitals. She truly goes above and beyond with her visits to families, delivery of Celebration Bags, communicating the needs of families to DSAMT staff, coming to almost every DSAMT event and baby shower, and too many other examples to name.

2019 Founder's Award Recipient April Booten

Anne-Marie Clark is DSAMT's 2020 recipient of the Founders' Award, created in 2016 to honor a Parent Mentor who exemplifies the vision set by our founders, Elise McMillan, Sheila Moore and Joanne Drumright.

Anne-Marie is the president of DSAMT's Board of Directors and a parent mentor who is also Practice Manager at Clark Family Practice, where she and her husband, Rusty see many individuals with Down syndrome and their families for medical needs and concerns. In addition to attending most DSAMT events since the birth of Annabel, Anne-Marie has been parent mentor for many DSAMT families especially when those families have concerns about feeding or heart issues. She is often searching out resources for individuals she has met out in the community and is a well respected leader and confidant for DSAMT staff, families and friends.

2018 Founder's Award Winner Amber Hawkins

Amber Hawkins is DSAMT's 2018 recipient of the Founders' Award, created in 2016 to honor a Parent Mentor who exemplifies the vision set by our founders, Elise McMillan, Sheila Moore and Joanne Drumright.

Amber is an amazing parent mentor who has gone out of her way to support both new and experienced families, especially while they are at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. Often she is unable to share the wonderful work she is able to do and the help, resources, and support she provides to many hospitalized families due to confidentiality rules put in place by the hospital, but DSAMT hears of the wonderful discussions Amber has with families when they contact our staff or come to an event or baby shower. She has become known in the hospital as the person to bring in when it comes to supporting families of those with DS. She attends all the baby showers, goes out of her way to bring meals to families, and is a wonderful liason. DSAMT is honored to have such a great resource for families present at Vanderbilt to support all patients, but especially those with Down syndrome.

2017 Founder's Award Recipient Kristen Davis

Kristen Davis is DSAMT's 2017 recipient of the Founders' Award, created in 2016 to honor a Parent Mentor who exemplifies the vision set by our founders, Elise McMillan, Sheila Moore and Joanne Drumright.

Visiting and mentoring new and expecting parents, and helping families when they spend time at the hospital, is at the very core of what DSAMT is all about. Kristen is an amazing parent mentor for the support she provides families throughout their journey with Down syndrome. Kristen is especially helpful to those families who have received diagnosis of Leukemia or heart conditions. She willingly follows up to make sure their questions are answered and gone above and beyond to make sure that they are aware of all that is available for parents during their time of need. DSAMT is thankful for Kristen and the entire Davis family for their willingness to be open, share, and assist where it is needed most in the Down syndrome community!

2016 Founders Award Recipient Faithe Logan

Faithe Logan is DSAMT's first recipient of the Founders' Award, created in 2016 to honor a Parent Mentor who exemplifies the vision set by our founders (Elise McMillan, Sheila Moore and Joanne Drumright).

Visiting and mentoring new and expecting parents, and helping families when they spend time at the hospital, is at the very core of what DSAMT is all about. Faithe has made more visits than any other Parent Mentor, followed up to make sure their questions are answered and gone above and beyond to make sure that they are aware of all that is available for parents during their time of need. She has a heart of gold and cares so deeply for our extended Down syndrome "family," and DSAMT is truly grateful to her for all she does to help our community. She also serves on our Board of Directors, and became Board Vice President in 2017.

From every parent and all of us at DSAMT - thanks for all you do, Faithe!