Dear Friends,

It is an honor and pleasure to serve you as the next President and Chairman of the Jerome Lejeune Foundation USA. I’d like to thank my friend, David Lejeune, for his effective and tireless work over the last six years.

The cause is close to my heart. My daughter, Rose, was born on Christmas Day six years ago with Down syndrome. Rose is a gift far beyond my family’s expectations, even if at first we did not know what to expect. We need more gifts like Rose.

Dr. Jerome Lejeune sought to reorient science to life. When we place science at the service of the person, we create a healthy society. Inverting that relationship invariably creates unhealthy consequences, including substandard levels of care for those with disabilities. To heal the fractured relationship of science to life, we must rediscover the inherent and inviolable dignity of the human person. But where do we begin?

Following Dr. Lejeune’s legacy, it is our foundation’s goal to provide an abundant life for persons with genetic-based intellectual disabilities through a world-class model of care from the moment of pre-natal diagnosis to the end of a happy life. And, like Dr. Lejeune, we will do it one patient and one family at a time. That is the goal.

So, we know where to begin. We heal the fracture by caring for those who need it most. And we do it despite the challenges, sleepless nights, and worries. We discover that when we make a gift of ourselves, we are rewarded by a far greater and inestimable gift in return. If you have witnessed the sweet, smiling face of an inherently beautiful child with Down syndrome, then you know something of the gift I am talking about. In my life, that smile has solved a lot.

On behalf of our team, thank you for your continued prayers, time, and support. I look forward to hearing from you as we begin our work anew.

Sincerely,

Daniel C. Schreck, President and Chairman
Jerome Lejeune Foundation USA