#WCW & Taylor Singmaster

“Find something that you have real heart ties to and give it a try.” – Taylor Singmaster

When I set out to do a giveaway several weeks ago, my intention was to share my love for beyondBeanie with others. Their incredibly soft, handwoven alpaca greatness and the good they do for women and children in Bolivia inspires me daily. Not to mention the wonderfully kind people working tirelessly behind the scenes to make a difference in the world; their story is an honor to share.

Little did I know that in doing something as simple as giving a beanie, my world would grow by so much. Taylor Singmaster won the beanie, but I equally won as she is one of the most passionate, giving people I have encountered. When life threw her a curveball in the loss of her father at young age, a surprisingly new door opened for her. As this week’s #WCW Series Spotlight, Taylor shares how her father still encourages her and how her life changed, thanks to a little boy named Jack.

Me: You dedicate a lot of your charitable endeavors to your father. In your most recent fundraiser, for PALS, an organization close to your heart,  you used his name in the URL rather than your own. Clearly you were very close with him. What is the significance in dedicating so much of your philanthropic efforts to his memory?

Taylor: This is actually something that’s been on my mind a lot lately. My dad passed away in an accident 6 years ago and it was a huge catalyst in my life. My dad taught by example – there was no goal he set that he did not both achieve and surpass. He somehow taught me that this was what I should strive for without ever deeming my failures as such. He supported me in so many ways and when he passed away I had to find a way to keep motivating and supporting myself. I try not to let this tragedy define my life. Most people who do big things with their life come from tough pasts. But remembering my dad, and keeping him on my mind and in my heart when I am doing something like fundraising, or finishing my thesis, reminds me of the woman he raised me to be and the woman I am continuing to be even in his (physical) absence. My thesis work (which I will touch on in a bit) is actually titled My Father’s Daughter. A lot of people have suggested other really amazing titles but this one just hits home. It means a lot to me to continue being his daughter.

Me: Your dedication to helping those with Down syndrome came about in an expected way. What started as a retreat to heal at an equine therapy farm, turned into a major shift in your life, thanks to a friendship that developed there with Jack. How did this friendship come about?  And how has it changed you?

Taylor: So, I have shown horses my entire life. My dad gave me my first horse when I was five and I continued to compete. Eventually, I was at a top level in the equestrian world even winning prestigious events like the All American Quarter Horse Congress (worlds largest single breed horse show) and the National Snaffle Bit World Championship. My horse, Bentley is my entire world. I love him indescribable amounts. He was the best gift my father ever gave to me and I have to say, I think my dad knew a little more than I did at the time. Through it all, Bentley has been my rock, my protector. When it was time for me to head to college and for Bentley to retire, he moved to the Gage’s family farm. I met Jack there. He was four and it had only been a few months since I lost my dad. But Jack showed me that beauty still existed and it was typically found in these moments I was passing by. He never let me be anything but the best version of myself and somehow that little boy with an extra chromosome helped me to save myself. Jack has taught me so much about how little our differences matter when it comes to love. They are what make us all unique and wonderful.

Me: Has charity and philanthropy always been something important to you? Or something that has developed later in life?

Question: My sister and I both inherited it from our mom. She is one of those people who always has the perfect gifts for everyone, she never goes anywhere empty handed, she’s cares for everyone. I was never really that interested in this sort of philanthropy until I lost a friend to suicide. Thats when it became really real to me that people needed more love and I had it to to give. When I met Jack, I was just his babysitter for the first few years. But my junior year at the University of South Carolina I started using my art – photography mainly – to tell different stories all in the vein of philanthropy. I started getting really inspired by projects like Born Into Brothels, and I realized that the context of my work wasn’t fine art, it was social documentary. For my senior show I focused on Down syndrome as a subject, but now that I have some experience under my belt I am realizing the best way to talk about acceptance is to actually not even talk about Down syndrome. So for my grad work, I am working on a film using new and archival footage exploring a series of personal relationships through themes like loss, growth, connection, empowerment etc. PALS was the first really philanthropic endeavor I set out on. But it has so fully enveloped my life now. Its been less than a year since I became a volunteer and the list is long when it comes to every way I have gotten involved. So, philanthropy found me later in life, but its sticking. I just officially accepted an offer to head to NYC this summer as an intern for 100cameras which is an organization that teaches photography and videography to children in marginalized areas as a form of self empowerment.

Me: In the time since your initial friendship with Jack, you’ve devoted a lot of your time, energy, creative talents and love to helping kids with Down syndrome through PALS. How has this affiliation changed your life?

Taylor: I could write forever about the ways it has influenced me. The first, biggest thing PALS did was the campers showed me there was nothing to be afraid of. I was always worried that the distance between Jack and I would become impassable as he got older. Now, I am so thrilled to see where life takes him and so grateful I get to be a part of that. Something else really great PALS gave me is mentors. Jenni Newbury Ross, the founder of PALS and Executive Director as well as Sarah Barnes, PALS Program Coordinator, are incredible women. The kind of people I hope I am shaping myself into. They have taught me so much about what can happen when you are passionate about something. The other volunteers never cease to amaze me either. Hundreds of counselors return every year to do this. And it is without a doubt the best week of everyones summer. I have a few friends at PALS that have changed my life so profoundly. A few counselors and campers that have passed best friend status and have a forever spot in my heart as family. Because of PALS I see new opportunities for myself as well as for Jack. Its been a really transformative experience. Im not sure many people ever have their lives altered so completely by a community like this – I feel so blessed mine has been.

Me: A lot of your work with PALS has you generously sharing your artistic talents and interests. What is one accomplishment that was tougher to pull off than initially expected, but well worth all the extra time and energy, once you were able to share it with the kids?

Taylor: I began my time with PALS Programs as part of the media team. It is still where my heart lies most. I love being able to sustain these memories for the people at camp, as well as give parents, friends and family at home a glimpse into all the fun we are having and the bonds that are forming. Its not an easy job though. I do everything with everyone all day with my camera in my hand. And then at night when everyone else is resting up for the next day or getting to socialize, the media team is hard at work. We post our photos and videos each day, so that means out turn around rate is crazy fast. Photos need to be uploaded and edited, videos need to be cut and made and put to music. But its all so worth it when you’re on the bus headed out the next morning and you hear people watching the videos you posted and saying how great they are. Or when a parent stands up at closing ceremonies to thank you and the rest of the media team because of the way you showed them how incredible their child’s week was. That means everything to me.

Me: For those that are not familiar with PALS Programs and the services they provide, what is the difference between a PALS Camp and a PALS Adventure?

Taylor: Camps are week long summer trips where a group of counselors and campers meet up at a college campus in one of currently eight locations and have the best week of their lives. An adventure is a weekend long “reunion”. They are year round and are an awesome time to get to see your friends and stay in touch, as well as for anyone who isn’t sure camp is the right fit for them, its a great test run. Since my first camp May 2014, I have attended three camps (Dallas, San Fran and Princeton) and I will have attended three Adventures (Great Wolf Lodge, New Years Eve which I was a co-leader of, and Hershey Park where I will also be a co-leader this May).

Me: You’re set to graduate this month with a masters degree combining both your passion for working with kids and helping those living with Down syndrome. How have people reacted to your chosen path in life?

Taylor: You get both sides. So many people are so supportive and really appreciate what I want to be doing. But of course there will always be those voices who tell me that a job in this world will be too hard. The non-profit world and the art world are alike in their typically low pay rate. But, I know that. And I didn’t make this choice lightly. My Masters degree will actually be in Photography. So the goal is to combine art and philanthropy. The internship I am taking on this summer is a really exciting start to getting into that world. Its exciting to see that the two concentrations do exist in a sphere together already and I am ready to make my mark on it.

I think the best reaction people have is when they ask how they can get involved. For example, my fundraiser. I raised thousands of dollars, which came from over 80 donors from all walks of life. People I hardly know jumped right in to be involved. My sister joined PALS because of me, and a few other friends are about to be counselors this summer because they heard me talking about it endlessly and decided they needed to try it out. I think the most amazing reaction anyone could have.

Me:  What is one stereotype of people living with Downs syndrome that you’d like to see undone during your lifetime?

Taylor: So much has improved tremendously, but we still have a long way to go. A world where a person is just a person and doesn’t need a label at all would be an amazing thing. I’m not sure what it will take to get us there and the fact is we are all different and we do all have unique needs. I think that makes it really hard for me to sit here and pick apart the way things should and should not be. There is also a lot of terminology that is still being used incorrectly. The R-word is by far my biggest pet peeve. Nothing upsets me more than when I hear it used in a degrading manner. It not only is hurtful to my friends, but its hurtful to everyone. Down syndrome, disability, less intelligent, having a rough day – hurtful words are so unnecessary. Another important one is when someone says “the Down syndrome girl/boy”. The person defines the disability, not the other way around… so you would say “the girl/boy who has Down syndrome”. I try not to let that stuff bother me though, old habits die hard and most people do it out of lack of knowledge, not lack of compassion. If you have a question, ASK. 100% wish more people who are unsure about people they assume are unlike themselves would just ask questions. They would probably realize we are all much more the same than we are different.

Me: As we’ve touched on already, you recently completed a very important fundraising mission. Not only did you end the competition raising the most funds out of everyone (total of $7,800), you won a very special prize for someone important to you. How did you meet AnnaRose and what inspired you to win this trip for her?

Taylor: AnnaRose is an incredible girl I met this winter through the PALS New Years Eve Adventure. My sister, who got involved with PALS because of me, met AnnaRose this summer at Camp PALS Philly, and when she heard I got to choose my camper for NYE (leader perk) she insisted I take Anna. It took about five minuets for AnnaRose and I to become amazing friends. She is fun, and hilarious and knows that life is a party and that she is a rockstar. In those three short days AnnaRose taught me more about how to live life than any friend ever has before her. She is extremely bright and very aware of the fact she has Down syndrome, but it doesn’t keep her from anything. She has five younger sisters and anything they can do, she knows she can do, maybe ever better. There are so many situations where she could have taken the “easy route”, but for her thats not an option. Something her mom posted once that has stuck with me is, “dance like everyone SHOULD be watching.” That’s the person AnnaRose taught me to be. I couldn’t be happier that I won this for her and Hershey Park better watch out because we are riding every roller coaster and eating every last drop of chocolate!

Me: What has been the most surprising part of this journey? The most inspiring?

Taylor: So many things. But I think its incredible how when you set out to do something generous for someone else, you somehow end up receiving just much. I had no idea PALS would be so influential when I applied. I thought I was doing something nice for a community that was important to someone I love, Jack. But I can donate all my time, and volunteer for everything possible, and be so immersed and involved and giving – and somehow I still get more back in return. I am constantly blown away by the friendships I have made. My best friends all live with their hearts wide open. Thats so rare, yet I know so many people like that. I’m incredibly fortunate. And at the end of the day, I got this all from a little boy who was four years old when I met him. Jack gave me this great big life. Something Jack’s dad said to me once that I will never forget is that people often look at lives like Jack’s and assume it is limited. So yeah, maybe he wont play for the NFL, and maybe school will always be a little harder for him, he will still meet milestones – just at his own pace. But Jack is here for a lot more than that. He has facilitated greatness in each life that he has touched. He’s influenced huge things, like an entire career change for me, and his parents therapy farm, thats all because of him. How many people can say they positively impacted another person like that? And he isn’t even double digits yet!

Me: What is the one piece of advice you would want to share with someone who wants to follow in your footsteps and use their own unique voice to give back?

Taylor: Say “yes!” and figure the rest out later. I didn’t expect PALS to change my life. And now, a year later, I can’t imagine my life without it. There are so many opportunities out there. Find something that you have real heart ties to and give it a try. Reach out to everyone and build strong connections with a great network. I went from a babysitting job, to a photo project, to PALS, to a masters thesis project and now am headed off to a major non-profit for an internship. The journey can be tough but nothing worth it comes easily.

Connect with Taylor on Instagram and  continue to follow her adventures here.