Lauren Costabile
Lauren Costabile is a Catholic speaker, fierce advocate for Down syndrome and founder of Hearts of Joy International, a non profit that provides life saving heart surgery for individuals with Down syndrome. Due to poverty and lack of resources in developing countries, children are not given access to proper medical care. After traveling to Uganda, East Africa and seeing the need first hand and witnessing how individuals with Down syndrome are disregarded and seen as a burden to society, Lauren was inspired to start a program to help. Hearts of Joy International also offers resources, support and education to communities, orphanages, caregivers and parents on the inherent dignity and value of the child. Lauren is also an alumna of the 2016 GIVEN Forum.