Ocala resident to be featured in Times Square

Jasper Roman [Supplied]

One Ocala resident, Jasper Roman, has been chosen to represent the Down syndrome community as part of a video presentation that will premiere at Times Square in New York City on Sept. 9. 

Roman, a co-founder of the UniverseAbility Pageant, which aims to open up the world of pageantry to all people, will have his photo displayed on a Times Square billboard as part of a one-hour video showcasing 500 people with Down syndrome from all 50 states. 

“These collective images promote the value, acceptance, and inclusion of people with Down syndrome in a very visible way,” according to a press release from the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). 

The picture chosen of Roman is from when he became the first Prince UniverseAbility Ambassador as part of the pageant. The event is an outreach of the Ocala-based Champions for Champions nonprofit organization. 

The video presentation marks the beginning of the New York City Buddy Walk, an event to raise funds to support and raise awareness for the Down syndrome community. More than 150 Buddy Walks are held in cities all across the country and internationally. 

“(Roman’s) photo will be shown on two JumboTron screens in the heart of Times Square, thanks to the support of ClearChannel Outdoor,” according to the press release. “The two screens are located above Dos Caminos restaurant in Father Duffy Square.”

To view the presentation remotely, visit the NDSS Facebook page from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 9. To learn more about the pageant and all of the programs of Champions for Champions, find the organization on Facebook.