Америкалық Даун синдромы жақтасы және актер Кристофер Бёрк

American Down syndrome advocate

Christopher Joseph Burke (born August 26, 1965) is an American actor. He has become best known for his character Charles "Corky" Thatcher on the television series Life Goes On.

Burke has been the Goodwill Ambassador for the National Down Syndrome Society since 1994. He has starred in the organization's acclaimed public service announcements, including Tracey Ullman in 1999 and, more recently, for the "My Great Story" public awareness campaign with actor John C. McGinley and TV hosts Meredith Vieira and Nancy O'Dell. As a Goodwill Ambassador, he travels the country attending Buddy Walks, making public appearances, speaking with the press and greeting fans. When he is not on the road, Burke is a member of the National Down Syndrome Society's staff, working in their New York City office. Burke has delivered inspirational speeches around the world and continues to speak at schools, seminars, conferences and non profit organizations. From 1994 to 2014 he also toured the U. S. with his three piece musical group, Chris Burke with Joe and John DeMasi, for which he was the singer. Burke met his bandmates, twin brothers Joe and John DeMasi, when they were music counselors at the town of Hempstead, New York's ANCHOR program for individuals with disabilities, when Burke was a teenager. The group released four albums. Lollipops and Love Songs was released in 1993. In 1994, they signed a record deal with BMGKidz and released Singer with the Band. This was followed up by the release of Forever Friends, which won a Parents Choice Gold Seal for Excellence Award, and A World of Kindness in 1998. They also produced a two episode DVD for children called The Forever Friends Show and have appeared on television performing their signature song, "Celebrate." In 1991, Burke co wrote his autobiography, A Special Kind of Hero, with Jo Beth McDaniel. From 1994 to 2005, he was the editor in chief of News 'n Views and UpBeat, publications written by and for people with Down syndrome, and in 2009, he contributed to the National Down Syndrome Society's My Great Story campaign by writing his story, "Great Expectations".