 Nick Inelli, WTOP News. They create unforgettable memories for people with Down syndrome and their peers, including in the D.C. area. And as WTOP's Shana Astulin tells us, the organization is celebrating a very big anniversary. I was 16 when we first started PALS. Jenny Newberry-Ross, co-founder of PALS, was inspired by her experience with her younger brother.