Chicago, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/24/2012 -- Ryan Dempster, Chicago Cubs’ starting pitcher, together with the Dempster Family Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness of 22q11.2 deletion (DiGeorge Syndrome/VCFS), launched a bus wrap design project on crowdSPRING, the world's #1 marketplace for buyers and sellers of creative services who need custom logo design, web design, company names or other writing and design services, as part of a nationwide campaign to educate the public about 22q.

“The 22q deletion syndrome is a disorder caused by a missing section of chromosome 22,” said Ryan Dempster, Chicago Cubs’ starting pitcher, whose daughter Riley was born with the disorder in April 2009. “Present in one out of every 4,000 live births, symptoms range from mild to life-threatening. 22q deletion often goes undiagnosed but it is almost as common as Down syndrome, a widely recognized chromosomal disorder.”

Graphics designers worldwide are invited to review project details at www.crowdspring.com and to submit bus wrap designs through Wednesday, April 23. Foundation members will review the entries through April 30th. Dempster will select a winner the morning of May 9 and unveil the design later that evening at the 2012 Dempster Family Foundation Casino Night at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Chicago.

The winning designer will win a $1,000 USD award and the bus wrap will be seen nationwide on the 22q Awareness Tour, a traveling campaign that will cover more than thousands of miles in 2012 to educate the general public about 22q. Beginning on June 29, the 22q Awareness Tour will make appearances in metropolitan cities and rural towns at community festivals, local organizations and retail locations.

Fans are encouraged to visit the project at http://www.crowdSPRING.com regularly to see the design entries as they are submitted. As of April 11, nearly 45 designs have already been posted from designers worldwide. Dempster has interacted with designers on crowdSPRING, in-between pitching and taking care of his family.

“The importance of the campaign is heightened by the fact that 22q disorder is associated with approximately 180 different health and developmental issues,” said crowdSPRING co-founders Ross Kimbarovsky and Mike Samson. “crowdSPRING is committed to raising 22q awareness, and by partnering with the Dempster Foundation, we are able to help amplify the importance of 22q education.”

crowdSPRING regularly supports worthy non-profit organizations and charitable causes across the world through it’s Give Back program. As a result of its commitment to giving back, crowdSPRING has reached millions of people through its global marketplace.

About the Dempster Family Foundation
The Dempster Family Foundation provides financial support to charities in the Chicago area that assist and comfort critically ill children. The Foundation also supports youth baseball programs, military families and animal shelters; and promotes awareness of, and offers hope for families of children diagnosed with a 22q11.2 deletion. On the 22q side, the Foundation empowers organizations to help children with this disorder overcome difficult situations through: providing funding to continue research for early detection of this disorder in children; supporting programs about 22q that provide education, physical therapy and activity to promote long-term well being; creating initiatives that build and instill confidence in these children; and developing a 22q network for families affected by this disorder to share stories and help navigate healthcare options and treatment. For more information about the Foundation, please visit our website at http://www.dempsterfoundation.org.

About crowdSPRING
crowdSPRING is the world's #1 marketplace for custom logo design, web design, a new company name or other writing and design services. Entrepreneurs, small businesses, nonprofits and agencies simply post what they need, when they need it and how much they want to pay. Once posted, over 113,000 creatives from 200+ countries around the world submit an average of 110 options for the buyer to choose from until they find “the one.” crowdSPRING is a privately held company based in Chicago. To learn more on why crowdSPRING is trusted by more than 28,000 happy clients worldwide, visit http://www.crowdspring.com. To hear more about the world of small business, startups, design, marketing and business strategy, follow crowdSPRING’s blog, their Twitter stream or their Facebook page.