NATIONWIDE — As World Down Syndrome Day approaches, one nonprofit hopes to raise $150,000 for adults seeking higher education.

Ruby's Rainbow grants scholarships for post-secondary education to adults living with Down Syndrome across the country. Since 2012, they've awarded more than $430,000.

The organization is named after Ruby Plachta, a 7-year-old, living with Downs.

Ruby's mom Liz noticed when she gave birth there weren't many organizations that catered to older people with Down Syndrome.

"I really wanted her to have the same opportunities that big sister will have some day, to go off to college live independently," said Plachta.

While navigating through the unexpected diagnosis of her daughter, Plachta began to realize how many opportunities that were out there for Ruby.

"I quickly just decided to let her guide me and show me and teach me what she could do," she said.

That realization sparked a bigger goal beyond her daughter's higher education.

"In the last six years, we've been able to help 150 people," Plachta added. "They are going off and living their lives and doing all of these wonderful things that they thought they had to tuck under a rug."

Ruby's Rainbow is asking the community to pledge $21 dollars for their cause from now until World Down Syndrome day on Wednesday, March 21.

World Down Syndrome Day is Wednesday, March 21. You can find out more by visiting 321pledge.org.