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. From 1994 to 2014 Burke 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, the group signed a record deal with
BMG Kidz 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". ==Filmography==