A 7-month-old from Calvert County has until Thursday night to finish first in her group in a national online contest, her supporters say. The way the voting works is worth understanding before anyone clicks.
Heidi Rubinoski, whom the Chronicle introduced in August when her photo was chosen for the National Down Syndrome Society’s Times Square video, has advanced to the group finals of Baby of the Year. Her entry page describes her as “the sweetest and toughest girl we know,” a baby who has Down syndrome and “brings a smile to every person she meets.” Voting for her group closes Thursday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. Pacific, which is 10 p.m. Eastern. When the Chronicle checked Tuesday, she was second in her group. Supporters say the top finisher advances to the quarterfinals.
How the voting works
Every person gets one free vote every 24 hours, after a Facebook or text verification step, according to the contest’s FAQ. Anyone who wants to cast more votes does so by donating. Heidi’s entry page lists packages from $10 (20 votes) to $250 (500 votes) during a limited-time double-vote promotion that ends tonight at 9 p.m. Pacific, which is midnight Eastern. Donation votes are tax-deductible, according to the FAQ, and carry a strict no-refund policy. The official rules bar families from buying votes for their own child.
Where the money goes
The contest is run by Colossal Management, LLC for DTCare, a registered public charity that grants proceeds to Baby2Baby, a national nonprofit that provides diapers, clothing and other basics to children in need. The rules say 36.5 percent of donations covers competition fees and costs. A 2024 investigation by 6abc’s Action News Troubleshooters found the contest is not a scam, confirmed Baby2Baby’s four-star Charity Navigator rating and noted that the fine print gives the organizer a license to use submitted photos. The organizer reports that its 2024 campaign produced a $24.4 million grant to Baby2Baby, according to a Variety partner-content piece, which means the figure comes from the organizer itself.
What the winner receives
The grand prize is $25,000 and a photo shoot valued at $5,000 in a Variety Magazine advertorial. The winner also appears in a national ad campaign with The Honest Company. Heidi’s entry says her family would use any prize money for medical expenses and a home purchase.
Why it resonates
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. According to the CDC, about 5,700 babies are born in the United States each year with Down syndrome, roughly one in every 640. Another Down syndrome family in DeLand, Florida told local television that a baby’s advancement gives families a chance to see a child with Down syndrome “represented and celebrated on a much larger platform.”
Heidi’s family can also point to local support. The Down Syndrome Association of Southern Maryland provides services year-round, and the Chronicle’s earlier coverage covers it.
The Chronicle has no relationship with the contest. A single free vote each day costs nothing, and anything beyond that is a donation. Voting for Heidi is at her entry page.
