Behind every One Small Step is an unsung hero.
Following up with one more sponsor. Filling prize baskets at the kitchen table. Wondering if anyone will actually show up. Arriving before sunrise to unload tables.
Most people never see those moments.
Today, we're celebrating the people who've been doing it for more than a decade.
In the 15 years since One Small Step began...
- More than $30 million has been invested in PWS research through FPWR
- 309+ research projects have been funded.
- Multiple clinical trials have launched.
- The first FDA-approved treatment for hyperphagia became available.
- Gene-targeted therapies have entered development.
None of these milestones happened because of one particular fundraiser, but through years of collective commitment.
The Legacy Hosts you're about to meet have played an important part of that story.
Mike & Lisa Matesevac
Lawrenceville, Georgia • Hosting since 2015
Each November, One Small Kick brings the Georgia community together with handcrafted trophies, an epic raffle, and an inclusive kickball tournament where everyone has a place on the field. Mike has never met a donation request he wasn't willing to make, while Lisa keeps fundraising front and center, pairing her passion for research with heartfelt advocacy.
Their son, Evan, is taking college courses, a reminder of why this work matters, and why their family continues investing in research year after year.
When we asked Mike what inspired him to take the first step, he said, “Research! Nothing changes without it. I had never heard of PWS before my son’s diagnosis. To me, it’s important that more people know about it, and that will lead to more awareness, more research, more understanding, more treatments.”
—Mike Matesevac
Teresa Walker
Avon, Indiana • Hosting since 2015
Teresa believes deeply in what One Small Step can do for her daughter, Emma, and for every family living with PWS.
She has a remarkable way of making every volunteer, donor, and newly diagnosed family feel like they belong. She celebrates every milestone, cheers on every fundraiser, and makes it clear that everyone has something meaningful to contribute.
“They say you can't pour from an empty cup—hosting a walk fills my cup! It lights my fire and keeps me focused on our collective goal. When we finish our walk every year, we have the biggest sense of accomplishment. We did SOMETHING! We fight for them and with them and it feels so good to be part of the solution!”
—Teresa Walker
Katie Larson & Heather Osterman
Deerfield, Illinois • Hosting since 2013
Katie and Heather have created an event families can count on. Live music fills the park, participants race toward face painters and balloon artists, raffle tickets are tucked into pockets, and familiar faces greet one another like old friends.
Behind the scenes, they've made hosting fundraising walks look easy.
One thing that never changes? The vibes: come as you are, reconnect with your community, and take one small step for PWS research.
“I am most proud of the families we have been able to bring together. Many families we've seen for years, and every year, new families come out!”
—Heather Osterman
Dominique Deleage
Washington, DC • Hosting since 2013
Dominique Deleage launched One Small Step DC with a simple goal: bring the PWS community together. Since then, she's returned year after year, providing steady leadership that has made the walk a lasting tradition.
Along the way, she's welcomed others into leadership, including Allison Shelton, Rachel Petterson, and Amanda Click, creating a team that's helped carry the event forward.
With a simple format centered on what matters most—coming together as a community—the DC team is proof that legacy isn't always about making things bigger or flashier. Sometimes it's about creating something meaningful enough that others want to be part of it.
"Declan wasn't even out of the hospital when my mom found the very first One Small Step DC. Meeting my future co-host, Dominique Deleage, and the other PWS families gave us our first true injection of hope for Declan's future. Being part of One Small Step and the FPWR community throughout these past 15 years has made all the difference. We support each other, trade advice and strategies, and are simply there for one another."
—Allison Shelton
The Viroslav Family
San Antonio, Texas • Hosting since 2012
As one of FPWR's founding members, Dr. Alice Viroslav helped build the foundation for the research movement we know today.
Fifteen years ago, she and her family brought that same commitment to One Small Step San Antonio, creating an event that has become one of the program's longest-running and most impactful fundraisers.
Year after year, the Viroslav family has brought their community together around a shared belief: research changes lives. Their unwavering commitment has advanced discoveries, strengthened FPWR, and inspired others to invest in a brighter future for people with Prader-Willi syndrome.
“We have gone from a few determined moms with no resources to a well-established group funding meaningful research.”
—Dr. Alice Viroslav
Passing the Torch
Hillsboro, Oregon • Since 2012
Legacy isn't always about how long you host. Sometimes, it's about building something that lasts beyond you.
Thanks to the foundation laid by longtime host Diane Schantin, grandma to Austin, One Small Step Northwest entered a new chapter this year under host Staishya Siller, mom to Axel.
Every Legacy Host was once a first-time host. And every lasting tradition depends on someone willing to take the next step.
"I love what One Small Step represents, and being part of something with such a big impact has been really special."
—Staishya Siller
Thank You, One Small Step Hosts
Every Legacy Host started the same way: one decision to say yes.
Years later, that decision has become traditions, lifelong friendships, and a community committed to investing in PWS research. That's the kind of legacy worth celebrating.
Thank you for every small step, early morning, every raffle basket, and every year you've kept saying yes.
This movement is yours.
Thank you for building it, one small step at a time.
