Gerber Baby For 2018 Is First With Down Syndrome

Gerber's "spokesbaby" for 2018 is the first baby with Down syndrome to become the face of the brand. The company announced on Wednesday that 18-month-old Lucas from Dalton, Georgia, won the judges over and was chosen from more than 140,000 entries.

Being the 2018 Gerber "spokesbaby," Lucas' family will receive $50,000 and will be featured on the company's social media channels throughout the year.

"This is such a proud moment for us as parents knowing that Lucas has a platform to spread joy, not only to those he interacts with every day, but to people all over the country," Cortney Warren, Lucas' mom, said in a press release. "We hope this opportunity sheds light on the special needs community and educates people that with acceptance and support, individuals with special needs have the potential to change the world — just like our Lucas!"

Lucas' dad, Jason Warren, told the Today show he hopes that by Lucas being the face of Gerber it will shed light on the special needs community and will help more individuals with special needs be accepted and not limited.

Warren said she entered Lucas into the Gerber contest on a whim, she told Today. She entered the winning photo of Lucas in a bowtie through Instagram.

Lucas loves a cappella and he recently learned to clap. His mother, Cortney, works part-time and his father, Jason, has been in the Georgia National Guard for six years as a helicopter mechanic.

"Lucas' winning smile and joyful expression won our hearts this year, and we are all thrilled to name him our 2018 Spokesbaby," Bill Partyka, president and CEO of Gerber, said in a press release. "Every year, we choose the baby who best exemplifies Gerber's longstanding heritage that every baby is a Gerber baby, and this year, Lucas is the perfect fit."

Gerber launched its photo search in 2010 after the company would continuously receive photos from parents who believed their child should be the next "Gerber baby." The first Gerber baby, Ann Turner Cook, recently became the face of Gerber's logo.

Cook offered her congratulations to Lucas and his family, adding that she looked forward to watching him grow over the year.

Photos courtesy of Gerber