GLOBAL Raises $400,000 at their AcceptAbility Gala as Celebrities & Congress Step Out for People with Down Syndrome
2024年5月11日 - 6:35AM
Last night the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL)
held its sixth annual AcceptAbility Gala, DC’s largest
fundraiser for people with Down syndrome, that raised $400,000 to
support important research and medical care to improve the lives of
those who happen to have Down syndrome. Representatives
Richard
Hudson (R-NC) and
Lois Frankel (D-FL) received GLOBAL’s
highest honor, the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy
Award, and pledged their continued strong advocacy in Congress
that makes an impact on the lives of people with Down syndrome and
their families.
“At GLOBAL, we are working hard every day to elongate life and
improve health outcomes for our loved ones with Down syndrome,”
says GLOBAL Co-Founder, President, and CEO, Michelle
Sie Whitten. “Last night we brought together a room full of
bi-partisan support from Congress, NIH leadership,
self-advocates with Down syndrome, and corporate leaders, all
celebrating the impact of GLOBAL’s work. The joy and excitement at
our event and the tangible outcome of our work together is truly
rewarding!”
Held at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC, the event was
attended by GLOBAL awardee alum, Representative Cathy
McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and her son, GLOBAL Ambassador
Cole Rodgers. Representative Rodgers’ keynote speech deeply
moved the audience. Her determination to pass a game-changing
legacy bill, the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act, before her
poignant retirement from Congress was an important feature of the
evening. The bill will help ensure funding for Down syndrome
research and medical care from the NIH for years to come.
Celebrities passionate about the cause included
Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum singer/songwriter and actress
Jordin Sparks; actor, author and public
speaker Frank Stephens; author and public
speaker David Egan; and award-winning correspondent for
ABC News and anchor for ABC News LIVE Kyra Phillips and her
daughter Sage Roberts.
To recognize the transformative leadership of
Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the GLOBAL
Rosa DeLauro Advancement Award, with a post-secondary scholarship,
was provided to Damani Tichawonna from Washington, DC as was
the GLOBAL Tom Cole Advancement Award to Julia
Greene. Representative Rosa DeLauro was on-hand to personally
present both Advancement Awards to the deserving recipients,
leaving the audience inspired to do even more for people with Down
syndrome and their families.
With the help of GLOBAL Ambassador Isla
Eager and her family, Erin Book Mullen, and
co-chairs Julie Riccio and Amy Best Weiss, the
inspirational gala attracted 300 attendees and raised $400,000 for
GLOBAL’s life-saving research and medical care. GLOBAL supports
over 200 researchers on the Anschutz Medical Campus at the Crnic
Institute for Down Syndrome and at the Alzheimer’s and Cognition
Center, as well as 2,500 patients from 33 states and 10
countries at the Sie Center for Down Syndrome. For nearly two
decades, Down syndrome was one of the least federally funded
genetic conditions in the United States.
“People with Down syndrome enrich our world in unique ways,”
says Representative Hudson. “GLOBAL is paving the way for people
who are differently-abled so they can live their lives to their
full potential with no barriers or bias or obstacles standing in
their way. I am honored to support their efforts and to receive
this award, and will continue advocating for policies that improve
the lives of people with Down syndrome.”
“It was an honor to be with so many great advocates for Down
syndrome and to receive such a generous recognition,” says
Representative Frankel. “I am proud to support GLOBAL’s mission of
elongating life and improving health outcomes for people with Down
syndrome. Their AcceptAbility Gala was an inspiring evening that
reminds all of us that we must continue to make critical
investments in Down syndrome research to uphold the health and
dignity of every person.”
At the end of the evening, Jordin Sparks wowed the
audience not only with her beautiful voice but by connecting with
fans and bringing self-advocates with Down syndrome on stage while
performing an intimate, heartfelt performance of some of her
biggest hits including “No Air” and “One Step at a Time,” and
solo dancer Robert Wallop and inclusive
dance troupe RhythmXpress delighted attendees with
dance performances set to “Bones” by Imagine Dragons, “Firework” by
Katy Perry and “Fireball” by Mini Pop Kids.
Additional notables in attendance included Kim Owens from
the National Down Syndrome Congress and Dria Law from the
Down Syndrome Association of Southern New Jersey .
To learn more about GLOBAL,
visit www.globaldownsyndrome.org.
###
About the Global Down Syndrome Foundation
The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is the
largest non-profit in the U.S. working to save lives and
dramatically improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome.
GLOBAL has donated more than $32 million to establish the first
Down syndrome research institute supporting over 400 scientists and
over 2,400 patients with Down syndrome from 33 states and 10
countries. Working closely with Congress and the National
Institutes of Health, GLOBAL is the lead advocacy organization in
the U.S. for Down syndrome research and medical care. GLOBAL has a
membership of over 110 Down syndrome organizations worldwide and is
part of a network of Affiliates – the Crnic Institute for Down
Syndrome, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, and the University of
Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center – all on the Anschutz
Medical Campus. GLOBAL’s widely circulated medical publications
include GLOBAL Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down
Syndrome, Prenatal & Newborn Down Syndrome Information,
and the award-winning Down Syndrome World™ magazine.
GLOBAL also organizes the annual AcceptAbility Gala in
Washington DC, and the annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion
Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world.
- GLOBAL's Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Awardees
- 2024 AcceptAbility Gala Performer Jordin Sparks
Shawn Flaherty
Global Down Syndrome Foundation
703-554-3609
shawn_flaherty@creativestratpr.com