Facebook Pixel tracker hidden image 2021 AcceptAbility Gala | Global Down Syndrome Foundation

2021 AcceptAbility Gala

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A VIRTUAL fundraiser for the

GLOBAL DOWN SYNDROME FOUNDATION

funding life-changing research and life-saving medical care for children and adults with Down syndrome

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

7:00 PM ET – VIP Reception | 7:30 PM ET – Program & Performance

Emcees

Kyra Phillips, Award-winning Journalist, ABC News
John Roberts, Co-Anchor of ‘America Reports with John Roberts & Sandra Smith,’ Fox News

Featuring

2021 Honorees

Honoree Photo
Caroline Cardenas
2021 Ambassador
My name is Caroline Cardenas, and I am 17 years old. I live in Dallas, Texas with my mom, dad, three sisters, and my dog, Luka. My sisters are my best friends: Grace is in college, Emily is going to college this year, and Claire is in high school. They always make time to hang out with me. The whole family loves to play board games, play Wii sports, watch movies, and eat ice cream together!
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Honoree Photo
Caroline Cardenas
2021 Ambassador
My name is Caroline Cardenas, and I am 17 years old. I live in Dallas, Texas with my mom, dad, three sisters, and my dog, Luka. My sisters are my best friends: Grace is in college, Emily is going to college this year, and Claire is in high school. They always make time to hang out with me. The whole family loves to play board games, play Wii sports, watch movies, and eat ice cream together! When I was born, my parents found out that I have Down syndrome. They immediately started working to make sure I could do all the things my sisters could, and to make sure I received the best education. My school, the Notre Dame School of Dallas, has the best teachers! I study all the normal stuff - math and social studies are my favorites. We also learn skills like grocery shopping, doing laundry, and cooking meals. We practice our job skills in the classroom and at workplaces around Dallas! My closest friends go to school with me, and we have tons of fun together. We go to dance class, Young Life events, and we play sports, like golf, tennis, basketball, soccer, and cheerleading. Our world- famous cheerleaders even performed in the World Special Olympics last year! Proms and dances are the most fun, we love to get dressed up and sing and dance. This year we had to wear masks to the prom, but no one cared - we still had a blast. And with COVID almost over, we get to go to summer sleep-away camp again this year! One of my favorite things is working at Howdy Homemade Ice Cream once a week, taking care of the store and cleaning up. Because of COVID, we had to take a break from working there, but I hope to start again in the fall. I love learning job skills, and after graduation I hope to get a job earning real money! My family wouldn’t change a thing about me they love me so much. I have a great school, friends, a future job, and touch wood, I am healthy. But I know that for many with Down syndrome this is not the case. We also know as I get older, I will benefit from GLOBAL’s fight for more research and medical care funding – we deserve to live longer, healthier lives! That is why I am so proud to be the GLOBAL Ambassador. Please join me in supporting GLOBAL so we have a chance to reach our true potential and to live our dreams!
Honoree Photo
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
2021 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award recipient
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard was elected to the House of Representatives in 1992 and is currently serving her 15th term. She is the first Latina member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, which held a hearing on Down syndrome research in October 2017. Global Down Syndrome Foundation President and CEO Michelle Sie Whitten and self-advocate Frank Stephens both testified at the hearing. During that hearing, Rep. Roybal-Allard, a member of the Congressional Task Force on Down Syndrome, expressed her support for continued federal research on Down syndrome.
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Honoree Photo
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
2021 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award recipient
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard was elected to the House of Representatives in 1992 and is currently serving her 15th term. She is the first Latina member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, which held a hearing on Down syndrome research in October 2017. Global Down Syndrome Foundation President and CEO Michelle Sie Whitten and self-advocate Frank Stephens both testified at the hearing. During that hearing, Rep. Roybal-Allard, a member of the Congressional Task Force on Down Syndrome, expressed her support for continued federal research on Down syndrome. Before the hearing began, the congresswoman had an opportunity to meet with constituents and GLOBAL advocates Jose Gomez and Susana Cisneros and their son, self-advocate, Jose. She was so impressed with their stories and what she learned at the hearing that she gave a speech before the House on the need for increased research and improved care for people with Down syndrome. During her speech, she remarked, “These young Americans are teaching our country about the value of diversity and inclusion, while at the same time increasing the happiness quotients of those lucky enough to be in their very wide circle of friends.”
Honoree Photo
Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
2021 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award recipient
Congresswoman Herrera Beutler was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 and is one of the youngest women currently serving in Congress. Prior to her election, she served in the Washington State House and, before that, was a senior healthcare aide to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). Rep. Herrera Beutler earned her bachelor ’s degree from the University of Washington and is the first Hispanic in history to represent Washington state in the U.S. House.
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Honoree Photo
Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
2021 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award recipient
Congresswoman Herrera Beutler was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 and is one of the youngest women currently serving in Congress. Prior to her election, she served in the Washington State House and, before that, was a senior healthcare aide to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). Rep. Herrera Beutler earned her bachelor ’s degree from the University of Washington and is the first Hispanic in history to represent Washington state in the U.S. House. During her time in Congress, Rep. Herrera Beutler has focused on improving health care for mothers and babies, including co - founding the bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus, the first of its kind in Congress. Rep. Herrera Beutler has also been a strong advocate for helping medically complex children receive access to quality and affordable health care. In a 2018 subcommittee hearing, she stressed the importance of equal treatment for those with Down syndrome and was very upset by reports of “eliminating” Down syndrome in Denmark and Iceland. Rep. Herrera Beutler has written and championed bipartisan legislation to require expectant parents to be informed about the risks and alternatives to widely used prenatal screening tests and to improve safety for pregnant or breastfeeding women who must take prescription medications. She has served on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies since 2017, where she has prioritized cur es for diseases, opioid abuse, and workforce training.

2021 Special Guests

Special Guest Photo
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers
(R-WA)
Special Guest Photo
Congressman Pete Stauber
(R-MN)
Special Guest Photo
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
(D-CT)
Special Guest Photo
Matt Perin
Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Kroger

Thank you to our 2021 Supporters

Silver – $10,000

Anna & John J. Sie Foundation
American Express
Comcast NBCUniversal
JMA Solutions

Top Billboard – $6,000

David Egan & Family
Discover Financial Services
Facebook
Mastercard
Merck
The Mullen Family
NCTA
PwC
John and Cornelia Stephens
Valero
Visa
Williams & Jensen

Platinum – $25,000

Caroline Cardenas &
Family
Kroger

Gold – $15,000

PhRMA
UnitedHealth Group

About 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 2,000 patients with Down syndrome from 28 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 150 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 Testing and Information about Down Syndrome, and the award-winning Down Syndrome WorldTM magazine. GLOBAL also organizes the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world. Visit globaldownsyndrome.org and follow us on social media (Facebook & Twitter: @GDSFoundation, Instagram: @globaldownsyndrome).

By registering, attending, or viewing at any time the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s (the “Foundation”) AcceptAbility Gala virtual event, or any reproductions, derivate works, or related content thereof (the “Event”), you agree to be bound by the following terms. You agree that the Event may contain copyrighted, trademarked or proprietary information or content protected by intellectual property or other laws. You agree to not instigate, maintain, or authorize any action, claim, or lawsuit against the Foundation, or any other person, on the grounds that the Event infringes any intellectual property rights or related laws. The Foundation does not make any express or implied warranties, endorsements, or representations whatsoever as to the Event or its content. You agree that the Foundation shall in no event be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or exemplary damages arising directly or indirectly from the Event. You hereby grant the Fountain the right to record, film, live stream, photograph, or capture your likeness in any media in connection with the Event and to distribute, broadcast, or use such media without any further approval by or compensation to you. You agree to not record, rebroadcast, repost, retransmit, or reproduce the Event, any of its content, or any portion thereof without the express written permission of the Foundation. Any public sharing, redistribution, or reproduction of the Event or any portion thereof in any form is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the Foundation. The Foundation intends to pursue any and all remedies available to it under law or equity in response to any breach of these terms.

Natasha Bedingfield’s appearance arranged through Gotham Artists.

ACCEPTABILITY GALA VIEWING GUIDE

ACCEPTABILITY GALA DIGITAL PROGRAM

2021 GALA COMMITTEE

Jan Adams
President & CEO, JMA Solutions

Kevin Brennan
Principal, Bluebird Strategies

David Egan
Author, Advocate & Inspirational Speaker

Natalie Farr
Government Relations, Subject Matter

Erin Book Mullen
Associate, Williams & Jensen, PLLC

Matthew Perin
Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Kroger

Cliff Riccio
Vice President, Government Relations, NCTA

Julie Riccio
Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy Director, PwC

Frank Stephens
Author, Actor, and Advocate

Marissa Watkins
Deputy Vice President, Advocacy and Strategic Alliances, PhRMA

Amy Best Weiss
Vice President of Government Affairs, American Express

2021 CONGRESSIONAL HOSTS

Senator Roy Blunt
Congresswoman Cheri Bustos
Congressman Tom Cole
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Congressman Pete Sessions
Congressman Pete Stauber

2021 HONORARY CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE 

Congressman Troy Balderson
Senator Michael F. Bennet
Senator Sherrod Brown
Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D.
Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr
Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark
Congressman Jason Crow
Senator Steve Daines
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler
Senator John Hickenlooper
Congressman Jim Himes
Congresswoman Ashley Hinson
Congressman Doug Lamborn
Congressman Kevin McCarthy
Senator Jerry Moran
Congressman Ed Perlmutter
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard
Senator Chris Van Hollen

LIVE AUCTION DONORS

Four Seasons Vail
Grand Hyatt Vail
The Whitten Family

 

ACCEPTABILITY GALA MEDIA

Press Contact:
Anca Elena Call 
Email: acall@globaldownsyndrome.org
Cell: 720-320-3832

GLOBAL Celebrates Tripling of Down Syndrome Research Budget at the NIH

Congress & NIH Prioritize Down Syndrome Research Funding in 2018 Budget

Watch Frank Stephens’ Congressional Testimony