GLOBAL’s AcceptAbility Gala
About the AcceptAbility Gala
The 8th annual AcceptAbility Gala, Washington DC’s largest fundraiser for people with Down syndrome, raised $430,000 to support important research and medical care benefiting people with Down syndrome. The gala brings together policymakers from both sides of the aisle, key scientists from NIH, corporate sponsors with BIG hearts, celebrities, and the Down syndrome community for a night of inspiration.
2026 Highlights
PROGRAM HONOREES

CONGRESSIONAL HOSTS

Senator Steve Daines
Senator John Hickenlooper
Senator Jerry Moran
Representative Robert Aderholt
Representative Katherine Clark
Representative Tom Cole
Representative Diana DeGette
Representative Rosa DeLauro
Representative Lois Frankel
Representative Richard Hudson
Representative Pete Stauber
Delegate Elenor Holmes Norton
2026 EXCLUSIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Robert Wallop
Rachel Platten
RhythmXpress

ACCEPTABILITY GALA MEDIA
Press Contact:
Shawn Flaherty
Email: shawn_flaherty@creativestratpr.com
Cell: 703-554-3609
Alex Lee
Email: alee@globaldownsyndrome.org
Cell: 720-548-5631
Annapolis dancer changing narrative for people with Down syndrome
2x Special Olympics gold medalist brings award-winning moves from GLOBAL Foundation
Leesburg mom aims to raise awareness of the joys of parenting special needs children
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
Senator Deb Fisher
Senator Andy Kim
Senator Cynthia Lummis
Senator Ed Markey
Senator Lisa Murkowski
Senator Chris Murphy
Senator Patty Murray
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester
Senator Tim Sheehy
Senator Chris Van Hollen
Representative Jake Auchincloss
Representative Don Bacon
Representative Troy Balderson
Representative Nanette Barragán
Representative Tom Barrett
Representative Ami Bera
Representative Don Beyer
Representative Mike Bost
Representative Shontel Brown
Representative Julia Brownley
Representative Nikki Budzinski
Representative Buddy Carter
Representative Sean Casten
Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
Representative Emanuel Cleaver
Representative James Clyburn
Representative Steve Cohen
Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman
Representative Angie Craig
Representative Jason Crow
Representative Monica De La Cruz
Representative Madeleine Dean
Representative Mark DeSaulnier
Representative Debbie Dingell
Representative Neal Dunn
Representative Gabe Evans
Representative Cleo Fields
Representative Valerie Foushee
Representative Virginia Foxx
Representative John Garamendi
Representative Andrew Garbarino
Representative Craig Goldman
Representative Lance Gooden
Representative Al Green
Representative Adelita Grijalva
Representative Michael Guest
Representative Jim Himes
Representative Erin Houchin
Representative Steny Hoyer
Representative Val Hoyle
Representative Glenn Ivey
Representative Jonathan Jackson
Representative Pramila Jayapal
Representative David Joyce
Representative John Joyce
Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove
Representative Bill Keating
Representative Mike Kelly
Representative Young Kim
Representative George Latimer
Representative Susie Lee
Representative Anna Paulina Luna
Representative Morgan Luttrell
Representative Doris Matsui
Representative Lucy McBath
Representative Rob Menendez
Representative Barry Moore
Representative Joseph Morelle
Representative Seth Moulton
Representative Burgess Owens
Representative Jimmy Panetta
Representative Scott Peters
Representative Brittany Pettersen
Representative Austin Pfluger
Representative Chellie Pingree
Representative Mark Pocan
Representative Mike Quigley
Representative Amata Radewagen
Representative Delia Ramirez
Representative Emily Randall
Representative Jamie Raskin
Representative Hal Rogers
Representative Raul Ruiz
Representative Mary Scanlon
Representative Bradley Schneider
Representative Hillary Scholten
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Representative Austin Scott
Representative Tom Suozzi
Representative Shri Thanedar
Representative Jill Tokuda
Representative Lori Trahan
Representative Jefferson Van Drew
Representative Marc Veasey
Representative James Walkinshaw
Representative Maxine Waters
Representative Nikema Williams
Representative Joe Wilson
Representative Rob Wittman
Founder & CEO, JMA Solutions
John Ashbrook
Founding Partner, Cavalry LLC
Kevin Brennan
Principal, Bluebird Strategies
Pat DiFrancesco
Vice President, Advanced Advocacy
Emilie Eager
Director of Business Development, Julie Parker Communications
David Egan
Author, Advocate & Speaker
Felicia Emry
Life Skills Director, Heaven on Earth NOW
Autria Godfrey
Emmy Award-winning News Anchor & Podcast Host, Agents of Tech
Natalie Farr Harrison
SVP, Government Relations, Avoq
Guy Harrison
Partner, OnMessage, Inc.
Deputy Vice President, Advocacy and Strategic Alliances, PhRMA
Matthew Perin
Vice President, Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Kroger
Cliff Riccio
Sr. Vice President & Chief, Government Relations, NCTA
Julie Riccio
Director, Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy, PwC
Frank Stephens
Author, Actor & Advocate
Richard Waysdorf
Legal Consultant, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Amy Best Weiss
Executive Vice President, Global Government Affairs, American Express
Michelle Sie Whitten
President & CEO, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Altria
American Express
Intuit
Kroger
The Mullen Family
PLATINUM
Kearney & Company
PhRMA
SILVER
Anna & John J. Sie Foundation
NCTA – The Internet & Television Association
Pfizer
Steampunk
TOP BILLBOARD
ACT for NIH Foundation
AdvaMed
The Ashbrook Family
Avoq
Theresa Brogan & Family
Charter
Communications
Clarion Capital
Partners
David Egan & Family
The Emry Family
Natalie & Guy Harrison
Highland Electric
Fleets
Koch Government
Affairs
Mastercard
Narrative Strategies
OnMessage, Inc.
The Stephens Family
The Thielman Family
Valero
Visa
Brian & Natasha Walsh
The Whitten Family
Williams & Jensen
Barnhart Press
Blueberry Shoes
Productions
Harris Teeter
Indigo Road
Molson Coors
2026 LIVE AUCTION DONORS
The Emry Family
Estée Lauder and Bloomingdale’s
Gonzaga College High School Basketball Team with Special Thanks to Coach Keith
Urgo
Robin & Josh Shultz
The Whitten Family
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 2,700 patients with Down syndrome from 40 states and 11 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 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 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.















