GLOBAL’s AcceptAbility Gala
GLOBAL DOWN SYNDROME FOUNDATION
funding life-changing research and life-saving medical care for children and adults with Down syndrome
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
JW Marriott Washington, DC
6:00 PM ET Cocktail Reception | 7:00 PM ET Performance & Program
Emcees
Kyra Phillips, Award-winning Anchor/Correspondent, ABC News
John Roberts, Co-Anchor of “America Reports with John Roberts & Sandra Smith”, Fox News
2026 Honorees






2026 AcceptAbility Gala Special Guests
Thank You to Our 2026 Supporters
Top Billboard
The Ashbrook Family
Avoq
David Egan & Family
The Emry Family
Natalie & Guy Harrison
Highland Electric Fleets
Valero
Visa
The Whitten Family
Silver
Anna & John J. Sie Foundation
NCTA – The Internet & Television Association
Platinum
PhRMA
Gold
American Express






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 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 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.
ROSA DELAURO AND TOM COLE GLOBAL ADVANCEMENT AWARDS – Apply Today!
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
SPONSORSHIP PLEDGE FORM
2026 GALA BOARD
Jan Adams
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
Natalie Farr Harrison
SVP, Government Relations, Avoq
Guy Harrison
Partner, OnMessage, Inc.
Liz Mahar
Deputy Vice President, Advocacy and Strategic Alliances, PhRMA
Erin Book Mullen
Principal, Williams & Jensen, PLLC
Matthew Perin
Head of 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
2026 CONGRESSIONAL HOSTS
Congressman Robert Aderholt
Congresswoman Katherine Clark
Congressman Tom Cole
Senator Steve Daines
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
Congresswoman Lois Frankel
Senator John Hickenlooper
Congressman Richard Hudson
Senator Jerry Moran
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
Congressman Pete Stauber
2026 HONORARY CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
Congressman Jake Auchincloss
Congressman Don Bacon
Congressman Ami Bera
Congressman Don Beyer
Congresswoman Julia Brownley
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski
Congressman Sean Casten
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier
Congressman Neal Dunn
Congressman Gabe Evans
Congresswoman Valerie Foushee
Congressman Andrew Garbarino
Congressman Lance Gooden
Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva
Congressman Michael Guest
Congresswoman Erin Houchin
Congressman Steny Hoyer
Congresswoman Val Hoyle
Congressman Mike Kelly
Congresswoman Young Kim
Congressman George Latimer
Congressman Joseph Morelle
Senator Chris Murphy
Congressman Jimmy Panetta
Congressman Scott Peters
Congressman Mark Pocan
Congresswoman Amata Radewagen
Congresswoman Delia Ramirez
Congressman Jamie Raskin
Congresswoman Mary Scanlon
Congressman Bradley Schneider
Congresswoman Hillary Scholten
Congressman Austin Scott
Congressman Shri Thanedar
Congressman Marc Veasey
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Congressman James Walkinshaw
Congressman Rob Wittman
2026 EXCLUSIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Robert Wallop
Rachel Platten
RhythmXpress
2026 IN-KIND DONORS
Barnhart Press
Blueberry Shoes Productions
Georgetown Cupcakes
Harris Teeter
Molson Coors
2026 LIVE AUCTION DONORS
The Emry Family
The Whitten Family

ACCEPTABILITY GALA MEDIA
Press Contact:
Shawn Flaherty
Email: shawn_flaherty@creativestratpr.com
Cell: 703-554-3609
Anca Elena Call
Email: acall@globaldownsyndrome.org
Cell: 720-320-3832
Bipartisan Congressional Members & Celebrities to Champion Down Syndrome Research in DC
Join Headliners Phillip Phillips & Tucker Emry at GLOBAL’S AcceptAbility Gala in DC!
CELEBS AND CONGRESS STEP UP FOR PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME IN DC!









