2024 AcceptAbility Gala
A fundraiser for the
GLOBAL DOWN SYNDROME FOUNDATION
funding life-changing research and life-saving medical care for children and
adults with Down syndrome
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Marriott Marquis Washington, DC
6:00 PM ET Cocktail Reception | 7:00 PM ET Performance & Program | 9:00 PM ET Concludes
EMCEES
Kyra Phillips, Correspondent, ABC News; Anchor, ABC News Live
John Roberts, Co-Anchor of ‘America Reports with John Roberts & Sandra Smith,’ Fox News
2024 Honorees (more coming!)
It is truly an honor for us to introduce Isla as GLOBAL's 2024 Ambassador. When Isla walks in a room you know it. Someone recently described Isla to us as a “joy bomb”. It’s true. She’s a tornado of activity and non-stop movement but sheds light in every direction she moves. Her teachers call her the “mayor” of the school. But the same can be said when she’s at a doctor’s office, playground, or grocery store. She’s never met a stranger and is quick with a “Hi!”, especially if the person on the receiving end hasn’t noticed her yet. It’s like she prides herself on the challenge of getting their attention. She will be persistent if the “Hi!” is not reciprocated.
We first learned our baby would likely have Down syndrome when we were about 12 weeks pregnant. It was surprising news to receive, but there was never a doubt about how much she would be loved. Isla gave us a run for our money from day one, needing an emergency transfer to Children’s National where she landed in the Cardiac ICU. Her heart has healed itself remarkably well and so far, we’ve avoided surgery. Isla was diagnosed with infantile spasms when she was about 9 months old, which is a type of seizure that occurs in babies and needs immediate treatment to prevent developmental issues. Luckily, with a long and heavy round of steroids, we were able to stop the seizures and Isla has since shown remarkable progress with her development.
Isla is thriving since starting school last August. She’s a whirlwind of walking, talking, and singing. You’ll be hard pressed to find a two-year-old who is a bigger bookworm. She will pass up a room full of toys for a chance to sit and read, babbling away to herself with full emotion and the occasional “oh no” and “wow”.
We know there may be more medical challenges in Isla’s future. We are grateful for the work the Global Down Syndrome Foundation is doing daily to ensure that when the day comes, we have the research and resources to receive the best medical care possible for Isla. Thank you for supporting this cause and making the quality of life better for those with Down syndrome!
2024 Hosts & Special Guests
Robert Aderholt
Bob Casey
Katherine Clark
Tom Cole
Rosa DeLauro
John Hickenlooper
Jerry Moran
Eleanor Holmes Norton
Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Pete Sessions
Pete Stauber
David Egan
Frank Stephens
Sophia Whitten
Kyra Phillips
John Roberts
Thank You to Our 2023 Supporters
Top Billboard – $6,000
AdvaMed
Arnold & Porter
AT&T
The Brogan Family
Cox Enterprises
David Egan & Family
Discover Financial Services
H&R Block
Koch Industries
Mastercard
Merck
Narrative Strategies
Retail Industry Leaders Association
Subject Matter
T-Mobile
Visa
Silver – $10,000
American Express
The Ashbrook Family
Cavalry LLC
Comcast NBCUniversal
CTIA
Deloitte
The Mullen Family
Myriad Genetics, Inc.
NCTA
Nike
PwC
Steampunk
Frank Stephens, GLOBAL Board Member
Williams & Jensen
Platinum – $25,000
Kroger
UnitedHealth Group
Valero
Gold – $15,000
PhRMA
Anna & John J. Sie Foundation
2023 AcceptAbility Gala Highlights
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 2,200 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 120 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.
2024 GALA SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
2024 GALA SPONSORSHIP PLEDGE FORM
APPLY NOW! ROSA DELAURO AND TOM COLE GLOBAL ADVANCEMENT AWARDS
2024 GALA CHAIRS
Julie Riccio
Director, Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy, PwC
Amy Best Weiss
Vice President, Head of U.S. Government Affairs, American Express
2024 GALA COMMITTEE
Jan Adams
Founder & CEO, JMA Solutions
Cory Alexander
Strategic Advisor, UnitedHealth Group
John Ashbrook
Founding Partner, Cavalry LLC
Kevin Brennan
Principal, Bluebird Strategies
Emilie Eager
Communications Consultant
David Egan
Author, Advocate, & Speaker
Natalie Farr Harrison
Government Relations, Avoq
Erin Book Mullen
Principal, Williams & Jensen, PLLC
Matthew Perin
Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Kroger
Cliff Riccio
Senior Vice President & Chief, Government Relations, NCTA
Frank Stephens
Author, Actor, and Advocate
Salo Zelermyer
Vice President for Federal Affairs and Counsel, Valero
2024 CONGRESSIONAL HOSTS
Congressman Robert Aderholt
Senator Bob Casey
Congresswoman Katherine Clark
Congressman Tom Cole
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
Senator John Hickenlooper
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Senator Jerry Moran
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
Congressman Pete Sessions
Congressman Pete Stauber
2024 HONORARY CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
Congressman Don Bacon
Congressman Troy Balderson
Congresswoman Nanette Barragán
Congresswoman Stephanie Bice
Congressman Gus Bilirakis
Senator Marsha Blackburn
Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester
Senator Katie Britt
Senator Sherrod Brown
Congresswoman Shontel Brown
Congresswoman Julia Brownley
Congressman Larry Bucshon
Senator Shelley Capito
Senator Ben Cardin
Congressman Buddy Carter
Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver
Congressman James Clyburn
Congressman Gerry Connolly
Congressman Jason Crow
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell
Congressman Neal Dunn
Congresswoman Lois Frankel
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx
Congressman John Garamendi
Congressman Andrew Garbarino
Congressman Robert Garcia
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia
Congressman Michael Guest
Congressman Brett Guthrie
Congresswoman Jahana Hayes
Congressman Richard Hudson
Congressman Glenn Ivey
Congressman Hank Johnson
Congressman John Joyce
Congresswoman Jen Kiggans
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Congressman Rick Larsen
Congresswoman Young Kim
Congresswoman Susie Lee
Congressman Mike Levin
Congressman Ted Lieu
Senator Joe Manchin
Senator Ed Markey
Congressman Thomas Massie
Congresswoman Doris Matsui
Congresswoman Lucy McBath
Congressman Gregory Meeks
Congresswoman Grace Meng
Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Congressman Jared Moskowitz
Senator Markwayne Mullin
Senator Lisa Murkowski
Senator Chris Murphy
Congressman Jay Obernolte
Congressman Bill Pascrell
Congressman Scott Peters
Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen
Congresswoman Katie Porter
Congresswoman Amata Radewagen
Congresswoman Delia Ramirez
Congressman Jamie Raskin
Congressman John Rutherford
Congressman Bradley Schneider
Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer
Senator Kyrsten Sinema
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger
Congressman Dale Strong
Congresswoman Dina Titus
Congresswoman Jill Tokuda
Congressman Paul Tonko
Congressman David Trone
Congressman Juan Vargas
Congressman Marc Veasey
Senator Elizabeth Warren
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Congresswoman Maxine Waters
Senator Roger Wicker
2023 LIVE AUCTION DONORS
Bloomingdale’s
Estée Lauder
Carlo Tamburro
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
CELEBS AND CONGRESS STEP UP FOR PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME IN DC!