AcceptAbility Gala


About the AcceptAbility Gala
GLOBAL’s annual AcceptAbility Gala brings together policymakers from both sides of the aisle, key scientists from NIH, and our Down syndrome community. Together, our advocacy efforts have increased the NIH Down syndrome research and medical care budget by nearly $200 million over the last five years! The AcceptAbility Gala is an opportunity to celebrate our success, especially major new federal research funding increases after years of being one of the least funded genetic conditions.
This year, GLOBAL will present its highest honor, the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award, to Congressman Pete Stauber from Minnesota at the AcceptAbility Gala in DC.
Thank You to Our Supporters

Awards - Coming Soon!
Event Committee
President & CEO, JMA Solutions
Cory Alexander
Strategic Advisor, UnitedHealth Group
Kevin Brennan
Principal, Bluebird Strategies
David Egan
Author, Advocate, and Speaker
Natalie Farr
Government Relations, Subject Matter
Erin Book Mullen
Principal, Williams & Jensen, PLLC
Matthew Perin
Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Kroger
Senior Vice President & Chief, Government Relations, NCTA
Julie Riccio
Director, Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy, PwC
Frank Stephens
Author, Actor, and Advocate
Marissa Watkins
Deputy Vice President, Advocacy and Strategic Alliances, PhRMA
Amy Best Weiss
Vice President, Head of U.S. Government Affairs, American Express
Salo Zelermyer
Vice President for Federal Affairs and Counsel, Valero
Congressman Troy Balderson
Senator Michael F. Bennet
Congresswoman Stephanie Bice
Senator Marsha Blackburn
Congressman Mike Bost
Congressman Anthony G. Brown
Congressman Michael C Burgess, MD
Senator Shelley Moore Capito
Senator Bob Casey
Congressman David N. Cicilline
Congressman Gerald E. Connolly
Congressman Jim Costa
Congressman Jason Crow
Senator Ted Cruz
Senator Steve Daines
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene
Congresswoman Deborah Dingell
Congressman Jake Ellzey
Congressman Tom Emmer
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher
Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino
Congresswoman Jahana Hayes
Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler
Senator John Hickenlooper
Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith
Congressman Mike Kelly
Congressman Darin LaHood
Congressman Doug Lamborn
Congressman Robert E. Latta
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Senator Roger Marshall, MD
Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy
Congressman Donald McEachin
Congressman Patrick McHenry
Congresswoman Grace Meng
Congressman Barry Moore
Senator Jerry Moran
Senator Chris Murphy
Congressman Joe Neguse
Delegate Amata Coleman Radewagen
Congressman Guy Reschenthaler
Senator Marco Rubio
Congressman Tim Ryan
Congressman Adam Schiff
Congressman Bryan Steil
Congressman Glenn Thompson
Congresswoman Dina Titus
Congressman David Trone
Senator Chris Van Hollen
Senator Raphael Warnock
Senator Elizabeth Warren
Senator Roger F. Wicker
Supporters
Kroger
UnitedHealth Group
Valero
Gold - $15,000
PhRMA
Anna & John J. Sie Foundation
Silver - $10,000
American Express
Comcast NBCUniversal
CTIA
Meta
Miller Strategies, LLC
The Mullen Family
Mythics
NCTA
Nike
PwC
Roberti Global
Frank Stephens, GLOBAL Board Member
Williams & Jensen
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
AT&T
The Blockchain Association
Bracewell LLP
Continental Resources
David Egan & Family
Discover Financial Services
HF Sinclair Corporation
H&R Block
JMA Solutions
Koch Industries
Mastercard
Merck
Narrative Strategies
Subject Matter
T-Mobile
Visa
In-Kind
Jan Adams
Georgetown Cupcake
Harris Teeter
Kroger
Monumental Sports
The Mullen Family
The Whitten Family
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America
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. With your support, 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.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
PROGRAM HONOREES



Ambassador Abby Ashbrook
Senator Steve Daines
Congresswoman Katherine Clark
CONGRESSIONAL HOSTS (2023 Coming Soon!)








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
EXCLUSIVE ENTERTAINMENT



Dance soloist Robert Wallop
GRAMMY® Award-nominated multiplatinum singer & songwriter Gavin DeGraw
RhythmXpress
ACCEPTABILITY GALA MEDIA
Press Contact: Anca Elana Call
Email: acall@globaldownsyndrome.org
Cell: 720-320-3832
GLOBAL Raises $400,000 at their AcceptAbility Gala in Washington, D.C.