DC Galas and Events

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 resulted in a quadrupling of the NIH Down syndrome research and medical care budget in the last four 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.

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An event in support of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation funding life changing research and life saving medical care for children and adults with Down syndrome.

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A fundraiser for Global funding life-changing research and medical care for children and adults with Down syndrome. Honorees include Tom Cole (R-OK) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) with Ambassador Frank Stephens.

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The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, which provides federal funding for the National Institutes of Health, held the first ever hearing on current and future research funding priorities to accelerate scientific discovery that will benefit individuals with Down syndrome and lead to new therapies to treat Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and other major diseases.

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The Global Down Syndrome Foundation hosted self-advocates and their families for a Global DC Social on January 29, 2015, at Maggiano\'s Little Italy in Washington, DC.

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The Be Beautiful Be Yourself Global Down Syndrome Foundation DC Gala was Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC. The event\'s fashion show featured 18 beautiful models with Down syndrome walking the runway with members of Congress and celebrities.

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The Be Beautiful Be Yourself Global Down Syndrome Foundation DC Gala was Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC. The event featured 18 beautiful models with Down syndrome walking the runway with members of Congress and celebrities, a live auction, and musical entertainment by singer-songwriter Leona Lewis. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Senator Jerry Moran received the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award, and Katherine Felicia Norton was honored as the Global Down Syndrome Foundation Ambassador.

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The Be Beautiful Be Yourself Global Down Syndrome Foundation DC Gala was Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC. The event featured 18 beautiful models with Down syndrome walking the runway with members of Congress and celebrities, a live auction, and musical entertainment by singer-songwriter Leona Lewis.

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The Be Beautiful Be Yourself Global Down Syndrome Foundation DC Gala was Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC. The event featured 18 beautiful models with Down syndrome walking the runway with members of Congress and celebrities, a live auction, and musical entertainment by singer-songwriter Leona Lewis.

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The Be Beautiful Be Yourself Global Down Syndrome Foundation DC Gala was Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC. The event featured 18 beautiful models with Down syndrome walking the runway with members of Congress and celebrities, a live auction, and musical entertainment by singer-songwriter Leona Lewis. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Senator Jerry Moran received the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award, and Katherine Felicia Norton was honored as the Global Down Syndrome Foundation Ambassador.

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The Be Beautiful Be Yourself Global Down Syndrome Foundation DC Gala was Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC. The event\'s Live Auction featured a New York trip including tickets to \"The Daily Show,\" an Exclusive Resorts vacation, and a trip to the Emmys, with donations from Exclusive Resorts, Viacom, NYY Steak, and J.W. Marriott.

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The Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s 2013 Be Beautiful Be Yourself DC Gala was held May 8 at the Ritz-Carlton Washington DC. The Foundation presented the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award to Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Congressman Chris Van Hollen. Cole Rodgers was featured as the Global Down Syndrome Foundation Ambassador. The program highlights included Kyra Phillips of HLN, John Roberts of Fox News, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, nine-time Grammy-winner Sheryl Crow, and 25 models with Down syndrome who walked the runway with celebrities and members of Congress.

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The Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s 2013 Be Beautiful Be Yourself DC Gala was held May 8 at the Ritz-Carlton Washington DC. The Foundation presented the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award to Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Congressman Chris Van Hollen. Cole Rodgers was featured as the Global Down Syndrome Foundation Ambassador. The program highlights included Kyra Phillips of HLN, John Roberts of Fox News, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, nine-time Grammy-winner Sheryl Crow, and 25 models with Down syndrome who walked the runway with celebrities and members of Congress.

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The Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s 2013 Be Beautiful Be Yourself DC Gala was held May 8 at the Ritz-Carlton Washington DC. The Foundation presented the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award to Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Congressman Chris Van Hollen. Cole Rodgers was featured as the Global Down Syndrome Foundation Ambassador. The program highlights included Kyra Phillips of HLN, John Roberts of Fox News, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, nine-time Grammy-winner Sheryl Crow, and 25 models with Down syndrome who walked the runway with celebrities and members of Congress.

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The Global Down Syndrome Foundation\'s 2012 Be Beautiful Be Yourself Gala Kick Off Party was held July 19, 2012, in Washington, D.C. Photos by Black Tie D.C., D.C. Hot Spot and Michael Campbell.

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On November 16, 2011, The Global Down Syndrome Foundation held its inaugural Be Beautiful Be Yourself Gala in Washington, D.C. Gladys Knight, the Empress of Soul, performed live at the gala at the J.W. Marriott. Washington’s most powerful and influential leaders and professional athletes gathered to support Down syndrome research and advocacy at the Linda Crnic Institute.

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“It’s Time” Civil Rights Reception and Award Ceremony celebrating the achievements of The Honorable Patrick Kennedy on September 15, 2010. Photos by Paul Morse

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