GLOBAL ya Kukubalika 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

KUKUBALIKA GALA MEDIA
Bonyeza Anwani:
Shawn Flaherty
Barua pepe: shawn_flaherty@creativestratpr.com
Kiini: 703-554-3609
Alex Lee
Barua pepe: 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
Seneta Ed Markey
Seneta Lisa Murkowski
Seneta Chris Murphy
Seneta Patty Murray
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester
Senator Tim Sheehy
Seneta 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
Mshirika Mwanzilishi, Cavalry LLC
Kevin Brennan
Mkuu, Mikakati ya Bluebird
Pat DiFrancesco
Vice President, Advanced Advocacy
Emilie hamu
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
Mathayo Perin
Vice President, Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Kroger
Cliff Riccio
Sr. Vice President & Chief, Government Relations, NCTA
Julie Riccio
Mkurugenzi, Masuala ya Udhibiti na Sera ya Umma, 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
Rais & Mkurugenzi Mtendaji, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
Altria
American Express
Intuit
Kroger
Familia ya Mullen
PLATINUM
Kearney & Company
PhRMA
FEDHA
Anna & John J. Sie Foundation
NCTA – The Internet & Television Association
Pfizer
Steampunk
UBAO WA JUU
ACT for NIH Foundation
AdvaMed
Familia ya Ashbrook
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
Mikakati ya Simulizi
OnMessage, Inc.
The Stephens Family
The Thielman Family
Valero
Visa
Brian & Natasha Walsh
Familia ya Whitten
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
Familia ya Whitten
Kuhusu 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.
Machapisho ya matibabu yanayosambazwa sana ya GLOBAL ni pamoja na Mwongozo wa GLOBAL wa Huduma ya Kimatibabu kwa Watu Wazima wenye Ugonjwa wa Kupungua, Upimaji wa kabla ya kuzaa na Habari kuhusu Down Syndrome, na mshindi wa tuzo Ulimwengu wa Down SyndromeTM gazeti. GLOBAL pia inaandaa Kuwa Mrembo Uwe Mwenyewe Onyesho la Mitindo, mchangishaji mkubwa zaidi wa ugonjwa wa Down ulimwenguni. Tembelea globaldownsyndrome.org na utufuate kwenye mitandao ya kijamii (Facebook & Twitter: @GDSFoundation, Instagram: @globaldownsyndrome).
Kwa kusajili, kuhudhuria, au kutazama wakati wowote tukio la Kukubalika la Global Down Syndrome Foundation (“Msingi”) wa Gala ya Kukubalika, au nakala zozote, kazi zinazotokana, au maudhui yake yanayohusiana (“Tukio”), unakubali kufungwa na masharti yafuatayo. Unakubali kwamba Tukio hili linaweza kuwa na maelezo yaliyo na hakimiliki, alama ya biashara au umiliki au maudhui yanayolindwa na haki miliki au sheria nyinginezo. Unakubali kutochochea, kudumisha, au kuidhinisha hatua yoyote, madai, au kesi dhidi ya Foundation, au mtu mwingine yeyote, kwa misingi kwamba Tukio linakiuka haki zozote za uvumbuzi au sheria zinazohusiana. The Foundation haitoi dhamana yoyote ya wazi au inayodokezwa, ridhaa, au uwakilishi wowote kuhusu Tukio au maudhui yake. Unakubali kwamba Foundation haitawajibikia uharibifu wowote wa moja kwa moja, usio wa moja kwa moja, wa bahati nasibu, wa matokeo au wa mfano utakaotokana moja kwa moja au isivyo moja kwa moja na Tukio. Kwa hivyo unaipa Chemchemi haki ya kurekodi, filamu, kutiririsha moja kwa moja, kupiga picha, au kunasa mfano wako katika media yoyote inayohusiana na Tukio na kusambaza, kutangaza, au kutumia midia bila idhini yoyote zaidi au fidia kwako. Unakubali kutorekodi, kutangaza tena, kuchapisha tena, kusambaza tena, au kutoa tena Tukio, maudhui yake yoyote, au sehemu yake yoyote bila idhini ya maandishi ya Foundation. Ushiriki wowote wa umma, ugawaji upya, au unakilishwaji wa Tukio au sehemu yake yoyote kwa namna yoyote ni marufuku kabisa bila idhini ya maandishi ya Foundation. The Foundation inakusudia kutafuta suluhu zozote na zote zinazopatikana kwake chini ya sheria au usawa katika kukabiliana na ukiukaji wowote wa masharti haya.















