2025 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
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Marriott Marquis Washington, DC
6:00PM ET Cocktail Reception | 7:00PM ET Performance & Program
In Loving Memory of Cornelia “Corny” Stephens
Emcees
Chuck Todd, Host of The Chuck ToddCast and Former Moderator of Meet the Press
Autria Godfrey, Emmy-Award Winning Journalist


Phillips has a big heart for GLOBAL and those who are differently-abled. In 2020, Phillips headlined GLOBAL’s virtual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show and performed a heartfelt tribute in honor of DeOndra Dixon with a beautiful rendition of “Gone, Gone, Gone.”

2025 Honorees


Tucker is the youngest of the three Emry boys, never ceasing to keep in steady step with his two older brothers. He is the heart of our family, and his bond with his siblings is unconditional love. Accompanying him on the many trips to therapists during his early years, they were a driving force in his speech, motor skill and social development. These days their interactions have advanced from imagination games and backyard badminton to advice about girls and whether or not to wear socks with his loafers.
Tucker’s world is full of all the activities of a typical teenager. He attends The Harbour School in Maryland, where he has forged lasting friendships and discovered his interests (economics and broadcasting classes are his favorites). Always up for a party, he leads the charge at Young Life youth group events and his school’s social club gatherings and dances. He participates in Special Olympics sports and works out with a trainer. He volunteers with children’s programs at our Church and has completed several community work experiences, most recently as an aide in a preschool classroom. A member of his school’s Performing Arts Academy, he has appeared as Puck in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and the White Rabbit in “Alice in Wonderland,” among other roles.
Every day, Tucker charms people with the twinkle in his eye and his unforgettable laugh. He is entirely himself and is determined to let his light shine. He talks about his upcoming “adult” life often, and his dreams for the future are clear – a college program, deepening friendships, meaningful employment, falling in love, and contributing to the community. Tucker is proud to champion Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s work to ensure that his future is one of mental and physical health and productivity. GLOBAL’s groundbreaking efforts pave the way for Tucker, and others with that magical extra chromosome, to share their vibrancy with the world.


Robert Aderholt is a strong supporter of his community, district and the state of Alabama. He believes the federal government serves an essential role in assisting state and local governments with economic development.
From his position on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Aderholt supports job creation, strong immigration standards and robust national security. He is the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services and Education, which is responsible for the largest non-defense portion of the entire federal budget. He is also a member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee and the Defense Subcommittee.
Rep. Aderholt also chairs the Values Action Team, a Congressional Member Organization in the House of Representatives focused on promoting families, communities and religious freedoms. Additionally, Rep. Aderholt is a member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Commonly known as the Helenski Commission, the group was founded in 1976 and is comprised of 56 countries around the world working together to monitor human rights in Europe and Central Asia.
Rep. Aderholt is a member of the U.S. Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus and continues to support the disabled community through his efforts to sustain and prolong the viability of our Social Security system. In January of 2023, Rep. Aderholt Cosponsored the Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act, which would create legal protections for unborn children with Down syndrome.


Rep. DeGette is one of the most influential health policy experts in Congress and her legislative accomplishments include bills advancing groundbreaking biomedical research, accelerating new medical technologies and care, and expanding coverage and access to health care. She is recognized for her work championing the 21st Century Cures Act, which has played an important role in helping to reduce the time it takes to turn a scientific discovery into new diagnostic tests, medical devices, therapies and cures for patients. This law has been widely hailed as one of the most important pieces of legislation that Congress has passed in recent years. She is also co-chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, which was formed in 1996, and counts among her accomplishments in that role passage of legislation which lowered the cost of insulin for millions of Americans.
Rep. DeGette actively promotes the rights and interests of those with Down syndrome. She serves on the Congressional Task Force on Down Syndrome and is the lead Democratic sponsor of the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act.
2025 Special Guests
Thank You to Our 2025 Supporters
Top Billboard
Altria
阿什布鲁克家族
Avoq
The Brogan Family
Comcast NBCUniversal
戴维-伊根及家人
娜塔莉和盖伊-哈里森
Highland Electric Fleets
Koch Government Affairs
万事达卡
默克公司
叙事策略
OnMessage, Inc.
The Stephens Family
The Toohey Family
瓦莱罗
签证
Brian & Natasha Walsh
惠滕家族
Silver
安娜和约翰-J-西基金会
ExxonMobil
NCTA
蒸汽朋克
威廉姆斯与詹森
Platinum
The Emry Family
Gold
美国运通
Intuit
克罗格
马伦家族
PhRMA
普华永道

Natalie is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, and has her master’s in public policy from George Mason University. She grew up in a Foreign Service family – moving every few years – but now calls the DC area her home. She and her family live in Alexandria, VA.

Guy graduated from Dartmouth College in 1994 where he played right tackle for the Dartmouth football team.
A Texas native, Guy lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and three daughters: Giddings, Laney and Bennett.

She got her start in Charlottesville, VA where she was weekend anchor, reporter, and eventually morning anchor. After moving to Washington, Autria worked at Fox News Channel, CBS Newspath, and eventually Tribune Broadcasting as the White House and Congressional correspondent for the DC Bureau.
In 2011, Autria joined WJLA as a reporter and weekend anchor, and spent the last 8 years as the morning anchor of Good Morning Washington. In 2019, she traded her 3am alarm clock for 3am feedings as she left news to welcome her older daughter Eliza.
Autria has covered both President Obama's and President Trump's inaugurations, has traveled to Nashville to report live from the Country Music Awards, and field-anchored live continuous coverage of Pope Francis's visit to Washington DC.
Since transitioning out of traditional broadcast news, Autria now produces and anchors Conference TV for various medical, space, and scientific conferences. She also currently hosts a podcast focused on all things Artificial Intelligence. Autria and her husband Paul Lindsay live with their two daughters in Arlington, VA.

A six-time Emmy® Award-winner, Todd was NBC News’s chief Political Analyst and served as the moderator of Meet the Press, the longest-running broadcast in television history, from 2014 to 2023. During his tenure, Meet the Press became the number-one-rated Sunday public affairs program for several years, secured its first Emmy®, and expanded the brand beyond its single weekly show, with Todd’s steady, incisive reporting making him a key voice in American political journalism.
Todd’s role in shaping NBC News’ political coverage extended to his daily hosting of Meet the Press NOW, which he launched in June 2022. This program, broadcast on NBC News NOW, brought the insightful analysis of Meet the Press to a digital-first audience, expanding the brand’s reach in a rapidly evolving media landscape. He also led Meet the Press Reports, a seasonal deep-dive show, and continued to host the Chuck ToddCast, where he engages in thought-provoking conversations on politics, policy, and culture.
Known for his encyclopedic knowledge of politics, Todd’s analysis has earned him the reputation as one of the most trusted voices in American media. He has co-moderated multiple high-profile presidential debates, including the historic 2019 and 2020 Democratic debates, which set viewership records. In addition, his reporting on the 2020 election made him a pivotal figure in the national political conversation.
Previously, Todd served as NBC News’s chief White House Correspondent from 2008 to 2014, traveling to cover 25 countries, covering the Obama administration, and hosting The Daily Rundown on MSNBC. In 2007, he joined NBC News as Political Director, after 15 years at The Hotline, where he served as editor-in-chief.
Todd is the author of two books: How Barack Obama Won, co-authored in 2009, and The Stranger: Barack Obama in the White House, released in 2014. His expertise has been recognized by GQ, which named him “The Most Powerful Journalist in Washington” in 2012. He is a frequent contributor to top publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic, where he’s still a contributing editor.
Todd was also the founding managing editor for the The Sports Business Daily in 1994, now known as The Sports Business Journal.
Currently, Todd is focused on his new ventures, including The ChuckToddCast and his upcoming projects, which aim to continue his legacy of delivering impactful political analysis and fostering engaging conversations with leaders shaping the future of American politics. He is also the inaugural Scholar-in-Residence for The University of Southern California’s Capital Campus, in Washington, D.C.
Todd’s accolades include multiple Emmy wins, recognition as one of Washingtonian’s best journalists, and honorary doctorates from institutions like The George Washington University (his Alma mater), Marist College, and Marymount University. A native of Miami, he resides in Arlington, VA, with his wife, Kristian, and their two children.
关于全球唐氏综合症基金会
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 广泛发行的医学出版物包括 全球唐氏综合征成人医疗指南, 产前检查和有关唐氏综合症的信息以及屡获殊荣的 唐氏综合症世界TM 杂志。GLOBAL 还组织了 美丽做自己时装秀全球最大的唐氏综合症筹款活动。访问 globaldownsyndrome.org 并在社交媒体上关注我们(Facebook 和 Twitter:@GDSFoundation,Instagram:@globaldownsyndrome)。
在任何时候注册、参加或观看全球唐氏综合症基金会(以下简称 "基金会")的 AcceptAbility Gala 活动或其任何复制品、衍生作品或相关内容(以下简称 "活动"),即表示您同意接受以下条款的约束。您同意该活动可能包含受知识产权或其他法律保护的版权、商标或专有信息或内容。您同意不以活动侵犯任何知识产权或相关法律为由,对基金会或任何其他人提起、维持或授权任何诉讼、索赔或起诉。基金会不对活动或其内容作出任何明示或暗示的保证、认可或陈述。您同意基金会在任何情况下均不对活动直接或间接造成的任何直接、间接、附带、后果性或惩戒性损害承担责任。您特此授予基金会在与活动相关的任何媒体上录制、拍摄、直播、拍照或捕捉您的肖像的权利,以及分发、广播或使用此类媒体的权利,而无需进一步获得您的批准或补偿。您同意在未经基金会明确书面许可的情况下,不录制、转播、转贴、转发或复制活动、其任何内容或其任何部分。未经基金会明确书面许可,严禁以任何形式公开分享、转发或复制活动或其任何部分。基金会打算根据法律或衡平法对任何违反这些条款的行为采取任何及所有补救措施。
ROSA DELAURO AND TOM COLE GLOBAL $2K ADVANCEMENT AWARDS – APPLY TODAY!
2025 GALA CHAIRS
娜塔莉-法尔-哈里森
Sr. Vice President, Government Relations, Avoq
Guy Harrison
Partner, OnMessage
2025 GALA BOARD
扬-亚当斯
JMA Solutions 创始人兼首席执行官
约翰-阿什布鲁克
Cavalry LLC 创始合伙人
凯文-布伦南
蓝鸟策略公司负责人
埃米莉-艾格
Director of Business Development, Julie Parker Communications
戴维-伊根
Author, Advocate & Speaker
Felicia Emry, Esq.
Life Skills Program Coordinator and Client Care Liaison, Heaven on Earth NOW
艾琳-布克-穆伦
威廉斯与詹森律师事务所负责人
马修-佩林
克罗格公司政府关系与监管事务主管
克里夫-里奇奥
Sr. Vice President & Chief, Government Relations, NCTA
朱莉-里奇奥
普华永道监管事务与公共政策总监
弗兰克-史蒂芬斯
Author, Actor & Advocate
理查德-韦斯多夫
Legal Consultant, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
艾米-贝斯特-魏斯
Executive Vice President, Global Government Affairs, American Express
Michelle Sie Whitten
President & CEO, Global Down Syndrome Foundation
2025 CONGRESSIONAL HOSTS
Senator Cory Booker
Congresswoman Katherine Clark
Congressman Tom Cole
Senator Steve Daines
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
Congresswoman Lois Frankel
Senator John Hickenlooper
Congressman Richard Hudson
Senator Jerry Moran
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
Congressman Pete Sessions
Congressman Pete Stauber
2025 HONORARY CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
Congressman Jake Auchincloss
Congresswoman Nanette Barragán
Congressman Donald S. Beyer Jr.
Congresswoman Stephanie Bice
Congressman Gus Bilirakis
参议员玛莎-布莱克本
参议员凯蒂-布里特
Congresswoman Shontel Brown
Congresswoman Julia Brownley
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski
Congressman Buddy Carter
Congressman Juan Ciscomani
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver
Congressman James Clyburn
Congressman Steve Cohen
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman
Congressman Gerald Connolly
Congressman Joe Courtney
Congressman Jason Crow
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier
Congresswoman Maxine Dexter
Congressman Gabe Evans
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx
Congressman John Garamendi
Congressman Andrew Garbarino
Congressman Robert Garcia
Congressman Lance Gooden
Congressman Michael Guest
Congresswoman Jahana Hayes
Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan
Congressman Steny Hoyer
Congressman Dave Joyce
Congressman John Joyce
Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove
Congresswoman Jen Kiggans
Congresswoman Young Kim
参议员 Amy Klobuchar
Congressman George Latimer
Congressman Bob Latta
Congressman Mike Lawler
Senator Cynthia Lummis
Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna
Senator Edward Markey
Congresswoman Doris Matsui
Congresswoman Betty McCollum
Congressman Rich McCormick
Congressman Morgan McGarvey
Congressman Rob Menendez
Congresswoman Carol Miller
Congressman Seth Moulton
参议员 Markwayne Mullin
参议员丽莎-穆尔科斯基
参议员克里斯-墨菲
参议员帕蒂-默里
Congressman Jay Obernolte
Congressman Jimmy Panetta
Congressman Scott Peters
Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen
Congressman Mark Pocan
Congresswoman Delia Ramirez
Congressman Jamie Raskin
Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester
Congressman Hal Rogers
Congresswoman Mary Scanlon
Senator Eric Schmitt
Congressman Brad Schneider
Congresswoman Hillary Scholten
Congresswoman Kim Schrier
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Senator Chuck Schumer
Senator Tim Sheehy
Senator Elissa Slotkin
Congresswoman Haley Stevens
Congressman Dale Strong
Congressman Shri Thanedar
Congresswoman Dina Titus
Congressman Paul Tonko
Congresswoman Lori Trahan
克里斯-范霍伦参议员
Congressman Derrick Van Orden
Congressman Juan Vargas
参议员伊丽莎白-沃伦
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson
Congressman Joe Wilson
2025 IN-KIND DONORS
Barnhart Press
Coors
Georgetown Cupcakes
Harris Teeter
The LOOP
The Indigo Road Hospitality Group
2025 LIVE AUCTION DONORS
扬-亚当斯
Bloomingdale’s
The Emry Family
Estee Lauder
Nina McLemore
罗宾和乔希-舒尔茨
Carlo & Kristin Tamburro
惠滕家族
可接受性
新闻联系人:
肖恩-弗莱厄蒂
电子邮件: shawn_flaherty@creativestratpr.com
手机: 703-554-3609
Anca Elena Call
电子邮件: acall@globaldownsyndrome.org
手机: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!
全球卫士 "女议员凯茜-麦克莫里斯-罗杰斯(Cathy McMorris Rodgers)提出了一项重要的 NIH INCLUDE 立法,旨在延长唐氏综合症患者的寿命并显著改善其健康状况。
GLOBAL 赞赏美国国会在最近通过的 2023 财年总支出法案中为美国国立卫生研究院唐氏综合征/INCLUDE 研究计划增加 $1,500 万美元的拨款。