Facebook Pixel tracker hidden image 2025 AcceptAbility Gala | Global Down Syndrome Foundation

2025 AcceptAbility Gala

AcceptAbility Gala Header Image

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

Autria Godfrey, Emmy-Award Winning Journalist
Chuck Todd, Host of The Chuck ToddCast and Former Moderator of Meet the Press

2025 Honorees

Honoree Photo
Tucker Emry
2025 Ambassador
"This is the best thing that’s ever happened to you – you just don’t know it yet,” was the message we received from a friend upon Tucker’s birth. We hadn’t expected him to be born with a little “something extra,” but if we were privy to even a short preview of his future, we would have known not to worry. He lives life to the fullest, and it’s our privilege to be along for the ride.
Honoree Photo
Congressman Robert Aderholt
2025 Quincy Jones Expectational Advocacy Awardee
In his 15th term representing Alabama’s fourth congressional district, Robert Aderholt is an advocate for fiscal responsibility, truth in budgeting and federal government operating within its means. 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.
Honoree Photo
Congresswoman Diana DeGette
2025 Quincy Jones Expectational Advocacy Awardee
Rep. Diana DeGette is a fourth-generation Coloradoan who has dedicated her life to serving the people of Colorado's First Congressional District. She is the ranking Democratic member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee which oversees the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Medicaid and parts of the Medicare program.

2025 Special Guests

Special Guest Photo
Gala Chair; SVP, Avoq
Special Guest Photo
Gala Chair; Partner, OnMessage, Inc.
Special Guest Photo
Gala Emcee; Emmy-Award Winning Journalist
Special Guest Photo
Gala Emcee; Host of The Chuck ToddCast and Former Moderator of Meet the Press

Thank You to Our 2025 Supporters

Top Billboard
The Ashbrook Family
Avoq
David Egan & Family
Natalie & Guy Harrison
Highland Electric Fleets
Mastercard
Merck
OnMessage, Inc. 
The Stephens Family
Visa
Brian & Natasha Walsh
The Whitten Family

Silver
Anna & John J. Sie Foundation 
ExxonMobil
NCTA
Steampunk
Williams & Jensen

Platinum
The Emry Family 

Gold
American Express
Intuit
Kroger
The Mullen Family
PhRMA
PwC

 

2024 AcceptAbility Gala Highlights

2024 Photos – Step & Repeat

2024 Photos – Program 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 2,700 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’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.

GALA FACT SHEET

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

SPONSORSHIP FORM

GLOBAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ROSA DELAURO AND TOM COLE GLOBAL $2K ADVANCEMENT AWARDS – APPLY TODAY!

REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER

2025 GALA CHAIRS

Natalie Farr Harrison
Sr. Vice President, Government Relations, Avoq

Guy Harrison 
Partner, OnMessage 

2025 GALA BOARD

Jan Adams
Founder & CEO, JMA Solutions 

John Ashbrook
Founding Partner, Cavalry LLC

Kevin Brennan
Principal, Bluebird Strategies

Emilie Eager
Director of Business Development, Julie Parker Communications

David Egan
Author, Advocate & Speaker

Felicia Emry, Esq.
Life Skills Program Coordinator and Client Care Liaison, Heaven on Earth NOW 

Erin Book Mullen
Principal, Williams & Jensen, PLLC

Matthew Perin
Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Kroger

Cliff Riccio
Sr. Vice President & Chief, Government Relations, NCTA

Julie Riccio
Director, Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy, 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
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
Senator Marsha Blackburn
Congresswoman Shontel Brown
Congresswoman Julia Brownley
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski
Congressman Buddy Carter
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
Congressman Gabe Evans
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx
Congressman John Garamendi
Congressman Robert Garcia
Congressman Lance Gooden
Congresswoman Jahana Hayes
Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan
Congressman John Joyce
Congresswoman Young Kim
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Congressman George Latimer
Congressman Bob Latta
Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna
Senator Cynthia Lummis
Congresswoman Doris Matsui
Congresswoman Betty McCollum
Congressman Rich McCormick
Congressman Rob Menendez
Congresswoman Carol Miller
Congressman Seth Moulton
Senator Markwayne Mullin
Senator Lisa Murkowski
Senator Chris Murphy
Senator Patty Murray
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
Congresswoman Mary Scanlon
Congressman Brad Schneider
Congresswoman Hillary Scholten
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Congresswoman Haley Stevens
Congressman Dale Strong
Congressman Shri Thanedar
Congressman Paul Tonko
Congresswoman Lori Trahan
Senator Chris Van Hollen
Congressman Derrick Van Orden
Congressman Juan Vargas
Senator Elizabeth Warren
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson
Congressman Joe Wilson

2025 IN-KIND DONORS
Barnhart Press
Georgetown Cupcakes
Harris Teeter
The LOOP
The Indigo Road Hospitality Group

2025 LIVE AUCTION DONORS
Jan Adams
The Emry Family
Estee Lauder
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

Join Headliners Phillip Phillips & Tucker Emry at GLOBAL’S AcceptAbility Gala in DC!

Singer Jordin Sparks Performs and Rep. Frankel and Rep. Hudson Honored at Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s May 9th AcceptAbility Gala in DC

Important NIH INCLUDE Legislation Aimed at Increasing Lifespan and Dramatically Improving Health Outcomes for People with Down Syndrome Introduced by GLOBAL Champion, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers

CELEBS AND CONGRESS STEP UP FOR PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME IN DC!

GLOBAL Applauds Congress for $15 million Increase for NIH Down Syndrome/INCLUDE Research Initiative in Recently Passed Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill

Watch Frank Stephens’ Congressional Testimony

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