You gave us a voice, 2014 ‘i have a voice’ Gala
March 10, 2014
On March 1st we gathered together with our friends and the community to celebrate all we have accomplished and all we know we can accomplish. You came, you brought your belief and you let us know with your generous financial support that those we love and cheer on are so very worth it.
Our most heartfelt thanks go out to –
Stickley, Audi & Co. our Presenting Sponsor
Driver’s Village, Syracuse University and Wegmans our Silver Sponsors
Allyn Foundation & Community Bank our Bronze Sponsors
Firley, Moran, Freer & Eassa, CPA, P.C & VDI. our Friends and Family Sponsors
VIP Table Sponsors (how fun were these?) –
Mrs. Aminy Audi, Donofrio’s Body and Paint Shop, Fischi Family, Janowski family, Key Bank and Party By Wives
In Kind Sponsors –
Canfield & Tack, Christina Bregou Photography, Galaxy Communications, News Channel 9, 93Q, Paparazzi Day Spa, Thomas J Pirro Jr. Funeral Home
Thank you to each of you who purchased raffle tickets, donated on our silent auction and gave for the Fund a Need and raised a paddle in the live auction……you gave our dreams wings to fly.
Now we would like to hand the “mic” over to a few voices to let them share what Gala meant to them……..
Walking into the ‘i have a voice gala’ last Saturday for GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse, I was particularly entranced by one small detail – the butterflies shimmering and dancing everywhere.
They were carried around on trays by lovely volunteers and could be had for a small donation. Tucked into a very pretty’s girl’s hair, attached to the lapel of a dashing gentleman, and fluttering from lanterns on each table, their subtle influence could be felt across the evening.
One of the most interesting facts about the butterfly is that it will hold off mating until conditions are right for the survival of the next generation. When I read that fact, and again, sitting in my chair at the Gala, I thought how very much like a butterfly is GiGi’s Playhouse in its entirety.
While certainly the symbolism of this happy creature, was evident in the faces of the self-advocates who spoke so confidently (Amanda Townsend, Amy Cavallaro, and Carrie Bergeron J ), and the number of individual GiGi’s Playhouse-Syracuse client consumers and their proud families there – I reflected how the WHOLE of GiGi’s was a butterfly as well.
From the faith and hard work of a group of parents who started GiGi’s here in our community – they were the caterpillars who did all the work, found all the nutrients to feed the dream – to the many corporations and businesses who spun the chrysalis (Stickley, Audi & Company, SU, Driver’s Village, Wegmans, the Allyn Foundation, and Community Bank) for GiGi’s – to all our table and in-kind sponsors who are the ‘tree’, the foundation for us to grow and change on –
GiGi’s Syracuse – in itself – as a whole IS a beautiful butterfly. While it may seem to some, its existence is long overdue in our community, I think the conditions had to be right – and they were, for it to be fertilized, and to come into being. I think the support it has attracted and the help it is able to give is testament to the changing attitudes of parents, of a community, and of individuals with Down syndrome themselves. The conditions were absolutely, positively RIGHT for GiGi’s to come into being for not only the current but the next generation of GiGi’s users.
As guest speaker, Kelle Hampton said, “Wow! What a supportive community continuing to grow here.”
Wow – indeed. J The ‘i have a voice gala’ 2014 was living proof GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse has completed metamorphosis and its wings are most definitely unfurled. Watch it fly this year into our future! ~ BJ Menter
” Nothing can describe the feeling, the absolute joyous feeling of dancing with your grown son while you spin,twirl, and laugh! And the most extraordinary part? He is leading! My son, who was born with Down Syndrome 21 years ago is LEADING me in the dance! If I could inject that feeling, that moment, into every parent when they discover that their child has Down Syndrome for the first time, then my life’s work would be done.”~ Randi Downs
“It didn’t matter why you were there – whether you were a parent, or a sibling; if you were a friend, or even had no personal connection at all. We were all there for one common goal : show the world how much individuals with Down syndrome can accomplish when given the right resources and support”. ~ Becky Stover
“Gala 2014…what an amazing night! As I sit back and reflect on the night so much joy, acceptance, love and empowerment fill my thoughts. Peel back the “glam”of night and what stands out to me are as follows. Our brilliant and passionate self advocates let their voices be heard and that makes me so, so happy! Amanda, Amy and Carrie blew me away with their presence on the stage and spoke with so much passion and love for the playhouse! YES, ladies you have a voice and always let it be heard.
The amazing music that led to some pretty groovy dance moves made the evening lighthearted and FUN! What’s a party without memorable and sometimes questionable dance moves. Ha! Let the good times roll.
Kelle Hampton our keynote speaker what an inspiring woman, mother and most of all advocate. What stopped me in my chair is what I would call my AH-HA moment. We are on this journey together separated by just one year. Kelle has an incredible way of putting her thoughts down in print, but as she said in her speech her journey has really just started as Nella is only 4 years old. I was touch by her heartfelt words about her time here in Syracuse and meeting families at the playhouse. Not only we were we inspired by her, but she was inspired by us! A year to many is like a blink of an eye. But for us, a year is the difference between a crawl and a walk or sign to a voice. Educate, inspire…Believe!” ~ Allyson Donofrio
The amazing music that led to some pretty groovy dance moves made the evening lighthearted and FUN! What’s a party without memorable and sometimes questionable dance moves. Ha! Let the good times roll.
Kelle Hampton our keynote speaker what an inspiring woman, mother and most of all advocate. What stopped me in my chair is what I would call my AH-HA moment. We are on this journey together separated by just one year. Kelle has an incredible way of putting her thoughts down in print, but as she said in her speech her journey has really just started as Nella is only 4 years old. I was touch by her heartfelt words about her time here in Syracuse and meeting families at the playhouse. Not only we were we inspired by her, but she was inspired by us! A year to many is like a blink of an eye. But for us, a year is the difference between a crawl and a walk or sign to a voice. Educate, inspire…Believe!” ~ Allyson Donofrio
“What a blessing to work with such a fantastic, hard working and fun loving committee on GiGi’s 2nd Annual ‘i have a Voice’ gala. Once the evening finally arrived, I never wanted it to end. Amanda, Amy and Carrie had our admiration. Amy Robbins had us in stitches. Kelle had us in tears. The Boeheim’s surprise video had us bidding! Our children’s pictures aglow in the lanterns and gracing the screen made us proud.
The laughter was contagious and the euphoria on the dance floor was something I will always remember. Perhaps the fact that so many of us know what it’s like to be down helps us know what it means to be UP! This year we welcomed many new friends into our “family” at GiGi’s. Thank you ALL for that great big family reunion, called ‘i have a Voice”, that filled us with hope, joy, love and funds for the future. See you next year!” Carolyn Audi Fischi
The laughter was contagious and the euphoria on the dance floor was something I will always remember. Perhaps the fact that so many of us know what it’s like to be down helps us know what it means to be UP! This year we welcomed many new friends into our “family” at GiGi’s. Thank you ALL for that great big family reunion, called ‘i have a Voice”, that filled us with hope, joy, love and funds for the future. See you next year!” Carolyn Audi Fischi
“My two favorite parts of the Gala is dancing with all my friends.i even got to meet Kelle Hampton the author of the book “Bloom” and became fast friends!” ~ Carrie Bergeron
Can we hear it for the The Mere Mortals ?!?! Amazing music kept us rocking the night away.
If you see any of these amazing people out and about, they deserve a sweet THANK YOU and maybe a cup of coffee 😉 . They consider the hard work to bring all the details together for an amazing night a joy and privilege. Thank you Thank you!
Gala Chair – Carolyn Audi Fischi
Vice Chair – Janet LaSalle
Amy Brosnan, Ally Donofrio, Terri Formica, Aristina Lischak, Patty McKeon, Heather Mulye, Heather Rodriguez, Jean Whipple, Jodi Deaugustine, Kathy Donofrio, Debi Emmert, Carla Janowski, Carolyn Mayer, BJ Menter, Jen Petrie, Matt Dwyer & Becky Stover Bravo bravo bravo!!!!
How about our friend and keynote speaker Kelle Hampton, I don’t think there was an eye in the place that did not at least have a mist. She came and braved the cold but was warmed by the community YOU have all helped build here, she encouraged us to keep kicking that ceiling out. If you would like to read her words about the time spent with us please head over to her popular (award winning) blog Enjoying The Small Things. You will smile again for sure.
Please Visit our Facebook page to see more images from our amazing night. We are looking forward to next year!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making the 2014 ‘i have a voice” Gala a wonderful evening.
xoxo
It is both a privilege and a blessing to be involved in the Playhouse this years. What an amazing group of children and adults! I am forever positively changed.
Miss Jen