Obama, Bono & GiGi

What do Barbara Walters, Al Gore, James Cameron, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Bono, Michelle Obama and GiGi’s Playhouse New York all  have in common?      Each were asked to acknowledge and share the importance of the contributions made by Glamour Magazine’s five audacious Women of the Year 2014.  The list  of exceptional honorees includes Chelsea Clinton, Sharah Burton, Laverne Cox, Sylvia Earle, Mindy Kaling, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Power, Robin Roberts and  our very own Natalia Vodianova – for her special needs advocacy in Russia.

Natalia grew up loving a sister with cerebral palsy and autism.  Her mother defied convention by keeping Oksana in their home and family instead of putting her  in an institution.  The minute Natalia’s beauty won her international fame as one of the worlds top super models, Natalia founded The Naked Heart Foundation in  order to create accessible playgrounds, special needs summer camps and help Russian families get resources they need.

It’s no wonder that when Glamour Magazine looked for a personal story about what support means to a community touched by disability, they  reached out to GiGi’s Playhouse New York.

Executive Director Britt Sady spoke about the importance and the impact of Natalia’s work from the perspective of the mother of a child with Down syndrome; benefiting first-hand from the robust, activist community New York families experience at the Playhouse.

After the event, Ms. Sady was able to speak with Hillary Rodham Clinton about the tens of thousands of families the Playhouse serves across the country  and the world and our shared determination for education, inclusion, and contribution. It was a star-studded powerhouse evening of powerful women making  powerful  change for the next generation.