2017 Celebrating Voices Gala: Honoring Alice Wolf & Oz Mondejar and Spotlight on MAC’s Disability Advocacy
Photo Credit: Tony Irving
Thank you to all who celebrated with us at our 2017 Celebrating Voices gala!
Tuesday, October 24, 2017 Sheraton Boston Hotel
Over 350 guests joined us on Tuesday, October 24 to celebrate voices - of the children and families we serve, the advocates with whom we collaborate to bring about systemic change, and the visionaries who have led the way in creating opportunity for children and young adults with disabilities - Alice Wolf and Oz Mondejar.
VIDEOS
Check out our YouTube for many video clips of the event.
Click here to view Welcome messages from Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren
Click here to view MAC Executive Director Jerry Mogul presents Oz with his award on behalf of MAC, joined by Alkia Powell to present a Mayor's citation; including acceptance remarks by Oz Mondejar
Click here to see MAC Senior Project Directors Julia Landau and Janine Solomon present Alice with her award on behalf of MAC.
Click here to see Rep. Marjorie Decker present her remarks.
Click here to see acceptance remarks by Alice Wolf
PHOTOS
Check our Facebook page for photos from our guests and photographer, Tony Irving.
COMMITTEE
Thank you to our event committee for organizing this inspiring evening and helping us raise critical funds to advocate for children. Click here to see their names.
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS
Matt Iverson, Chair, MAC Board of Directors - Opening RemarksJerry Mogul, MAC Executive Director - Welcome RemarksBrian Heffernan, MAC Young Adult Leader Fellow - Introduction for Speaker DeLeoSpeaker Robert DeLeo - RemarksVal MacIver, MAC Young Adult Leader Fellow - Introduction for Senator L'italian Senator Barbara L'Italien - RemarksArt Collins, Spoken Word Artist - PerformanceElizabeth Dionne, MAC Pro Bono Attorney - TestimonyRepresentative Marjorie Decker - Tribute to Alice Wolf
...
The evening began with a cocktail hour and silent auction, where parents, professionals, and powerful disability advocates from across Massachusetts had the opportunity to network. Opening remarks were provided via video from Washington by Senator Ed Markey and Senator Elizabeth Warren. Emcee Karen Holmes Ward of WCVB-TV and Charlie "Coach" Titus led a creative program including a live auction, with DJ Kenny Grubbs providing musical ambience.
Spoken word artist Art Collins inspired the room with a moving poem giving the audience an intimate portrait of life as the parent of a daughter with Down syndrome - Are You Down? MAC pro bono attorney Elizabeth Harmer-Dionne shared the voice of an advocate as she told the inspiring true story of a child's life drastically changed thanks to MAC's advocacy work.
MAC Senior Project Directors Julia Landau and Janine Solomon provided a tribute to Alice Wolf, a longtime legislative and policy champion for children and current volunteer Senior Advisor at MAC, and Representative Marjorie Decker, a mentee of Alice, gave a heartfelt speech thanking Alice for her work on behalf of the vulnerable among us and presented her with a citation from the Massachusetts State House of Representatives.
Executive Director Jerry Mogul presented Oz Mondejar, a visionary leader in workforce inclusion, with his award, thanking him for his leadership in opening the doors of opportunity for youth with disabilities. Alkia Powell presented Oz with an official citation on behalf of Mayor Marty Walsh.
Overall, it was an inspiring evening that brought about a renewed sense of hope as MAC continues, with your support, to be a leading voice for children in today's uncertain climate.
A special thank you to our sponsors:Click on the logos and links below to learn about them.
