Building Brighter Futures Gala - The Arc of Massachusetts

Speaker Jonathan Gardner and his mother Nancy Gardner

Executive Director Leo Sarkissian welcomes the crowd

Chris McKinnon with his cousin Casey O'Donnell

Musician Stefano Micali and his mother Daniela Caruso-Micali

Chris McKinnon and Gyasi Burks-Abbott discuss the film

President of WORK Inc. Jim Cassetta with Dean Rizzo, Executive Director of The Arc of Greater Brockton

Panelist Cindy Haddad with her mother Marjorie

People's United Bank Vice President David B. Graves-Witherell with Dave D'Amico, Market Leader for Wilmington Trust N.A.

Julie Heffernan shares a story about her son Brian

Guests mingled during the cocktail reception

Board Member Rick Daswani (back, left) with his colleagues from EY

Berkshire County Arc President & CEO Ken Singer (hand raised) with Immediate Past President of The Arc US Fred Misilo (left) and Bay Cove Human Services President & CEO Bill Sprague (right)

On April 7, 2022, The Arc of Massachusetts held its Building Brighter Futures Gala and Auction at the Westin Waltham Boston. The event was a true success, raising $220,000 to support The Arc’s crucial work of enhancing the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism. Chris McKinnon returned to emcee the Gala for a fourth time.

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The program featured music, a film, and panel discussion. Self-advocate Stefano Micali, a young man with autism, provided musical entertainment during the cocktail reception. Parent Michael Biales performed a song about fearing for who will care for his son with disabilities after he and his wife are no longer around to do so. This song led into the screening of the short film “What Was It Like?” in which eight young adults with IDD and autism ask their parents about what it was like when they learned their children were born with disabilities, how society responded to them, and how they have surpassed expectations ever since.

Following the film, emcee Chris McKinnon led a thoughtful conversation among three panelists from The Arc’s community: Gyasi Burks-Abbott, a self-advocate with autism; Cindy Haddad, who has a sibling with IDD; and Julie Heffernan, mother of a young adult with Down syndrome. Jonathan Gardner, a young man with autism and a cancer survivor, shared stories of his experiences in the world of healthcare and how he has faced bias in care due to medical professionals not looking past his diagnosis of autism in order to address his urgent needs.

The Arc of Massachusetts also honored Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) Secretary Marylou Sudders, recognizing her for her leadership and support of this community, especially during the last two years. Executive Director Leo Sarkissian and Board President Scott Borchardt presented Secretary Sudders with a painting in recognition of her service.

Top sponsors of the Building Brighter Futures Gala and Auction include Tracy and John Atkinson; People’s United Bank; PwC; Raytheon; Scott and Julie Borchardt; Affinia Financial Group; EY; Beaverbrook STEP, Inc; KPMG; Tito’s Handmade Vodka; Vinfen; Deborah Norton and John Moynihan; and Janet and Art Rico.