From Day al-Mohamed, AAPD Board Member (3.2.10):
Dear AAPD Gala Attendees and Supporters:
I am writing to you about an issue that is dear to my heart - young people with disabilities. As many of you already know, AAPD as an organization, and through the actions of its individual staff and members, has a strong commitment to the development of young people with disabilities. The AAPD Gala is the premiere event for this organization and in many ways, the disability community. This year is especially pivotal as it celebrates AAPD's 15th Anniversary and the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Many youth with disabilities, including myself, have benefitted from the generosity of spirit of Mrs. Yoshiko Dart. She has made it her mission to empower the next generation of leaders with disabilities. In a community that frequently uses the term “passing the torch” she has been a “Torch Lighter” and uses her passion for the disability community and the disability rights movement to inspire, motivate, and continue to mentor youth to engage and participate as active members of our community. Another example is AAPD Board member Margaret Staton who made it possible for young women with disabilities who participate in the Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation Scholar program to attend the AAPD Gala at the expense of the Foundation. Many of us have had leaders in our community support us and look out for us along the way.
I believe that it is important to continue this tradition and I challenge you to join me in continuing to empower young people with disabilities. I have committed to sponsoring a ticket for a youth with a disability to attend this year’s AAPD gala and I am joined by both the Chairman of AAPD’s Board of Directors, Tony Coelho and the Immediate Past Chair, Cheryl Sensenbrenner. We urge you to join us in becoming a “Torch Lighter” for the next generation, those who will be our “Torch Bearers” and carry forward all of our hopes for the disability community.
This is not a single gesture of support, but a promise for the future. We have committed to the creation of the AAPD “Torch Bearer” Fund. When purchasing your ticket for the gala this year, you are now able to sponsor the cost of a ticket to be provided for a young person with a disability, or donate towards the purchase of a ticket. AAPD staff has made the necessary changes to the AAPD website over this last week to enable these additional donations to be made during ticket purchase. Should the event sell out, your donation will go to the Fund so that young people with disabilities will always be able to attend the AAPD Gala and perhaps one day, sponsor young advocates from outside the Washington D.C. area to be a part of this amazing event.
Together we will do great things.
Sincerely,
Day Al-Mohamed
AAPD Board of Directors, Member
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