Abilis, the nonprofit organization providing services and support to more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families, celebrated its milestone Diamond 75th Anniversary Gala at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich. The memorable evening brought together Abilis families, supporters, staff, board members, sponsors and community leaders to celebrate 75 years of Abilis’ leadership, impact and commitment to creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities throughout lower Fairfield County. The successful event helped raise a record $1 million for the nonprofit organization.
For the past eight years, Oscar Award Winning Actor Brendan Fraser has been a major supporter of Abilis and has helped the organization raise an incredible $2.5 million through various fundraising efforts. Brendan honored Abilis this year by being the emcee of the Diamond 75th anniversary milestone celebration and shared his personal journey as a parent of a child with a developmental disability and his support for Abilis. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo, Jon Zagrodzy and Tina Courpas, and other notable guests were in attendance to celebrate Abilis as well. The evening featured dinner, live entertainment by ETA Music, a silent auction hosted by Ryco Fundraising, a live auction led by auctioneer Caitlin Davis, and a special performance by The Dance Pointe. Another highlight of the evening was the opportunity to win a breathtaking 8.14-carat radiant-cut lab-grown diamond.
“For 75 years, we have been honored to support our community and those with disabilities, providing programs, supports and services that foster independence, social interaction, job training, employment and so much more,” said Amy Montimurro, CEO and president of Abilis. “The Abilis Diamond 75th Anniversary Gala was a celebration of our history and our future. It was about the impact on the thousands of lives we have served and renewing our commitment to building a future where every individual with a disability is fully included and able to lead a meaningful, fulfilling life for generations to come. We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us and supported this milestone evening.”
In 1951, Abilis was founded by a group of parents advocating for education, dignity, and community inclusion for their children with developmental disabilities in Greenwich. Today, Abilis provides services and supports for individuals and their families at every stage of life, from birth through adulthood, offering a comprehensive array of programs and services that positively impact a person’s entire lifespan throughout lower Fairfield County.
The Abilis Diamond 75th Anniversary Gala was the launch of a year-long celebration and was hosted by the Abilis board of directors.
Special thanks to the Abilis Diamond 75th Anniversary Gala sponsors, including Presenting 7.5 Carat Sponsors: Friend of Abilis (anonymous), Deborah Hilibrand & Lawrence Hilibrand; Marquise Cut Sponsors: Anonymous; Radiant Cut Sponsor: Holland & Knight; Emerald Cut Sponsors: The Stuart Family, Belvedere Wealth Partners, Margot Michalski, New England Total Landscaping, Odyssey Group, The Shapiro-Vitali Family; Pear Cut Sponsors: The Altamore Family, The Leslie Clarke Team at Compass, The Leskin Family, Connecticut Pharmacy, The Mann Family; and Media Partner: Fairfield County Look.
Abilis is a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families from birth throughout their lives. Founded in 1951, Abilis, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is a leader in providing meaningful supports to the community in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in towns including Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Westport and Wilton. The organization has a long-standing reputation for individualized, high-quality care. For more information, visit www.abilis.us
