Leadership Awards Gala
2021 Virtual Leadership Awards Gala
April 28, 2021 | 7:00pm Eastern
Visit 2021leadershipawardsgala. eventbrite.com to register. Tickets are FREE to attend this virtual event!
Captioning, ASL, and audio description will be provided.
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The AAPD Leadership Awards Gala is the one night a year that the disability community comes together with business and government leadership to celebrate the progress of disability rights. This year’s Gala will provide a unique opportunity for AAPD’s partners, supporters, colleagues, and friends to demonstrate their continued support for access, equity, and inclusion.
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AAPD Democracy Award
Stacey Abrams, Founder, Fair Fight
Stacey Abrams, political leader, voting rights activist and New York Times bestselling author, will be honored with the inaugural AAPD Democracy Award for her work to enfranchise all voters, including the disability community of over 60 million strong. Over the course of her career, Abrams has founded multiple organizations devoted to voting rights, training and hiring young people of color, and tackling social issues at both the state and national levels.
AAPD Image Award
Jane Pauley, Host, CBS Sunday Morning
Jane Pauley, one of the most respected figures in American broadcast journalism and Host of CBS Sunday Morning, will be joining us to receive the AAPD Image Award. Ms. Pauley has used her platform and voice to serve as an advocate for mental health awareness, including sharing her own story and journey through her bipolar diagnosis that she received over 20 years ago.
Special Guest
Valerie Jarrett, President of The Barack Obama Foundation
2021 Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Awardees
- Elijah Armstrong, recipient of 2021 AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award
- Noor Pervez, a recipient of 2021 AAPD Paul G. Hearne Emerging Leader Award
2021 AAPD Leadership Awards Gala Emcee
Jonathan Capehart, The Washington Post, Host, The Sunday Show, MSNBC
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Thank you to our 2021 Virtual Awards Gala sponsors!
To learn more about becoming a sponsor, please email us at development@aapd.com.
National Platinum Sponsor

National Structured Settlements Trade Association
National Gold Sponsor
- AT&T
- Bender Consulting Services, Inc.
- JPMorgan Chase
National Silver Sponsor
National Leadership Circle
American International Group (AIG) | Anthem | Bayer | Berkshire Hathaway Structured Settlements Division | Nancy Dorn & Will Ris | FedEx | IFS Group | Independent Life | Kessler Foundation | PhRMA | Laura Randa | Ringler | Roberts & Ryan Investments, Inc. | Service Corporation International (SCI) | Wells Fargo
National Advocate Circle
Alliant | American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) | Clear2Connect Coalition | CTIA | Esquire Bank | Metlife | NCTA – The Internet and Television Association | New York Life | NFP Structured Settlements | Pacific Life | Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) | PJM Interconnection | Prudential | Senator Bob Dole | United Spinal Association
National Supporter Circle
Allsup | Ametros Foundation | CPT Trust | Dan Goodmann | Epstein Becker Green | League of Women Voters | Maureen Flood | Medivest | Structures | Tracfone | WITH Foundation
The 2020 Leadership Awards Gala was held on March 10, 2020.