2024 BRIDGES GALA

On the evening of Tuesday, May 28th, Bridges Board Chair Richard E. Marriott welcomed more than 1,000 guests to the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C., for our 2024 Bridges Gala. We raised over $2,260,000 in support of Bridges from School to Work.

Bridges alumna Ku Say of Chicago received the Stephen G. Marriott Youth Achievement Award. Actress and Tony Award winner Ali Stroker entertained us with her Broadway vocal talents and her inspiring message about “turning limitations into opportunities.”

The evening’s record-setting donations were also due in large part to our 2024 Bridges gala co-chair, Joe Ucuzoglu, Deloitte global CEO, and his call to action: We need to harness the power of employers to help young adults with disabilities realize their career aspirations.

NEW BOARD MEMBER

In December 2023, we were thrilled to welcome Julie Marriott as the newest member of our board of trustees.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

In July 2024, Bridges hired its first-ever director of development, Kate Brown. Kate has worked in development with an organization called Higher Achievement since 2016 and holds a B.A. from the University of Richmond. Kate will lead our efforts with securing new sources of funding through grants and proposals, as well as oversee our annual gala-fundraiser.

AIG
Alight
American Express
Aon
Choice Gateway
Cigna
Covington & Burling LLP
Crowell & Moring
DiamondRock Hospitality

Ecolab
Ernst & Young LLP
Freshfields
Insight Direct USA
ISG
Jenner & Block
King & Spalding LLP
Lenovo and Intel
LG Electronics

Jennie Blumenthal
CEO & Founder, Corporate Rehab

Debbie Harrison
Global Culture Ambassador Emeritus,
Marriott International

Dr. I. King Jordan
President Emeritus, Gallaudet University

Julie Marriott

Ellen Ryan Mardiks
Chair, Golin

Julie Sweet
Chair and CEO, Accenture

Jimmie Walton Paschall