 Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), designer Betsey Johnson, and Edward Kennedy, Jr. |
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The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country’s largest cross-disability membership organization, honored Grammy-winning music legend Stevie Wonder with its first annual Image Award on Wednesday night. Wonder, who has been blind since infancy, was also recently chosen to be a United Nations Messenger of Peace on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The festive evening was held at the Ronald Reagan Building, and in addition to Wonder, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) received the Spirit of the ADA award, and Connie Garner, longtime Policy Advisor the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) was p[resented with the Justice for All Award. Garner received the award from two of Kennedy's sons, Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) and Edward Kennedy, Jr.
But the biggest character of the evening was fashion designer Betsey Johnson, a longtime friend of AADP CEO Andy Imparato's mother, fashion writer Marylou Luther. Johnson designed the pink-and-black leopard print tablescapes for the evening, and curtsied deeply in front of the two Kennedy brothers, then hammed it up with other VIPs for photos.
— Report and photographs by Christina Wilkie
Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) with award recipient Connie Garner, the former Policy Director for Disability and Special Populations for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), and Edward Kennedy, Jr.
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Missouri Democratic Reps. Russ Carnahan and Lacy Clay
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The Recording Industry Association of America's Mitch Glazier, former Rep. Tony Coehlo (D-Calif.), Stevie Wonder, AAPD President and CEO Andy Imparato, and RIAA's Michele Ballantyne
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Amy, Peter, and Sally Banulis, who are the niece, brother-in-law, and sister, respectively, of guest of honor Betsey Johnson
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House Majority Leader and honoree Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry, Deputy Director of OPM Christine Griffin, and AAPD President Andy Imparato
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Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.) greets Betsey Johnson
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AAPD board chairwoman Cheryl Sensenbrenner, singer Nevora Coleman, and Rep. Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam)
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Jennifer Alivernini with the American Chemistry Council's Rebecca Pulluaim and Tarsha Snead
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Tara Papanicolas, Jane Roser, and Cheryl Sensenbrenner
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April and Martin Waugh |
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