The 2024 One Step Forward Celebration is an inclusive awards gala in the Lehigh Valley that celebrates and honors individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), their families, advocates, and inclusive businesses. 

This event serves as a platform to recognize the achievements, resilience, and successes of local children and adults with IDD, as well as the dedicated families and inclusive local businesses that play an essential role in fostering an inclusive community in the Lehigh Valley. This year's event will take place on May 16, 2024, at the DeSales University Conference Center.

The 2024 Celebration will kick off at 5:00 p.m. with a cocktail hour featuring live music, the event's renowned silent auction, a wine wall, and new this year, a Treasure Chest. Following dinner at 6:00 p.m., the evening's highlight will be the award ceremony commencing at 7:00 p.m., where six distinguished guests will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the Lehigh Valley community. 

One of the highlights of our gala is the Silent Auction, which provides an opportunity for friendly competition, social interaction, and fun while supporting a great cause.   We are seeking donations of gift cards, items, and experiences from local businesses to make our Silent Auction a memorable and delightful experience for our attendees, and I hope you will join us by donating.    

By contributing to our Silent Auction, you will be promoting your business to a diverse and influential audience while also demonstrating your commitment to making our community more inclusive and supportive of individuals with disabilities. Your generous donation will be prominently featured on our social media sites, the auction website, which launches in advance of the event for extended engagement from our community, at the event, and in the program.

All money raised from the One Step Forward Celebration directly impacts The Arc’s Advocacy Department, the Lehigh Valley’s only provider of completely free resource coordination, training, and one-to-one advocacy support for all people with IDD and their families. The Advocacy Department plays a critical role by offering support to hundreds of children and adults with IDD and their families as they navigate challenges related to the special education system, waiver system, the transition to adulthood, and more. With a focus on collaboration, education, empowerment, and self-advocacy, our team is often the first point of contact for families seeking guidance.

Notably, The Advocacy Department does not receive any government funding, making events like the One Step Forward Celebration crucial in ensuring that individuals with IDD have access to the necessary free resources, support, and advocacy guidance required to live fully inclusive lives.

Thank you for considering our request. We genuinely appreciate your support, and we look forward to the possibility of working together to create an exceptional experience for our gala attendees.